Latest news with #ReRAM
The Australian
04-08-2025
- Business
- The Australian
Weebit's IP fuels ReRAM ambitions
ReRAM is rising as Flash runs out of road Weebit's licensing model starts to deliver real dollars Big customers, big market, $8.07 target on the table Special Report: Weebit Nano's ReRAM tech is quietly locking into billion-dollar markets with a licensing model most ASX investors are only just starting to understand. If you want to understand why Weebit Nano (ASX:WBT)is starting to draw attention in the semiconductor world, you've got to start with a deceptively small acronym: ReRAM. Short for resistive random-access memory, ReRAM is part of a new breed of memory technology that's been waiting in the wings while Flash memory hogged the spotlight. But as the world moves towards AI-powered edge devices and autonomous everything, Flash has hit a wall. ReRAM, on the other hand, is built to scale - which is why Weebit is showing up on a few more investor radars. The case for ReRAM In today's world of edge computing - smartwatches, self-driving cars, factory floor sensors - devices are expected to do more with less. They need to be smart, secure, fast and frugal with power. The problem is that traditional Flash memory isn't playing ball. It simply can't shrink down to the chip sizes modern applications demand. That's where ReRAM shines. Read later: Why Weebit's ReRAM tech looks ready for the next era of smart devices Instead of storing data using electric charge like Flash, ReRAM does it by tweaking resistance - meaning it's less power-hungry and easier to embed directly onto the same chip as the processor. 'ReRAM seems to be the number one replacement technology. But we're not there yet, Weebit's not there yet, although making good progress, last week announcing its first product licence,' said Andrew Johnston, a senior analyst at MST Access. 'But we know that people can get there, we've got the example of TSMC.' Johnston said that TSMC, the world's most advanced chip manufacturer, was the only other company to successfully commercialise ReRAM. But because they develop and use their own tech, that leaves the rest of the global market - 85% by Johnston's estimate - wide open for Weebit to chase. Inside Weebit's IP engine Unlike traditional chipmakers who spend billions building factories (or "fabs"), Weebit doesn't manufacture anything. Instead, it licenses its ReRAM technology to other companies who integrate it into their chips. 'There's just not a lot of this sort of company listed in Australia,' Johnston observed. And that's why many ASX investors might not yet grasp just how powerful an IP licensing model can be. It's an asset-light approach that could prove highly rewarding, especially once the royalties start to roll in. 'The chip manufacturers license technology from Weebit to use in the manufacture of the chips they make. 'Receipts from customers that Weebit recorded is the payment of those licence fees. But it's the royalty payments where the big dollars are.' Here's how the model works: A chip manufacturer like onsemi or DB HiTek signs a licence agreement and pays an upfront fee. Then comes the technical dance known as 'qualification' - embedding Weebit's IP into their chipmaking process. That alone can take 18–24 months. Once done though, royalties start flowing every time those chips are sold to end customers. This isn't niche; it's the same licensing model used by industry giants like ARM, and even TSMC still licenses its IP. And because Weebit doesn't need fabs, inventory or warehouses, its gross margins are, frankly, off the charts. 'Gross margins on these businesses are going to be 90% or more,' said Johnston. 'There's no massive investment in capex, and not a lot of friction in between.' Validation from a giant For those still questioning Weebit's commercial traction, the January licence deal with US$25-billion market-capped onsemi (NASDAQ:ON) marked a huge step forward. onsemi is a Fortune 500 company, a Nasdaq 100 heavyweight, and, most importantly, a major supplier of chips to the automotive industry. 'They're a really important company,' Johnston pointed out. 'New cars have something like 1,000 chips in them and with Weebit's technology, the auto sector is a particularly important segment.' That deal wasn't just symbolic. According to Johnston's estimates, the upfront payment from onsemi may have landed between $2–3 million, seven to nine times what DB HiTek paid. That kind of cheque says more about the customer's conviction than the cash itself. 'The upfront fee is a rounding error compared with the dollars the chip manufacturers have to invest to get that technology into their manufacturing. 