Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: Surrey NanoSystems secures Ł4.5m funding to commercialize next-generation semiconductor fabrication technologies: Third-round venture capital for silicon-friendly nanomaterials growth processes

Home > Press > Surrey NanoSystems secures Ł4.5m funding to commercialize next-generation semiconductor fabrication technologies: Third-round venture capital for silicon-friendly nanomaterials growth processes

Abstract:
Surrey NanoSystems has raised third round funding of Ł4.5 million (~US$7.1m) - one of the largest amounts secured by any UK semiconductor-focused company in the last year - from a consortium led by New Wave Ventures.

Surrey NanoSystems secures Ł4.5m funding to commercialize next-generation semiconductor fabrication technologies: Third-round venture capital for silicon-friendly nanomaterials growth processes

Newhaven, UK | Posted on March 7th, 2012

The funds will be used to commercialize innovations in materials to support the continued scaling of integrated circuits. These include an advanced dielectric thin film for insulation applications, and a process for growing carbon-based interconnections or 'vias'. Progress in both of these back-end-of-line semiconductor fabrication areas is critical if manufacturers are to continue silicon's evolution to next-generation geometry sizes, operating speeds and power conservation.

"The new funding will be used to take our proven technology to the next stage - to demonstrate it at a scale compatible with the lithography and wafer sizes used in today's high volume semiconductor manufacture", said David Wong, CEO of Surrey NanoSystems. "We are cooperating with leading players in the semiconductor industry, and within the next two to three years we expect to be able to offer the technologies in forms suitable for commercial use."

The new funding is being provided by New Wave Ventures in conjunction with Parkwalk Advisors, and further investments from Surrey NanoSystems' existing backers Octopus Ventures, IP Group PLC and the University of Surrey. New Wave Ventures has a track record in funding young companies in technology related sectors, and works on the principle that finding the right people with the right goals and values is more likely to deliver a successful outcome than simply focusing on elaborate financial projections.

Commenting on its investment in Surrey NanoSystems, New Wave Ventures co-founder Tim Bullock said: "At New Wave Ventures we aim to invest in the most capable management teams, with the ideas and abilities to make a significant impact on markets with global scale. We have been impressed by all that the team at Surrey Nanosystems has achieved to date and with their plans for taking their innovations through to commercial success."

Reducing leakage current is a critical requirement for the continued scaling of semiconductor devices. Surrey NanoSystems has developed a new class of high performance dielectric material for inter-layer or inter-metal insulation. With an effective dielectric constant of less than 2.4, it offers an advanced alternative to current 'low k' semiconductor insulation materials. It also has the advantages of having high Young's modulus and hardness, being non porous, and offering excellent resistance to the liquid chemicals employed in semiconductor processing - making it a robust and reliable material for IC fabrication.

Another target application is a replacement material for the vertical connections that link the layers of an integrated circuit, as the copper currently used is becoming more resistive as the geometry sizes of ICs shrink to ever smaller dimensions. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can be structured to act as more efficient conductors, but their adoption has been hindered by the fact that conventionally grown CNTs require temperatures of around 700 degrees C - too high for semiconductor processing. In contrast, Surrey NanoSystems' fabrication system and process allows high density CNT structures to be grown at silicon-friendly processing temperatures of 350 degrees C or less.

Both of these insulation and connection materials advances have been catalyzed by Surrey NanoSystems' know-how in thin film deposition - the original roots of the company. The new materials also have applications in areas other than semiconductor processing.

Surrey NanoSystems is based in Newhaven, UK, where its research facility is equipped with nanomaterial deposition and growth systems of its own unique design, and state-of-the-art analytical and measurement instrumentation.

The new capital injection comes at the same time as a major personnel addition. Surrey NanoSystems has just appointed Lars McBride as its Chairman. Following a career in corporate finance in London where he held a number of positions including Head of European Mergers & Acquisitions at Chase Manhattan, McBride has worked for 18 years with a broad spread of engineering businesses, including as president of a supplier of gas analysis equipment to the semiconductor fabrication market. Currently, he is on the boards of six other businesses, ranging from well-established companies to start-ups. He takes over the chairman's role from Gerry Thurgood, who has worked for Surrey NanoSystems since 2007, and who remains a non-executive director with the company.

"The global importance of continued progress in semiconductors cannot be underestimated, and I am delighted to be joining a company with the potential to play such an influential role in shaping the future direction of the technology", added Lars McBride, Chairman of Surrey NanoSystems.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE INVESTORS

New Wave Ventures is a privately owned fund seeking the opportunity to invest in companies with significant growth potential. Its investment philosophy is driven by the belief that a good business depends on good people with ideas, expertise and drive. www.nwventures.co.uk/

Parkwalk Advisors invests in, and raises capital for, innovative UK technology companies. It invests predominantly in UK university technology spin-outs. www.parkwalkadvisors.com

Octopus Ventures is a venture capital company that focuses on identifying early-stage business opportunities that show significant potential for explosive growth. www.octopusventures.com/

IP Group is a leading UK intellectual property commercialization company, developing technology innovations primarily from its research-intensive partner universities. The Group offers more than traditional venture capital, providing its companies with access to business building expertise, networks, recruitment and business support. www.ipgroupplc.com/

The University of Surrey is one of the UK's leading professional, scientific and technological universities with a world-class research profile and a reputation for excellence in teaching and research. www.surrey.ac.uk/

NanoGrowth is a registered trade mark of Surrey NanoSystems.

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About Surrey NanoSystems
Surrey NanoSystems has developed a leading technology portfolio addressing the needs of the global nanoelectronics sector. Its proven technologies deliver precise, ordered nanomaterial structures for advanced CMOS manufacturing processes, meeting the scaling challenges of the semiconductor industry.

Surrey NanoSystems combines its expertise in device-level development with expertise in thin-film equipment design and processes to rapidly deliver solutions for a range of applications including interconnects, vias and interlayer dielectrics (ILDs) for current and future generations of integrated circuits. Surrey NanoSystems’ new class of ultra low-k CVD dielectrics exhibit properties that extend their application beyond i.c. processing.

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Contacts:
Media contacts:
Ben Jensen
Surrey NanoSystems
t: +44 (0) 1273 515899
Tim Bullock
New Wave Ventures
t: +44 (0) 20 7520 9432

Surrey NanoSystems
Euro Business Park, Building 24
Newhaven, BN9 0DQ, UK.
t: +44 (0)1273 515899
www.surreynanosystems.com