SILTRONIC AG

Their core work

Siltronic AG is a major silicon wafer manufacturer supplying the global semiconductor industry with high-purity substrate materials. In H2020, they contribute advanced silicon and engineered substrates — including SOI (Silicon-on-Insulator) and materials for GaN (Gallium Nitride) epitaxy — to European pilot lines and technology development projects. Their role is upstream in the semiconductor value chain: they provide the base wafers on which chips for power electronics, RF communications, and emerging quantum computing are built. With 11 projects and EUR 3.1M in EC funding, they are a consistent industrial contributor to Europe's semiconductor sovereignty efforts.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015–2018), Siltronic focused on GaN pilot lines for compact power applications (PowerBase), RF-optimized SOI substrates (REFERENCE, WAYTOGO FAST), and digital factory concepts (Productive4.0). From 2019 onward, the focus sharpened toward vertical GaN power devices (UltimateGaN, YESvGaN), European semiconductor supply chain resilience (Power2Power's "Made in Europe" theme), 5G/RFSOI for communications (BEYOND5), and quantum computing materials (MATQu). The clear trend is a widening of their substrate portfolio from classical silicon toward wide-bandgap and quantum-grade materials, while simultaneously deepening engagement with European strategic autonomy initiatives in semiconductors.

Siltronic is expanding from classical silicon into wide-bandgap (GaN) and quantum computing substrates, positioning itself as Europe's go-to wafer supplier for next-generation semiconductor technologies.

How they like to work

Siltronic participates exclusively as a partner, never as coordinator — consistent with a large material supplier that contributes specialized upstream expertise rather than managing research agendas. With 327 unique consortium partners across 25 countries, they operate within large ECSEL-style consortia (often 30+ partners), which reflects the European electronics ecosystem model. This makes them a reliable, low-friction industrial partner: they deliver wafer materials and specifications without competing for project leadership.

Siltronic has collaborated with 327 unique partners across 25 countries, making them one of the most broadly connected wafer suppliers in H2020. Their network spans the full European semiconductor value chain — from equipment makers to chip designers to end-use application companies.

What sets them apart

Siltronic occupies a critical upstream position that few other H2020 participants can match: they are one of the world's top five silicon wafer manufacturers and the only major European-headquartered one. For any consortium developing new semiconductor devices — whether power electronics, RF/5G, or quantum — Siltronic provides the literal foundation material. Their willingness to participate in 11 EU projects signals genuine commitment to European supply chain development, not just token involvement.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PowerBase
  Largest single EC contribution (EUR 621K) — focused on GaN pilot lines for compact power applications, representing Siltronic's core substrate expertise.
• YESvGaN
  Targets vertical GaN-on-Silicon to deliver wide-bandgap power at silicon cost — a potential industry game-changer where Siltronic's wafer expertise is directly enabling.
• MATQu
  Marks Siltronic's entry into quantum computing materials (2021), signaling strategic diversification beyond classical semiconductors.