SPTS TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED

Their core work

SPTS Technologies is a semiconductor equipment manufacturer specializing in etch, deposition, and wafer-level packaging processes used in chip fabrication. Based in Newport, UK, they supply process tools and expertise to semiconductor fabs and research pilot lines across Europe. In H2020 projects, they contribute equipment know-how and process development for advanced semiconductor manufacturing — from GaN power devices to sub-2nm node IC technology. Their role is enabling others to manufacture next-generation chips by providing the physical tools and process recipes required.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their early H2020 work (2015-2018) centered on compound semiconductors — specifically GaN pilot lines for power electronics and micro-fabrication for medical devices. By 2020, their focus shifted decisively toward advanced silicon IC technology at the 2nm node, with keywords spanning lithography, metrology, DTCO/STCO, and heterogeneous integration. This progression mirrors the broader industry trend from application-specific compound semiconductors toward pushing the limits of mainstream IC scaling.

SPTS is moving toward the frontier of semiconductor miniaturization and heterogeneous integration, making them a relevant partner for any consortium working on next-generation chip manufacturing in Europe.

How they like to work

SPTS consistently participates as a partner rather than leading consortia, which is typical for an equipment supplier contributing specialized tools and process knowledge to larger initiatives. Their 106 unique partners across 17 countries indicate involvement in very large ECSEL-type consortia — the mega-projects of European semiconductor R&D. This means they are well-networked across the European electronics ecosystem but function as a specialist contributor rather than a project driver.

With 106 consortium partners across 17 countries from just 3 projects, SPTS is embedded in the large-scale ECSEL semiconductor consortia that define European chip R&D. Their network spans the major semiconductor-producing countries of Europe.

What sets them apart

SPTS occupies a specific niche as a UK-based semiconductor equipment manufacturer — a rare profile in European H2020 consortia where most equipment players are headquartered in continental Europe or Asia. Their ability to contribute process tools across both compound semiconductors (GaN) and advanced silicon nodes makes them versatile for different types of pilot line projects. For consortium builders, they bring the physical manufacturing capability that turns research designs into fabricated wafers.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PowerBase
  Largest SPTS funding (EUR 113K) and focused on GaN pilot lines for compact power applications — a strategic area for European semiconductor sovereignty.
• IT2
  Targets the 2nm IC node, placing SPTS at the absolute frontier of semiconductor miniaturization in a major ECSEL initiative.
• InForMed
  Demonstrates cross-sector versatility — applying semiconductor fabrication expertise to medical device manufacturing.