Silanna Semiconductor

Silanna Semiconductor (previously known as Sapphicon Semiconductor) is an Australian-owned advanced semiconductor design and manufacturing facility that was incorporated in 1996.  Silanna delivers high performance integrated circuits into the global space, defence, medical and consumer markets. Devices manufactured in their Sydney facility have been used in many of the United States’ satellites that have been launched over the last few years, with the well renowned Mars Rovers Spirit and Opportunity using chips manufactured by Silanna.

The company uses Silicon-on-Sapphire process technology which has important advantages for space applications due to its radiation hardness, ability to work well at cryogenic temperatures, and the fact that different types of circuitry can be incorporated onto a single chip. 

The combination of these factors makes Silicon-on-Sapphire suitable for the extremes of space, and for the power, size and weight restrictions that are critical on space vehicles. The unique properties of Silicon-on-Sapphire also makes it ideal for radio frequency integrated circuits in the frequency bands that are common in space equipment. Silanna also offers manufacturing services to integrated circuit designers wishing to take advantage of the Silicon-on-Sapphire process technology. 

Apart from being a commercially focussed organisation with almost all of the products being exported, Silanna supports Australian research organisations including Universities, NICTA, CSIRO and DSTO.  Major projects such as the CSIRO's Square Kilometre Array Radio Telescope, the UNSW Quantum Computing Project and many University Linkage projects are supported by Silanna.



For more information on Silanna, please visit:  http://www.silanna.com/