Applied Materials and Advantest team up to bridge the gap between chip manufacturing and testing. In a move that’s set to speed up innovation for AI chips and advanced packaging, Applied Materials has brought on board Advantest as the first automated test equipment partner for its new EPIC platform.
The EPIC abbreviation for Equipment and Process Innovation and Commercialization – hub in Sunnyvale, California, is designed to get semiconductor tech from lab to market faster by fostering close collaboration across the supply chain.
Advantest, a major player in semiconductor testing equipments, will set up its Innovation Center right alongside Applied’s EPIC facility, which is slated to open later this year.
This partnership focuses on linking front-end manufacturing processes with back-end testing for chips and complex packages, tackling the growing challenges of high-performance computing (HPC) and 3D architectures.
As chips get more intricate to power AI and next-gen computing, getting manufacturing, metrology, and testing to work seamlessly is crucial. The duo aims to create integrated solutions that boost efficiency, yields, and time-to-market while optimizing energy use in production flows.
This tie-up comes at a pivotal time, with Advantest’s own Innovation Center already emphasizing cross-functional R&D.
By co-locating expertise, both companies are positioning themselves to help chipmakers navigate the complexities of advanced packaging and deliver breakthroughs quicker.
Leadership Comment
“Applied Materials designed the EPIC platform to dramatically accelerate the commercialization of next-generation semiconductors by co-locating and co-innovating with our customers and partners,” said Gary Dickerson, President and CEO of Applied Materials. “By collaborating side-by-side with Advantest, we can develop solutions that enable chipmakers to optimize end-to-end semiconductor production flows and bring new designs to market faster and more efficiently.”
“As semiconductors grow increasingly complex, close cooperation with partners throughout the supply chain is crucial to meeting industry demands with velocity and precision,” said Doug Lefever, Representative Director and Group CEO of Advantest Corporation. “Establishing our Innovation Center in Silicon Valley alongside Applied’s new EPIC Center allows us to collaborate faster and co-develop scalable and cost-effective testing methodologies for our customers’ next-generation devices.”
The facility is on track to become operational in 2026.
