SEMI, in collaboration with strategic investing groups throughout the global semiconductor industry, has announced the Silicon Innovation Forum, or SIF, to bridge funding gaps for new and early-stage companies with valuable semiconductor manufacturing and technology solutions. SIF will be held in conjunction with SEMICON West, on July 9, 2013 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, Calif. The event will consist of a one-half day conference highlighted by investment presentations from new and emerging companies with innovative technology solutions targeted at next generation semiconductors. The Silicon Innovation Forum is being organized by leading strategic investment groups in the industry including Applied Ventures, Dow Chemical Company, Intel Capital, Micron Ventures, TEL Venture Capital, and Samsung Ventures.

"At a time when the need for new ideas and technologies has never been greater, venture capital and private funding sources for advanced semiconductor technology development has significantly declined over the past decade, threatening the future of Moore's Law and the economic engine of today's connected, electronic society," said Denny McGuirk, president and CEO of SEMI. "The Silicon Innovation Forum will address these funding gaps by providing a platform for new and emerging innovators, strategic investors, and venture capitalists to discuss the needs and requirements for next-generation technologies, and provide insights into technology, capital, partnership, and collaboration strategies necessary for mutual success."

This collaboration of leading strategic investor groups from throughout the world has formed to streamline and accelerate partnership opportunities for technology entrepreneurs to bridge the gap between R&D and product development funding. The Forum will provide short-term business opportunities for early / mid-stage companies, R&D entrepreneurs from larger companies, and other industry innovators — while addressing long-term structural changes to the industry necessary to foster a healthy innovation pipeline.

New and emerging companies can showcase their innovations through table top and/or poster displays for one-on-one meetings with qualified investors, plus showcase their ideas during short pitches during the SiF Conference. The SIF Conference will be free to all SEMICON West attendees, but the Innovation Showcase and Reception for one-on-one presentation and meeting opportunities will be restricted to qualified partnership and investor groups.

Solid State Technology | Volume 56 | Issue 2 | February | 2013