Imagine the electronics in your phone, but built to survive the freezing cold and radiation of deep space. This project replaces old silicon parts with a new material called Gallium Nitride, which acts like a more efficient engine for electricity. It allows satellites to be lighter and use less power without breaking down in the harsh vacuum of space.
Europe currently relies on external countries for GaN transistor supply chains, creating a strategic vulnerability. Additionally, standard transistors fail in space due to radiation and extreme temperatures, risking mission failure.
A non-dependent European supply chain for GaN transistors, including two iterations of design, manufacturing, and radiation/thermal testing.
If you are a satellite manufacturer dealing with high equipment mass and power leakage — this project developed GaN transistors that reduce mass and power consumption. This allows for larger payloads without increasing the overall satellite weight.
If you are a SATCOM provider dealing with the need for high-power RF amplifiers in orbit — this project developed specialized GaN components that handle high power more efficiently. This ensures your high-speed communication services remain competitive and reliable.
If you are a component supplier dealing with a dependency on non-European supply chains for GaN tech — this project developed a non-dependent European supply chain for design and manufacturing. This secures your production against external geopolitical risks.
Based on available project data, specific pricing or cost per unit is not provided.
The project includes a research foundry (IMEC) and a wafer processing company (DISCO HI-TEC), indicating a path toward industrial manufacturing capabilities.
Based on available project data, specific IP and licensing terms are not disclosed, though the consortium consists of 4 partners across 3 countries.
The project runs from 2023-01-01 to 2026-12-31, incorporating two complete design, manufacturing, and testing cycles.
They are designed for Spacecraft Electrical Power Systems (EPS), specifically for motor drivers, RF power amplifier bias networks, and DC/DC converters.
The consortium is highly industry-driven with a 75% industry ratio, consisting of 4 partners. It vertically integrates the entire value chain: design (SEMI ZABALA), foundry (IMEC), wafer processing (DISCO HI-TEC), and end-user packaging/integration (SENER). This structure minimizes the gap between research and market deployment.
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Contact us to explore integration of European GaN technology into your satellite power architecture.
