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Smoltek's CNF-MIM technology offers a competitive alternative to silicon capacitors for ultra-thin high-performance capacitors used in processors for mobile phones and computers. The next-generation capacitors, Gen-One, is planned to be completed by the end of 2024, matching competitors in performance with an exceptionally thin form factor. The strategic objective is to pair up with a financially strong partner for the industrialization and commercialization of the capacitors.
Smoltek has made sigÂnifÂiÂcant progress in both techÂniÂcal develÂopÂment and creÂatÂing an indusÂtriÂal process for high-volÂume proÂducÂtion of the company’s capacÂiÂtor techÂnolÂoÂgy, CNF-MIM. The goal is to comÂplete the develÂopÂment of the next genÂerÂaÂtion, Gen-One, durÂing the fall of 2024. A new genÂerÂaÂtion that is expectÂed to delivÂer carÂbon nanofiber capacÂiÂtors that are comÂmerÂcialÂly comÂpetÂiÂtive with the leadÂing techÂnolÂoÂgy for ultra-thin capacÂiÂtors, such as the latÂest trench silÂiÂcon capacÂiÂtors made by TSMC/​Apple.
We have made sigÂnifÂiÂcant progress in our semiÂconÂducÂtor subÂsidiary, Smoltek Semi. In 2024, we expect to reach techÂniÂcal perÂforÂmance for our capacÂiÂtors that matchÂes the comÂpetiÂtors, comÂbined with an extremeÂly thin form facÂtor. This is exactÂly what the marÂket demands. Now that we are no longer bound by excluÂsivÂiÂty agreeÂments in the semiÂconÂducÂtor area, we can start diaÂlogues with sevÂerÂal potenÂtial colÂlabÂoÂraÂtion partÂners. Our focus for 2024 is to conÂtinÂue the techÂnoÂlogÂiÂcal develÂopÂment and creÂate new collaborations.
HÃ¥kan PersÂson, CEO of Smoltek
UpdatÂed strateÂgic conÂdiÂtions for Smoltek Semi
Smoltek is seekÂing finanÂcialÂly strong partÂners through a bidÂding process aimÂing to bring this techÂnolÂoÂgy to marÂket and supÂport conÂtinÂued techÂnoÂlogÂiÂcal develÂopÂment and new collaborations.
To ensure long-term sucÂcess and conÂtinÂued innoÂvaÂtion, Smoltek has launched a bidÂding process, which was announced in a press release on May 22, 2024. Through this process, interÂestÂed parÂties are sought for a potenÂtial sale of conÂcepts and intanÂgiÂble assets in the semiÂconÂducÂtor busiÂness area, includÂing Smoltek’s CNF-MIM techÂnolÂoÂgy for ultra-thin capacÂiÂtors, which is operÂatÂed by the subÂsidiary Smoltek Semi AB, alterÂnaÂtiveÂly all or parts of this subÂsidiary. The process is estiÂmatÂed to take 6–12 months.
New income opporÂtuÂniÂties for indusÂtriÂal colÂlabÂoÂraÂtion partÂners
Smoltek’s capacÂiÂtors offer new opporÂtuÂniÂties for sales income in sevÂerÂal marÂket segÂments, from preÂmiÂum secÂtors such as the mobile indusÂtry and advanced elecÂtronÂics to simÂpler appliÂcaÂtions such as RF filÂters. The annuÂal net sales potenÂtial is estiÂmatÂed at approxÂiÂmateÂly 1,000 MSEK durÂing the periÂod 2030 to 2034. The capacÂiÂtors can be manÂuÂfacÂtured cost-effecÂtiveÂly thanks to a CMOS-comÂpatÂiÂble proÂducÂtion process that is cheapÂer than comÂpetÂing alterÂnaÂtives and uses existÂing machines at conÂtract manÂuÂfacÂturÂers. This enables colÂlabÂoÂraÂtion partÂners to effecÂtiveÂly address mulÂtiÂple segÂments with good profitability.
Since the negoÂtiÂaÂtions with Yageo Group unexÂpectÂedÂly endÂed in March 2024, Smoltek is now able to broadÂly offer interÂestÂed parÂties the opporÂtuÂniÂty to subÂmit bids for license agreeÂments or the acquiÂsiÂtion of all or part of the assets in Smoltek Semi. With the end of excluÂsivÂiÂty agreeÂments, there are no longer any restricÂtions on negoÂtiÂaÂtions or bids for Smoltek’s CNF-MIM technology.
Focus on capÂiÂtal and partÂnerÂship for Smoltek Semi
In addiÂtion to conÂtinÂued techÂnolÂoÂgy develÂopÂment, Smoltek Semi is now focusÂing on attractÂing exterÂnal capÂiÂtal from one or more partÂners to take the techÂnolÂoÂgy to indusÂtriÂalÂizaÂtion. The comÂpaÂny is priÂmarÂiÂly aimed at indusÂtriÂal actors and venÂture capÂiÂtalÂists with extenÂsive indusÂtry knowlÂedge. By the end of 2024, the Gen-One results will be preÂsentÂed to Yageo and their comÂpetiÂtors, with the expecÂtaÂtion that the techÂnolÂoÂgy will be comÂpetÂiÂtive and partÂnerÂship diaÂlogues will be iniÂtiÂatÂed with sevÂerÂal playÂers. Smoltek’s shareÂholdÂers are mainÂly expectÂed to benÂeÂfit from royÂalÂty income from sevÂerÂal playÂers and/​or a posÂsiÂble sale of the subÂsidiary to one or more partners.
