Weebit Nano signs ReRAM licencing deal with DB HiTek

Advanced memory technology manufacturer Weebit Nano (ASX: WBT) has signed a licencing agreement with global foundry DB HiTek to integrate its Weebit ReRAM as embedded non-volatile memory (NVM) in customer systems on chips (SoCs).

The agreement grants DB HiTek a non-exclusive licence to manufacture Weebit ReRAM as embedded NVM in designs from customers worldwide.

The technology will be available in DB HiTek’s 130nm Bipolar-CMOS-DMOS (BCD) process used for analogue, mixed-signal and power designs in consumer, industrial and other IoT (internet of things) devices.

It will provide a low-power, low-voltage, cost-effective NVM which is easy to integrate and has proven strong retention rates at high temperatures.

As a back-end-of-line (BEOL) technology which does not need process tuning, ReRAM offers advantages over flash for BCD processes.

It also provides higher density and endurance than conventional multi-time programmable (MTP) technologies.

Agreement inclusions

The licencing agreement includes the transfer, qualification and licensing of Weebit ReRAM technology.

DB HiTek will retain the option to use it for other process nodes.

Weebit and DB HiTek will immediately cooperate in transferring embedded ReRAM technology to a DB HiTek production fab and continue to qualify the technology towards volume production.

Weebit will receive manufacturing licence fees, project use fees and royalties based on production volumes, with exact amounts determined by Weebit on delivery to customers.

Strategic importance

Weebit chief executive officer Coby Hanoch considered the agreement to have strategic importance given DB HiTek’s position as a top tier foundry.

“As one of the world’s largest contract chip manufacturers, DB HiTek’s customers can gain significant advantage from using Weebit ReRAM in their new product designs, including improvements to retention, endurance and power consumption,” he said.

“We are seeing increasingly strong market demand for Weebit ReRAM and expect to sign further commercial agreements in the coming months with top tier foundries and integrated device manufacturers as well as fabless design companies.”

Welcoming Weebit

DB HiTek chief executive officer Ki-Seog Cho welcomed the Weebit partnership.

“Weebit ReRAM will provide customers using our 130nm BCD process with a very low-power, high-density and cost-effective NVM,” he said.

“We believe the technology transfer and qualification processes will proceed quickly… looking ahead, we are delighted to see Weebit’s strong commitment to continued roadmap innovation.”