CEA sells its stake in Exagan

CEA has announced that CEA Investissement, its strategic investment fund, is selling its stake in Exagan, a major innovator in gallium-nitride semiconductor technology, to STMicroelectronics, a global leader in the field of semiconductors, delivering to customers across the full spectrum of electronics applications. Exagan is a Soitec and CEA-Leti spin-off specializing in the design of advanced powerelectronics devices using gallium nitride (GaN) on 200mm silicon wafers. In 2019, it achieved excellent performance with the delivery of its first samples to customers. For more than 20 years, scientists have explored the electronic characteristics of GaN and its potential for enabling the manufacture of a new class of power-electronics components designed to accelerate energy transition by doubling energy-conversion efficiency to 4 percent. GaN also enables production of more compact solutions for power modules, optimizes cooling systems for the automotive industry and reduces system costs. GaN-based components have many applications, including battery chargers, industrial power converters, a wide range of motor-control systems and, in the near future, electric and hybrid vehicles. Exagan was launched in 2014.