Silicon carbide is still a strong area in the Nordic region. In Sweden the activities started in 1990s, and Sweden positioned as innovative leader in development in crystal growth. The CS-PVT has been explored by Alminica founder Dr. Syväjärvi since 1996. The silicon carbide activities in Sweden have an up and down journey during last 30 years. After year 2000 there was a substantial reduction in funding from industry and national funding agencies in comparison to the one in 1990s. Silicon carbide is very relevant in the Chips Act, now new efforts come stronger, and the Nordics join forces. 

The Nordic Chip Collaboration initiative was established 2024 to enhance cooperation across the Nordics, strengthen the position of the region in the global semiconductor market, and contribute to a greener, more sustainable industry. The event was to bring stakeholders for discussion and exchange. The “Nordic Chip Report” was also released.  

Alminica participated at the roundtable discussion about “Nordic positioning: Sustainability in Semiconductors”. It was noted that the semiconductor industry is being described as a "black box" when it comes to sustainability data sharing. It is difficult to get companies to adopt new sustainable processes. There will be a challenge of balancing sustainability regulations with maintaining competitiveness. From investment point of view, it was discussed how industry can afford to put more regulations in the sustainability space when they barely get any investments in the first place. Alminica shared their digital transition for business and sustainability initiative explored with the silicon carbide pilot about creating values by shared data and digitalization.  

It was evident that silicon carbide has a part in what happens and what will happen. Alminica interest is in how to make more values from SiC epilayers grown by CS-PVT for emerging technologies, such as rePowerSiC. It is obvious from today’s wafer manufacturing that the price challenge will also be for CS-PVT. A challenge is in coming to a financially viable manufacturing. That is where shared data and digitalization come in. Creating digital assets of physical products is to add a new dimension in how business will evolve and be competitive.