A novel characterization- and reliability-oriented simulation software for dielectric-based nano-electronic devices

Informations projet

MDLab Ginestra

N° de convention de subvention: 663503

DOI

10.3030/663503

Projet clôturé

Date de signature de la CE 20 Janvier 2015

Date de début 1 Février 2015

Date de fin 31 Juillet 2015

Financé au titre de

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies - Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

Coût total

€ 71 429,00

Contribution de l’UE

€ 50 000,00

Coordonné par

MDLAB SRL
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MDLab Ginestra (A novel characterization- and reliability-oriented simulation software for dielectric-based nano-electronic devices)

Période du rapport: 2015-02-01 au 2015-07-31

Résumé du contexte et des objectifs généraux du projet

MDLab has developed a novel micro- and nano-electronic devices simulation software focused on the physical phenomena occurring in the dielectric layers. The MDLab software has several distinctive features (i.e. automatic interpretation and calibration, full reliability simulation, etc.) compared to the TCAD software available on the market, which represents a great opportunity to successfully enter the market by responding to needs currently not covered by competitive commercial TCAD tools. Thanks to a novel user interface concept designed to be intuitive, a broad adoption of the software is also expected from non-simulation-experts. MDLab aims at becoming a European and worldwide company developing simulation software for electronic devices, changing the way simulation tools are used in the semiconductor industry, thanks to the friendly and flexible interface connecting electronic device performance/reliability to atomic device properties.

The specific objectives of the project are:
 to assess the Technical feasibility of the product (testing prototype efficiency);
 to assess “Ginestra” Economic viability (potential in terms of EU market penetration).

Travail effectué depuis le début du projet jusqu’à la fin de la période considérée dans le rapport et principaux résultats atteints jusqu’à présent

1) To assess the technical feasibility we established an internal testing procedure comprising the following tests to be performed on the prototype, dedicated to i) verify the functionality of every module of the software including the Graphical User Interface (GUI); ii) test the software performances in terms of its capabilities to reproduce experimental data, i.e. electrical curves measured on electronic device and to interpret the electrical curves in terms of the device material and geometry properties, and iii) test the computational efficiency (e.g. speed, convergence) and intuitiveness of the GUI. In addition, MDLab provided Ginestra software to some customers (in Europe, USA and Taiwan) in order to be used and tested by them so as to return their feedbacks, through ad hoc questionnaires, on the product performance in terms of software installation/update, software usage and technical support. Both internal and external tests have confirmed the technical feasibility of Ginestra and its superiority compared to existing TCAD products.
2) We carried out a market analysis –comprising risks and sensitivity analysis- to verify Ginestra economic viability in terms of market trends, competitors and competitive solutions, potential customers identification/description as well as exploitation model. Moreover, we developed a detailed Business Plan for the next 5 years, attached.
The outcome from these studies is significant with regard to:
• market growth: 11.9% from 2013 to 2014 (with a significant share in Europe).
• competitors and their solutions: there are no available products able to compete with Ginestra in terms of usage scope, technical features, user-friendliness).
• capability to respond to identified market (potential customers) needs.

Progrès au-delà de l’état des connaissances et impact potentiel prévu (y compris l’impact socio-économique et les conséquences sociétales plus larges du projet jusqu’à présent)

For a detailed description of the impact of the project, please refer to the business plan attached.

Is given below a summary of expected revenues for the years 2016-2020:
- 2016: euro 227.000
- 2017: euro 516.000
- 2018: euro 1.482.000
- 2019: euro 3.856.000
- 2020: euro 9.588.000

Using “Ginestra”, customers can benefit of the following advantages:
● reduced time-to-market
● decrease technology development costs;
● simplify the calibration on new technology;
● improve quality monitoring;
● save time required for the “characterization”;
● optimize reliability mechanisms at the device level.

Software's main screens