{
  "id": 17989906,
  "title": "SEMICON Europa 2026 showcases semiconductor R&D and product innovation",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/semicon-europa-2026-showcases-semiconductor-r-d-and-product-innovation",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-11-03T16:52:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Physics World",
    "slug": "physics-world",
    "url": "https://physicsworld.com/a/semicon-europa-2026-showcases-semiconductor-rd-and-product-innovation/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The SEMICON Europa 2026 event, set to take place at Messe München, Germany from November 10–13, 2026, will showcase semiconductor R&D and product innovation. With a theme of \"Europe's next era: navigating the perfect storm,\" the conference will address the evolving relationship between technological innovation and shifting geopolitical landscapes, focusing on the challenges and opportunities that will shape Europe's strategic position in the microelectronics industry.\n\nThe conference will feature the CxO Summit, where industry leaders will discuss strategies and global partnerships necessary to navigate the complex macroeconomic conditions affecting Europe's microelectronics sector. Over 25,000 semiconductor professionals and presentations from more than 200 speakers are expected to attend, with the event spread across three exhibition halls, hosting over 500 exhibitors from around the world.\n\nSmarAct, a company demonstrating two new products at the event, will showcase its modular wafer positioning and optical metrology technologies. The wafer stage demonstrator introduces a compact and configurable positioning approach for semiconductor and photonics equipment. This modular design allows for easy adaptation to different machine architectures and reduces development and integration efforts. The wafer stage also supports precision positioning in applications like wafer inspection, metrology, advanced packaging, hybrid bonding, lithography, and electron-beam inspection.\n\nThe phase-shifting interferometer, another demonstrator from SmarAct, is a high-precision modular measurement instrument for 3D surface characterization. This tool combines interferometric metrology with configurable motion technology and software, featuring a configurable field of view. The instrument can capture larger areas in a single measurement or multiple smaller regions, enabling comprehensive surface characterization within an integrated setup. The interferometer is designed to operate in vibration-prone environments and supports integrated measurement arrangements with access to both sides of a wafer. The combined use of SmarAct's positioning systems and the interferometer facilitates coordinated sample handling, precise motion, and measurement.\n\nAnother noteworthy product at SEMICON Europa 2026 is Thyracont's VSL, a vacuum measurement system integrated into loadlocks. This device combines two piezoresistive diaphragm sensors with a Pirani sensor to cover an absolute pressure range of 1200 to 10⁻⁴ mbar and a relative pressure range. The VSL simplifies the measurement of pressure across the entire loadlock cycle, from atmospheric pressure to 10⁻⁴ mbar and back again. This can help ensure fast pump-down, reproducible transfer conditions, and safe pressure equalization before the door opens, ultimately improving overall process efficiency and reducing defect rates.",
  "summary": "Europe’s largest event for electronics manufacturing comes to Munich on 10−13 November 2026 The post SEMICON Europa 2026 showcases semiconductor R&D and product innovation appeared first on Physics World .",
  "key_points": [
    "SEMICON Europa 2026 event in Munich, Germany, November 10-13, 2026",
    "CxO Summit addresses geopolitical challenges in microelectronics industry",
    "SmarAct showcases modular wafer positioning and phase-shifting interferometer"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}