
Seven semiconductor trends for 2023
7 Neuromorphic AI
Neuromorphic, or spiking AI, is set to become mainstream with specialist accelerators alongside microcontrollers, and, just as importantly, the tools to use them
6 OpenRAN chips
Despite security, fragmentation and market issues with the open radio access network (Open RAN, O-RAN, OpenRAN) specification, the technology will continue to develop to challenge the dominance of the major telecoms equipment suppliers. Chips from design labs across Europe, from Intel and Vodafone to Samsung and NEC, will boost the market
5 The race to 2nm
TSMC, Samsung and Intel are in a three way race to bring their 2nm CMOS process technologies to market in 2024 which will see early production in later this year.
Intel works with 7 out of top 10 fabless companies, sees 18A test chip
4 Chiplets
Avoiding the need to go to 2nm, chiplets will enable a range of process technologies to be used to build trillion transistor ‘chips’ with standardised interconnect
- Tackling the chiplet clock challenge
- UCIe chiplet standard created by industry leaders
- Ponte Vecchio 3D supercomputer processor uses five process technolgies
3 Quantum Computing
Quantum computing will continue its development through 2023, with consolidation of the different technologies. Just like the early days of silicon, there will be a range of different approaches and technologies, and the shakeout continues as companies race to scale up
- Germany hedges its bets on quantum computers
- OQC sees UK’s largest quantum computing investment at $46m
- Will Europe make same mistakes in quantum it made in chips
2 Photonics
Photonics will be a keystone technology for Europe in 2023. From chiplets to quantum computers, sensors to telecoms, integrating photonics with CMOS is recognised as a fundamental strength in the region
- GlobalFoundries launches innovation lab
- imec, TNO join forces on integrated photonics
- Ayar Labs raises $130m for optical chiplets
1 The market
But the biggest factor will be the impact of the semiconductor market downturn as the supercycle comes to an end. Just how far it will fall, and which areas (industrial automation) will be less badly impacted, will be key areas in the coming months
- Chip market crash arrives – worse than expected
- Some market forecasters are in denial, says Future Horizons
- Chip market growth in 2023 will be ‘deeply negative’
