Photonics research center ICFO – The Institute of Photonic Sciences, Barcelona, Spain, at the end of July announced the founding of Shinephi, its 13^th spinoff company. Shinephi aims to address a “critical need” by developing interferometric imaging technology for semiconductor manufacturing and nanofabrication, according to an ICFO press release.

Developing LIM

Shinephi was born out of the OPTO group at ICFO led by Valerio Pruneri, who is now the technology advisor and cofounder of the company. Pruneri and his team worked for more than a decade to develop an imaging technology to leverage as a metrology tool for improving yield and increasing production speed in the semiconductor industry. They found that existing technologies on the market, like optical profilometers and atomic force microscopes, were not sensitive or fast enough for industrial applications and tended to be too bulky to integrate into production processes.

The result of their efforts is a technique called lateral-shear interferometric microscopy (LIM). Based on a patented common-path differential interferometer and built with consumer electronic components, LIM enables ultra-sensitive imaging of micro and nanostructures in transparent electronics and optical elements, according to the company. Shinephi says that the novel interferometer combines high sensitivity and speed with natural stability. And since its format is similar to that of a standard scientific camera, it is compact and can be easily integrated at any point in a production line.

According to Pruneri, the technology developed by the spinoff “will allow foundries in the semiconductor industry, including producers of photonic integrated circuits, to measure chips and wafers with unprecedented precision and speed.”

The road to launch

ICFO played a crucial role in the development and launch of Shinephi. In addition to the research done in Pruneri’s lab, the company was incubated on the business side at ICFO’s KTT Launchpad. This entity provides resources, expertise and industry connections to help spinoff companies from the institution get off the ground, providing help with IP strategy, business development, partners and investors, and other business-related matters.

“ICFO has provided the ideal ecosystem for a deep-tech venture like ours to grow,” said CEO and cofounder Roland Terborg. “We are optimistic about the future and eager to see the discoveries our clients will make with our technology.” Including Shinephi, ICFO has helped create thirteen startup companies, with additional initiatives in various stages of incubation.

 “Honestly, the most exciting part is seeing our technology actually working for our first clients, explained Shinephi CTO Iris Cusini. “Now that we have officially launched, we’re going from a cool prototype to a real product, and I am really excited!”