December 12, 2024 /SemiMedia/ — ROHM Co., Ltd., a leading global semiconductor manufacturer, has announced a strategic partnership with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC) to advance the development and mass production of automotive gallium nitride (GaN) power devices.

The collaboration aims to integrate ROHM’s expertise in GaN device development with TSMC’s industry-leading GaN-on-Silicon process technology, addressing the growing demand for high-voltage and high-frequency power components.

Currently, GaN power devices are primarily used in consumer electronics and industrial applications, such as AC adapters and server power supplies. As a leader in sustainable and green manufacturing, TSMC is strengthening its GaN technology capabilities, anticipating significant environmental benefits for automotive applications, including on-board chargers and inverters for electric vehicles (EVs).

This partnership builds on the longstanding collaboration between ROHM and TSMC in the GaN power device domain. In 2023, ROHM introduced new products in its EcoGaN™ series, leveraging TSMC’s 650V GaN HEMT process. These products have been adopted in various consumer electronics and industrial applications, including Delta Electronics’ Innergie brand 45W AC adapter “C4 Duo.”

Takumi Oh, ROHM Director and Managing Executive Officer, stated, “GaN devices, capable of high-frequency operation, are highly anticipated for their compact size, energy efficiency, and contribution to achieving a carbon-neutral society. Reliable partnerships are essential to realize these advantages in practical applications. We are delighted to collaborate with TSMC, a leader in advanced manufacturing technologies. Building on this partnership, we will also promote the adoption of GaN power devices in automotive applications by providing user-friendly solutions, including control ICs optimized to maximize GaN performance.”

Jensen Li, Senior Director of Business Development for Specialty Technology at TSMC, added, “As we advance the next generation of GaN process technology, TSMC and ROHM are expanding our partnership to develop and produce automotive GaN power devices. By combining TSMC’s semiconductor manufacturing expertise with ROHM’s strengths in power device design, we aim to drive innovation in GaN technology and extend its applications, particularly in electric vehicles.”