'It's a major sign they believe in the product.' And once the IP is embedded, it stays put. 'The process is a long one but once it's embedded, it tends to stick, bringing in revenues for years to come.' Why MST thinks Weebit could rise 4x Weebit shares are trading around $2.17, but MST has a valuation of $8.07 on the stock, almost 4x upside. That figure is based on a DCF model to FY33, with assumptions around licensing growth, royalty potential and business scalability. 'I can point you to a pathway to that $8,' Johnston said. 'The addressable market is probably number one. Number two, the quality of the IP and the validation. And then there's no capex, it can scale quickly.' Still, investors need to be patient. MST's forecasts only expect $4 million in revenue for FY25, rising to $9.6 million in FY26 and $30 million by FY27 - when royalty payments are expected to really kick in. So for those chasing strong franked income, Weebit might not be the right fit - at least for now. Licensing in a time of uncertainty The chip industry is indeed going through a generational shift. Building new fabs now costs tens of billions. As a result, even global leaders are becoming IP customers, opting to license tech like Weebit's rather than reinventing the wheel. Weebit has already signed two major customers, secured its first design licence with a product company last week, and is aiming to lock in two more IDM or foundry deals, plus two product company agreements, by year-end. Qualification with DB HiTek is the next major milestone. The company's tech has already passed AEC-Q100 automotive-grade standards and DB HiTek is preparing live demos of Weebit-enabled chips - a key signal to the market. DB HiTek is a foundry, making chips for other companies. On the other hand, onsemi is what's known as an integrated device manufacturer or IDM; they make and use their own chips. The difference matters, because IDMs often move faster from qualification to royalty generation, said Johnston. In short, there are many doors, and Weebit's knocking on all of them. This article was developed with support from Weebit Nano, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing. This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.
Business Wire
10-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Faraday Unveils FlashKit™-22RRAM: An eNVM-Based SoC Development Platform for IoT
HSINCHU, Taiwan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Faraday Technology Corporation (TWSE: 3035), a leading ASIC design service and IP provider, today introduced its latest FlashKit™ development platform, FlashKit™-22RRAM, designed to accelerate high-performance IoT and MCU applications. Built on UMC's 22ULP process, FlashKit™-22RRAM combines embedded Resistive RAM (RRAM, ReRAM) technology with a rich IP ecosystem and development-ready support, providing a cost-effective and power-efficient SoC solution for edge devices. Accelerate IoT and MCU SoC design and launch faster with FlashKit™-22RRAM The FlashKit™-22RRAM platform integrates a full-featured RRAM subsystem with DWORD access, delivering comparable performance with SST eFlash. This solution minimizes extra-mask requirements, making it highly suitable for consumer-grade eNVM applications, such as AIoT, smart home, wearables, and portable devices. It is silicon proven and fully prepared to support customers' fast ramp-up to volume production on UMC's 22ULP node. FlashKit™-22RRAM supports embedded CPU options including ARM Cortex-M7 and VeeR EH1 RISC-V, and integrates a comprehensive set of integrated IPs such as USB 3.0 Type-C, GMAC, and PLL. A built-in RRAM controller with built-in self-test (BIST) ensures streamlined data access and high production reliability. In additional, embedded FPGA (eFPGA) block is included for enhanced design flexibility and enabling post-silicon logic change, ECO, or GPIO re-assignment. 'FlashKit™-22RRAM demonstrates Faraday's continued commitment to delivering optimized platforms that reduce development effort and accelerate time-to-market,' said Flash Lin, COO of Faraday Technology. 'Our customers now have a highly integrated and cost-efficient path to bring differentiated eNVM-based products to market quickly, with the flexibility to scale for future needs.' About Faraday Technology Corporation Faraday Technology Corporation (TWSE: 3035) is dedicated to the mission of benefiting humanity and upholding sustainable values in every IC it handles. The company offers a comprehensive range of ASIC solutions, including 2.5D/3D Advanced packaging, Arm Cortex-A, R, M, A720AE, Neoverse CSS integration and hardening, FPGA-Go-ASIC, and design implementation services. Furthermore, its extensive silicon IP portfolio encompasses a wide array of offerings, such as I/O, Cell Library, Memory Compiler, DDR/LPDDR, MIPI D-PHY, V-by-One, USB, Giga Ethernet, SATA, PCIe, and SerDes. For further information, visit or follow Faraday on LinkedIn.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Weebit Nano and DB HiTek to demonstrate chips integrating Weebit ReRAM at PCIM 2025
