Graphene-on-SiC - ISOM

INDUSTRY MARKETS
Analysts address the big issues
at CS International
The impact of Qualcomm’s CMOS amplifier on the GaAs RF market,
the steps that must be taken to make LED light bulbs affordable,
and the most likely path that will be taken to enable the introduction
of power electronics in the grid were all discussed by leading
market analysts at CS International. Richard Stevenson reports.
Talks from analysTs tend to be full of facts
and figures, and include plenty of graphs showing
the values of markets and where they are heading.
However, at Cs International, the successor
to Cs Europe, the presentations from analysts
were markedly different, focusing on some of the
most important issues that are now facing the
industry: Will Qualcomm’s launch of an advanced
rf Cmos process weaken the vice-like grip that
Gaas chips have had in this sector? How can the
price of lED light bulbs fall to a level that is seen
as attractive by many, and will spur a revolution
in solid-state lighting? and how can siC and Gan
power electronics progress, so that it can start to
make an impact in the grid?
When Qualcomm announced its Cmos rf
technology on 21 february, many investors
in Gaas chipmakers and epiwafers vendors
panicked and pulled out, causing share prices
of these firms to tumble by several percent.
Commenting on this state of affairs at Cs
International, asif anwar from strategy analytics
argued that this reaction was not based on
clear thinking and a critical assessment of the
comparative technologies.
46 www.compoundsemiconductor.net April/May 2013