Press Release
June 15, 2022

Silicon Catalyst welcomes EMD Electronics as Newest Strategic Partner

Expanding Incubation for emerging electronic semiconductor material innovators

Silicon Valley, California - June 15, 2022 - Silicon Catalyst, the world’s only incubator focused exclusively on accelerating solutions in silicon, announces that EMD Electronics has become its 10th Strategic Partner. In addition to EMD Electronics gaining a first-hand view of early-stage companies targeting the AI, Big Data, IoT and 5G semiconductor application markets, the companies will work together to screen and select entrepreneurial teams developing innovative electronic materials required for next-generation semiconductor devices.

EMD Electronics is the North American electronics business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, operating across the life science, healthcare and electronics segments. Today, EMD Electronics has approximately 2,000 employees around the country, with regional offices in Tempe, Arizona and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

“We are excited about our partnership with Silicon Catalyst. By leveraging their unique incubator ecosystem, we will be able to create relationships with early-stage start-ups that are working to address critical challenges in the semiconductors and Electronics industry. We look forward to accelerating innovation through our strategic collaboration,” stated Dr. John Langan, Chief Technology Officer, EMD Electronics.

Silicon Catalyst has created a unique ecosystem to provide critical support to semiconductor hardware startups as they move from idea through prototype to initial product. Since its founding in 2015, Silicon Catalyst has reviewed over 600 early-stage companies and has admitted 48 startups into the incubator. These Portfolio Companies have access to tools and services from a comprehensive network of In-Kind Partners (IKPs) -- including design tools, simulation software, design services, foundry PDK accessand MPW runs, test program development and tester access -- that dramatically reduce the cost of chip development. Additionally, the startups tap into the world-class Silicon Catalyst ecosystem of advisors, investors and academic research organizations.

“Silicon Catalyst recognizes that semiconductor innovations increasingly involve the introduction of new materials and processes to enhance sensing and computing functions. We are therefore expanding the focus of our incubator beyond mainstream memory- and logic-based processes and into MEMS, sensors, photonics and semiconductor materials and processes in response to the need for electronics to interact with the world and respond locally,” stated Dan Armbrust, co-founder and board director at Silicon Catalyst. “Industry stakeholders are joining Silicon Catalyst to have a early and first-hand view as to what is happening in these areas and we are growing our ecosystem to meet these needs. We welcome EMD Electronics into this ecosystem and value their insights and interest in emerging electronic materials and their use in foundry processes and next-generation devices.”

“EMD Electronics believes in the power of collaboration to advance technology and innovation. By working with Silicon Catalyst on our outreach campaign, we will have a unique opportunity to engage with startups that share our passion for science and technology and our drive to fuel the new cycle of semiconductor innovation. The potential brought by our partnership with Silicon Catalyst is truly exciting for our electronics business,” stated Dr. Jacob Woodruff, Head of Technology Scouting & Partnerships, EMD Electronics.

About EMD Electronics

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, operates across life science, healthcare and electronics. More than 60,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people’s lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From advancing gene editing technologies and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices – the company is everywhere. In 2021, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, generated sales of € 19.7 billion in 66 countries.

The company holds the global rights to the name and trademark “Merck” internationally. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, operate as MilliporeSigma in life science, EMD Serono in healthcare and EMD Electronics in electronics. Since its founding in 1668, scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to the company’s technological and scientific advances. To this day, the founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. More information can be found at www.emdgroup.com

About Silicon Catalyst

It’s About What’s Next® - Silicon Catalyst is the world’s only incubator focused exclusively on accelerating solutions in silicon (including IP, MEMS & sensors), building a coalition of in-kind and strategic partners to dramatically reduce the cost and complexity of development. More than 600 startup companies worldwide have engaged with Silicon Catalyst and we have admitted 44 exciting companies. Silicon Power Technology, our Chengdu Joint Venture, has admitted 35 additional startups in China. With a world-class network of mentors to advise startups, Silicon Catalyst is helping new semiconductor companies address the challenges in moving from idea to realization. The incubator/accelerator supplies startups with a path to design tools, silicon devices, networking, access to funding, banking and marketing acumen to successfully launch and grow their companies’ novel technology solutions. Silicon Catalyst has been named the Semiconductor Review’s 2021 Top-10 Solutions Company award winner.

The Silicon Catalyst Angels was established in July 2019 as a separate organization to provide access to seed and Series A funding for Silicon Catalyst portfolio companies.

More information is available at www.siliconcatalyst.com and www.siliconcatalystangels.com.