Weebit's ultra-low-power, high-density NVM moves towards qualification in DB HiTek's BCD 130nm process HOD HASHARON, Israel and SEOUL, South Korea, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Weebit Nano Limited (ASX:WBT) (Weebit), a leading developer and licensor of advanced memory technologies for the global semiconductor industry, and tier-1 semiconductor foundry DB HiTek will show the first demonstration of DB HiTek's Bipolar-CMOS-DMOS (BCD) silicon integrating Weebit's Resistive Random-Access Memory (ReRAM) non-volatile memory (NVM) technology at PCIM 2025. PCIM is Europe's largest power semiconductor exhibition, being held in Nuremberg, Germany, from May 6-8, 2025. This is the latest step in the continued collaboration between the companies as they progress towards full qualification of Weebit's embedded ReRAM module in DB HiTek's 130nm BCD process, expected later this year. This process is ideal for analog, mixed-signal and high-voltage designs in consumer, industrial, IoT, and a range of other applications. Weebit ReRAM IP provides a high-density, low-power embedded NVM for these applications that is cost effective and has proven excellent retention at high temperatures. The edge AI demonstration, running on DB HiTek chips with embedded Weebit ReRAM, shows an application of gesture recognition. It was developed in collaboration with Nanoveu's (ASX: NVU) Embedded AI Systems Pte. Ltd. (EMASS) and will be shown in DB HiTek's booth 680 in Hall 7 at PCIM. Coby Hanoch, CEO of Weebit Nano, said: 'Our collaboration with DB HiTek, one of the world's leading foundries for mixed-signal and power integrated circuits, continues strongly and we are advancing steadily towards making our ReRAM IP available for production in its 130nm BCD process. This demo will provide a first look at the integrated technology and show the advantages of integrating ReRAM on-chip.' Ki-Seog Cho, CEO, DB HiTek, said: 'Weebit ReRAM provides a cost-effective and high-density non-volatile memory in our 130nm BCD process. We look forward to demonstrating the advantages of this innovative embedded IP to designers at PCIM. PCIM is a key show for DB HiTek as we expand our footprint in the growing European market, and we are delighted that Weebit will join us in our booth to highlight our integrated solution.' Weebit ReRAM will be qualified in DB HiTek's BCD 130nm process and ready for production in calendar 2025. Once qualified, DB HiTek will add Weebit's memory module to its BCD 130nm Process Design Kit (PDK). DB HiTek customers can use the standard 1Mb modules in the PDK or have modules customized for their needs. Weebit ReRAM is available now to select DB HiTek customers for design prototyping. About DB HiTek Headquartered in South Korea, DB HiTek Co., Ltd. is world leader in specialty foundry with a broad range of support services plus a robust portfolio of competitive process technologies that include Analog/Power (BCDMOS), CMOS Image Sensor (CIS), Mixed-Signal, High Voltage CMOS, RF HRS/SOI CMOS, Super Junction MOSFET technologies. For more information, visit About Weebit Nano Limited Weebit Nano Ltd. is a leading developer and licensor of advanced semiconductor memory technology. The company's ground-breaking Resistive RAM (ReRAM) non-volatile memory (NVM) addresses the growing need for significantly higher performance and lower power memory solutions in a range of electronic products such as AI, Internet of Things (IoT) and wearable devices, automotive, industrial automation, robotics, neuromorphic computing, and many others. For these applications, Weebit ReRAM allows semiconductor memory elements to be significantly faster, less expensive, more reliable and more energy efficient than those using existing flash memory solutions. As it is based on fab-friendly materials, the technology can be quickly and easily integrated with existing flows and processes, without the need for special equipment or large investments. See Weebit Nano and the Weebit Nano logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Weebit Nano Ltd. in the United States and other countries. Other company, product, and service names may be trademarks or service marks of others. Media – USJen Bernier-Santarini, Weebit NanoP: +1 650-336-4222E: jen@ Media – AustraliaDylan Mark, Automic GroupP: +61 475 783 675E: InvestorsDanny Younis, Automic GroupP: +61 420 293 042E:
