A Danish-Dutch consortium has launched the NG QDMM project, which aims to develop a new generation of quantum-based analysis technology for the semiconductor industry. With support from Innovation Fund Denmark and a Eurostars grant, the project focuses on visualising electrical currents and defects in advanced microchips – quickly, accurately and without destructive methods.
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Delen
The technology utilises measurements of extremely weak magnetic fields via NV centres in synthetic diamond. This enables current paths to be visualised in real time and with sub-micrometre resolution, something that is scarcely possible with existing analysis techniques. This can significantly reduce the turnaround time for failure analysis and limit the wastage of costly test chips.
In addition to its application in failure analysis, the technology has been designed with a view to future use in production and process monitoring. This shifts chip diagnostics from a reactive to an increasingly preventive tool, with a direct impact on production yield and time to market.
Eurofins MASER, based at Kennispark Twente, plays a key role within the consortium by validating the technology in industrial use cases.
According to CEO Thijs Kempers, this role is logical: “We work daily at the limits of what is measurable in advanced chips. This technology fits seamlessly with the direction the sector is moving in: faster insights, higher reliability and analysis that is closer to production.”
Thijs also emphasises that Twente does not play a supporting role in this: “We could certainly be a little less modest. From Twente, we provide expertise that is used worldwide. We do this in collaboration with education, knowledge institutions and initiatives such as ChipTech Twente, and that creates high-quality employment in the region.”
The project will run for three years and has a total budget of DKK 42.9 million.
