Semiconductor company Weebit Nano (ASX: WBT) has extended its strategic agreement with development partner CEA-Leti to incorporate additional activities across three key domains: further enhancements to Weebit’s ReRAM technology, development of the embedded memory module, and development of the selector for the standalone memory market.
In an update to the ASX, the company said the joint Weebit-Leti team is focused on further enhancing the efficiency and robustness of Weebit’s ReRAM as it prepares to transfer its technology to a production fab. Refinement of Weebit’s ReRAM technology is being carried out alongside key productisation and commercialisation steps, ensuring its technology remains industry-leading and attractive to potential customers and partners.
In parallel, Weebit and Leti are enhancing the capability of the embedded memory module, adding key functionality to better address customer needs and meet production levels. The company said it made the decision following discussions and input from industry experts and partners.
While the added functionality significantly increases its attractiveness to potential customers, it is expected to slightly push out the completion of the memory module design stage to June 2021. Weebit said this may slightly delay its ability to finalise a commercial agreement by the same time, however the company is taking steps to minimise this likelihood.
Weebit’s ReRAM memory module will be one of the first in the world to be integrated into a sub-system consisting of a processor, Static Random-Access Memory (SRAM), the ReRAM array and peripherals. Once complete, the module can be used as a development platform for customers developing applications such as low-energy IoT devices, security, sensors, etc., accelerating their development cycle.
Development work integrating Leti’s proprietary selector with Weebit’s ReRAM is continuing as planned, with the goal of demonstrating a working combined cell by September 2021.
Coby Hanoch, CEO of Weebit Nano, said: “We are delighted to be broadening Weebit’s strategic partnership with Leti beyond our initial plans. This includes enhancing the performance of our silicon oxide ReRAM technology to ensure it is even more competitive, resulting in a more efficient and robust memory technology. The extended agreement also allows us to upgrade the module to include enhanced and more advanced capabilities, better addressing future customer needs. We believe the enhanced module functionality will appeal to more potential customers as we look to secure first commercial agreements.
“Leti has been the ideal partner to assist Weebit in developing its next generation memory technology. While COVID-19 has impacted our development schedule and caused some unavoidable delays, our joint development team is working closely together and is now almost at full capacity. Travel limitations have prevented face-to-face design and review sessions, which would normally have a significant impact on our development schedules. However, we have managed to minimise this impact through mutual trust and co-operation.”
Thomas Signamarcheix, VP Strategic Development of CEA-Leti, said: “We are very excited to further extend our close partnership with Weebit, which now covers a much broader range of activities. Weebit’s technology is very impressive and we believe it has a very strong potential in the market, both as a memory IP as well as in the neuromorphic domain. We are proud to be Weebit’s development partner and are looking forward to many more years of joint development.”
