Edge AI is a fundamental technology for applications that require real-time decision-making. Contrary to cloud-based AI solutions that specialize in large and complex tasks, edge AI is embedded directly into local devices, allowing for lower-latency decision-making for less bandwidth consumption. These properties are essential for advancing technologies like 6G, autonomous vehicles, industrial IoT solutions, and more. However, edge AI can’t be achieved with traditional silicon because it requires more efficient thermal management, higher performance, and lower power than silicon can deliver. To address these limitations, the Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) technology platform offers a path forward. SOI is a layered silicon substrate technology with a silicon device layer on top, an insulating silicon dioxide layer in the middle, and a thick silicon base at the bottom. This structure disconnects devices from the bulk substrate, enabling major performance improvements for faster and more power-efficient ICs and photonics devices. In addition, FD, or fully depleted SOI (FD-SOI), is a subcategory of SOI that offers even higher performance and lower power usage.According to Michaël Tchagaspanian, Executive Vice President of Technology Strategic Partnerships at CEA-Leti, SOI is not just an alternative material. Instead, it’s a foundational technology that’s crucial for advancing the next wave of edge AI innovation. Therefore, to accelerate its advancement, CEA-Leti is combining its four decades of pioneering research with the cooperative efforts of the SEMI SOI Industry Consortium.CEA-Leti’s HistoryFor nearly 50 years, CEA-Leti has been at the forefront of SOI leadership. The company began in 1980 with its research into radiation-hardened electronics, which led to breakthroughs that enabled the Smart Cut™ process. Smart Cut ultimately served as the foundation for enabling SOI wafers to become a commercially viable global standard.This legacy also paved the way for much of the cutting-edge R D of today, including the FD-SOI Next Generation 10-7 nm program. This effort leverages flexible back-biasing to allow dynamic control over power consumption, leading to substantial efficiency gains.Tackling Tomorrow’s Challenges: A Sustainable FutureCEA-Leti’s deep SOI expertise allows it to address many of edge AI’s environmental challenges. To promote energy efficiency, CEA-Leti is working to advance silicon photonics while at the same time, incorporating the comprehensive PPAC-E framework across its new technology developments. The organization also works toward reducing energy through its fully integrated neural-network-on-chips technology that uses hybrid memory. This effort supports ultra-low-power, on-chip learning and inference for applications like autonomous vehicles, medical sensors, and others. Finally, CEA-Leti works to reduce greenhouse gases through its involvement in the GENESIS project, plus its ongoing efforts in eco-design and lifecycle analysis. The SOI Industry Consortium: Accelerating Industrial AdoptionAs part of its partnership, the SOI Industry Consortium works to ensure that CEA-Leti’s lab innovations can be seamlessly integrated into global production. This "lab-to-fab" model can be seen in the volume production of FD-SOI transistors from leading companies like STMicroelectronics and GlobalFoundries. The Consortium helps achieve volume production through its three-part approach: Secure the supply chain, reduce SOI adoption barriers, and close the specialized skills gap. To promote a healthy supply chain, the Consortium offers a platform that brings lab-to-fab solutions for SOI wafers. This is achieved through leading-edge development capabilities at CEA-LETI, Soitec and its Foundry manufacturing partners, with additional support from leading wafer suppliers like Shin-Etsu, GlobalWafers and Okmetic.It lowers SOI adoption barriers by collaborating with EDA leaders to standardize design tools and methodologies, ensuring robust proven design flows fully leveraging SOI technology.Finally, the Consortium supports training initiatives that address the SOI industry’s specialized skills gap. Partners like Synopsys also provide extensive training options, equipping engineers with the expertise to master SOI designs. SOI is helping the innovations of tomorrow become a practical reality. CEA-Leti’s leadership, combined with the global reach of the SOI Industry Consortium, allows the SOI ecosystem to optimize for low-power and sustainability while driving the next generation of high-performance systems. Gity Samadi is Senior Director of R D at SEMI.
