MEMS foundry Rogue Valley Microdevices recently announced that it will receive $6.7 million in direct government funding under the United States CHIPS and Science Act. The funds will be used to support its 300mm fab in Palm Cove, Florida, and is expected to nearly triple the company's manufacturing capacity. The subsidy is part of the Biden administration's targeted investments across the semiconductor supply chain to rekindle United States' leadership in semiconductor manufacturing and ensure a stable domestic supply of MEMS technology.
Rogue Valley Microdevices is the only wafer fabricator in the United States engaged in pure MEMS foundry business, founded by female and minority founder Jessica Gomez. The company is focused on providing high-end, low-volume wafer and MEMS foundry services to the defense industrial base and biomedical industries. As the only pure MEMS foundry in the United States, RVM has a unique position in the industry. The subsidy will not only help it expand its production capacity and enhance its competitiveness, but also further consolidate its leading position in the MEMS foundry market. By building the new fab, Rogue Valley Microdevices will be able to provide customers with a more stable and reliable supply of MEMS devices, thereby strengthening the resilience of the United States supply chain. This is important to ensure United States' leading position in the global semiconductor industry.
It is reported that RVM plans to use the funds to build a new wafer fab in Palm Cove, Florida, focusing on the production of 300mm (12-inch) MEMS and sensor wafers. The construction of the fab is expected to further strengthen RVM's position in the global MEMS foundry market and is expected to be the first 12-inch MEMS wafer production line in the United States.
Figure MEMS foundry Rogue Valley received a $6.7 million subsidy
Rogue Valley Microdevices has acquired a commercial building in Palm Cove and plans to convert it into a modern MEMS and sensor fab. The new facility is expected to produce 21,000 wafers per month, providing a strong supply guarantee for the market and employing around 75 people in the coming years, creating more local jobs.
United States Commerce Secretary Gina · Raimondo said the investment in Rogue Valley is an important step to ensure United States maintains a stable supply chain in the global MEMS technology market. Jessica Gomez, founder and CEO of Rogue Valley, is confident in the partnership, which she believes will help the company increase production of miniature smart sensors to meet the needs of key markets such as automotive, biomedical and industrial.
In addition, Rogue Valley Microdevices' original facility in Medford, Oregon, has reached design capacity and will be upgraded to become the world's first MEMS foundry to manufacture 300 mm wafers. This will help reduce costs, enable wafer-level integration with CMOS devices, and drive the company's further growth in the MEMS space.
With the rapid development of the global semiconductor industry and the continuous expansion of the MEMS market, Rogue Valley Microdevices is expected to take advantage of this subsidy to further expand its market share and achieve broader development prospects.