NecÂesÂsary hardÂware to meet cusÂtomers’ high techÂnolÂoÂgy requireÂments
SemiÂconÂducÂtor is the colÂlecÂtive name for the mateÂriÂals that conÂduct elecÂtricÂiÂty under speÂcifÂic conÂdiÂtions, and it is an indisÂpensÂable comÂpoÂnent in modÂern elecÂtronÂics. They are found in everyÂthing from smartÂphones and lapÂtops to cars and medÂical equipÂment. SemiÂconÂducÂtors are also cruÂcial for techÂnoloÂgies such as artiÂfiÂcial intelÂliÂgence (AI) and the InterÂnet of Things (IoT), makÂing the semiÂconÂducÂtor indusÂtry cenÂtral to the globÂal econÂoÂmy. Major semiÂconÂducÂtor comÂpaÂnies such as Nvidia, TSMC and BroadÂcom are among the most highÂly valÂued comÂpaÂnies listÂed on the globÂal stock markets.
Smoltek’s capacÂiÂtor techÂnolÂoÂgy is an imporÂtant hardÂware comÂpoÂnent to meet the high demands of the techÂnolÂoÂgy develÂopÂment withÂin AI, 5G/​6G and advanced driÂver assisÂtance sysÂtems (ADAS). The marÂket requires a new genÂerÂaÂtion of capacÂiÂtors that are extremeÂly thin with high capacÂiÂtance denÂsiÂty, which can be placed close to the active powÂer source or procesÂsor chip to meet perÂforÂmance and funcÂtionÂalÂiÂty requireÂments. With the conÂtinÂued develÂopÂment of semiÂconÂducÂtor manÂuÂfacÂturÂers and the increasÂing need for smallÂer and more effiÂcient comÂpoÂnents, the marÂket for extremeÂly thin capacÂiÂtors is expectÂed to expand in the comÂing years, conÂfirmed by indusÂtry-speÂcifÂic entities.
CurÂrentÂly, the leadÂing capacÂiÂtor techÂnolÂoÂgy that meets marÂket demands is not comÂmerÂcialÂly availÂable, as it was develÂoped excluÂsiveÂly in a partÂnerÂship between Apple and TSMC. This creÂates opporÂtuÂniÂties for othÂer playÂers, such as Smoltek. In April 2024, Smoltek announced that its CNF-MIM capacÂiÂtors (Gen-One) are expectÂed to be comÂmerÂcialÂly comÂpetÂiÂtive with the leadÂing techÂnolÂoÂgy. Gen-One capacÂiÂtors, based on Smoltek’s nanÂotechÂnolÂoÂgy-based CNF-MIM platÂform, will proÂvide a founÂdaÂtion for future manÂuÂfacÂturÂing of ultra-thin capacÂiÂtors with high capacÂiÂtance density.
The semiÂconÂducÂtor indusÂtry’s chalÂlenges and opporÂtuÂniÂties
The semiÂconÂducÂtor indusÂtry has faced chalÂlenges in recent years, such as disÂruptÂed supÂply chains durÂing the panÂdemÂic and geopoÂlitÂiÂcal tenÂsions in Asia, where 90% of the world’s most advanced chips are manÂuÂfacÂtured. The UnitÂed States, EU and othÂer regions have comÂmitÂted bilÂlions through iniÂtiaÂtives such as the EuroÂpean Chips Act and the CHIPS and SciÂence Act to strengthÂen regionÂal manufacturing.
The indusÂtry is expectÂed to grow rapidÂly, driÂven by conÂtinÂued demand for elecÂtronÂics and techÂnoÂlogÂiÂcal advanceÂments, while proÂducÂtion capacÂiÂty in Europe and the UnitÂed States is being greatÂly expandÂed with part-financÂing from regionÂal proÂgrams. The capacÂiÂtor, which is a basic comÂpoÂnent in all semiÂconÂducÂtor-based sysÂtems, is in conÂstant need of improveÂment. Smoltek has the necÂesÂsary techÂnolÂoÂgy to become a key playÂer withÂin ultra-thin capacÂiÂtors but needs the right colÂlabÂoÂraÂtion partÂners and capÂiÂtal to reach the market.
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News
June 27, 2025
Smoltek Semi has cleared a significant milestone in the development of next-generation CNF-MIM capacitors. Samples from the latest prototype generation, fabricated with an advanced dielectric stack composed of zirconium oxide (ZrO₂) and aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) have demonstrated exceptional stability under both temperature and voltage stress.
News
June 18, 2025
Smoltek Semi has initiated the signing of a technical service agreement with the Taiwanese Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) that enables low-volume production of Smoltek's propriety CNF-MIM capacitors.
News
June 11, 2025
Smoltek Semi has successfully engineered an advanced dielectric stack that surpasses 1 microfarad per Square millimeter capacitance milestone.
News
June 11, 2025
Smoltek Semi develops CNF-MIM – a proprietary capacitor technology based on carbon nanofibers, which is intended to meet the demands of next-generation electronics, including applications in AI, smartphones and automotive electronics.
News
April 28, 2025
Smoltek is awarded yet another patent in the Discrete CNF-MIM patent family. The innovation discloses a discrete capacitor component based on our CNF-MIM technology that can achieve unparalleled high capacitance density. This also brings our IP portfolio to comprise 95 granted patents.
News
March 25, 2025
Smoltek Semi and the Taiwanese Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) have finalized the technical framework for the establishment of a pilot production line for Smoltek's CNF-MIM capacitors at ITRI.