Santa Barbara, CA, and Shanghai, China, 19 April 2016 – Innovative Micro Technology (IMT), the largest provider of MEMS (Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems) technology and manufacturing services in the United States, and SITRI, the innovation center for accelerating the development and commercialization of “More than Moore” solutions to power the Internet of Things, today announced the signing of a strategic partnership agreement to establish “foundry-ready” capabilities for new and emerging MEMS sensors and systems.
MEMS are key elements in creating various types of miniaturized sensors embedded in today’s electronics. From fitness bands, smartphones, and tablets to automobiles, appliances, and other connected devices, these sensors help to realize the Internet of Things (IoT) network. Given the explosive growth of IoT and the need for more intelligent sensors, this partnership will help accelerate the development of the MEMS ecosystem within China; and, it will provide sensor companies and fabless startups working with SITRI to have greater access to IMT’s manufacturing capabilities, including its turnkey MEMS mass production solutions. Coupled with IMT’s and SITRI’s deep industrial and technical expertise in MEMS development and commercialization, customers can also gain access to IP, design and process integration capabilities critical to the successful development of new MEMS-based components and systems. “The China MEMS industry is one of the fastest growing markets in the world. SITRI is a world-renowned organization, and forming a strong partnership is critical for facilitating the connection between IMT MEMS capabilities and Chinese customers,” said Craig Ensley, President and CEO of IMT. “SITRI is establishing an R&D and pilot manufacturing infrastructure to leverage this expertise and engage with customers in this market as broadly as possible. We are extremely honored to be part of this new chapter in China’s industrial development, and we are happy to open the doors and welcome new customers in China.”
Since 2000, IMT has collaborated with hundreds of companies from early planning, process development, and integration to volume manufacturing. With almost 500 MEMS programs during that span, these companies have benefitted from IMT’s experience and expertise to reduce time to market of new MEMS devices.
“With the contribution of IMT’s MEMS open foundry and turnkey design service as a strategic partner of SITRI, we can greatly expand the opportunities for fabless MEMS startups to rapidly develop and commercialize their designs,” said Charles Yang, President of SITRI. “This is an important element in the emergence of a strong Chinese ecosystem that represents the largest MEMS market in the world.”
About Innovative Micro Technology
IMT is the world’s leading provider of MEMS technology and wafer manufacturing services in US with a diversified range of customers and processes. IMT was formed in 2000, specifically to produce MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems) devices. IMT’s 130,000 sq ft facility contains a 30,000 sq ft Class 100 clean room/fab, one of the largest and best-equipped independent MEMS fabs in the world. The company was built for volume manufacturing and provides complete manufacturing services from design through production. IMT currently has customers in diverse applications, including relays, medical diagnostics, drug delivery, biomedical implants and cell purifiers, microfluidics, displays, inertial navigation, optical communications, printing, gas sensors, chemical sensors, pressure sensors, night vision, IR emitters, telephone/DSL switching, RF devices, power management, and others. IMT’s overriding goal is to partner with companies to develop and manufacture products based on MEMS technology.
Contact: Theodore Chi: phone (805) 681-2852; fax (805) 967-2677; ted@imtmems.com; or visit www.imtmems.com.
About SITRI
SITRI (Shanghai Industrial µTechnology Research Institute) is an innovation center established to accelerate the development and commercialization of “More than Moore” technologies to power the Internet of Things. As a global organization, SITRI offers its partners and customers a 360-degree solution offering – from funding, IP and ecosystem development; to engineering services, marketing research, manufacturing resources and China market access, helping them more quickly move their ideas from concept to commercialization. For more information, visit www.sitrigroup.com or contact info@sitrigroup.com.