Deep dive: Inside the semiconductor ecosystem
These articles offer in-depth perspectives on specific parts of the semiconductor ecosystem. They focus on technologies, tools and methods that enable development and production.
As Europe shifts toward electrified transportation, renewable energy and a more automated industry, power electronics has become central to the transition. It determines how efficiently electric energy is moved, converted and controlled, a core issue in the green transition. Growing energy demand and the need to modernise power grids are increasing the importance of more efficient semiconductor technologies.
Wide-bandgap materials, such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN), have become key enablers, offering higher efficiency, faster switching and improved performance under demanding conditions. Sweden contributes through strong research environments and specialised semiconductor expertise, with hubs such as Kista forming part of the national competence base.
In Kista, decades of accumulated competence within SiC research, epitaxy and device development have created a concentrated environment where research infrastructure, pilot production and industrial collaboration exist side by side. Through RISE Research Institutes of Sweden and close collaboration across academia and industry, the region has developed into an important node for wide-bandgap technologies in Europe.
Efficiency as a foundation of electrification
Every time electricity is converted, part of it becomes heat. Historically, these losses were smaller because fewer systems relied on continuous conversion. Today, with millions of vehicles, chargers, industrial drives and renewable energy systems added to the grid, the combined impact is substantial. Reducing conversion losses is essential for scalable electrification.
Efficient power electronics minimise losses at each step and ensure stable operation under rapidly changing loads.
From silicon limits to wide-bandgap performance
Conventional silicon components face clear physical limits. Silicon’s narrow bandgap, the energy barrier required to free electrons to conduct, restricts how much voltage it can withstand before breakdown. This typically caps devices at 600–900 volts. As voltage rises, leakage currents increase and more energy is lost as heat, which in turn limits efficiency and component lifetime.
Temperature amplifies these limitations. Above roughly 125 °C, leakage increases and thermal stress accelerates wear. Wide-bandgap materials such as SiC and GaN are less affected under normal operating conditions, as they can operate at higher temperatures and withstand stronger electric fields.
In practice, SiC devices often operate at 1,200 or 1,700 volts. Both SiC and GaN maintain stable performance well above 200 °C, with research demonstrating operation beyond 300 °C in demanding environments. This allows for smaller cooling systems, higher power density and more compact system designs, reducing material needs and power consumption while helping to offset higher component costs.
Taken together, these characteristics explain why wide-bandgap components can justify a higher price. Greater efficiency, reduced cooling requirements and longer lifetime are the practical gains. They often make systems smaller, more reliable and more economical to operate, whether in vehicles, industrial equipment or power infrastructure.
Strengthening the power grid
As renewable production expands, the grid must manage greater variability. Power electronics helps stabilise output from solar and wind, enables fast response in battery storage and underpins long-distance HVDC transmission. Wide-bandgap devices further enhance these systems by reducing switching losses and supporting faster response during fluctuating conditions.
Because power conversion happens in stages, even small inefficiencies compound – much like interest-on-interest. Moving from a few percent loss in each step to one or two percent can significantly improve system-wide efficiency and reduces the need for new generation capacity.
Transport, industry and renewable energy
Electric vehicles illustrate how material properties translate into practical impact. Reducing switching and conduction losses extends driving range, while the thermal stability of SiC enables more compact drivetrains or faster charging. A more efficient transportation sector is also essential for meeting national commitments and EU climate targets.
Industry sees similar value. Motor drives, pumps and automation rely on continuous power conversion, and wide-bandgap devices provide higher precision, lower energy use and improved reliability. Solar and wind inverters benefit from lower losses and faster response, contributing to more stable renewable generation and better utilisation of installed capacity.
A Swedish opportunity
Sweden has long-standing strengths in electrification, power systems and semiconductor research. The Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) conducts internationally recognised research on power converters, control strategies and the integration of wide-bandgap devices into grid and transport systems, and plays a key role in the EU Wide Bandgap Pilot Line.
RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, together with industrial and academic partners in Kista, has built one of Europe’s more specialised environments for SiC and wide-bandgap technologies. With advanced epitaxy equipment, pilot production infrastructure and decades of accumulated expertise within the Electrum Lab environment, Sweden holds a strong position in an increasingly critical field.
The strategic value lies in having research, processing, characterisation and industrial collaboration closely connected within one ecosystem. This shortens development cycles, reduces technical risk and creates stronger conditions for scaling semiconductor innovation from laboratory concept to industrial application.
The ambition extends beyond Sweden, toward building European capacity in SiC materials and device manufacturing and a more resilient and competitive semiconductor ecosystem.
As Adolf Schöner from RISE Research Institutes of Sweden describes it:
“The advantage is not only the technology itself, but having the competence, infrastructure and ecosystem together, enabling the journey from research to scalable industrial solutions.”
The remaining challenge lies in coordination. Sweden combines strong research with specialised production, but clearer pathways are still needed to translate research results into industrial deployment. Strengthening collaboration across academia and industry would reinforce Sweden’s position as competence engine in Europe.
European initiatives such as ALL2GaN and For2ensics point in the same direction. They work to advance wide-bandgap power device manufacturing within the EU, reduce energy use across transport and grid applications and strengthen supply-chain resilience. These goals align closely with Sweden’s existing expertise.
The success of the green transition depends not only on producing clean electricity, but on using it efficiently. Sweden’s research and production base positions it well to contribute to a more efficient, resilient and technologically competitive European energy system.
Semiconductor Arena is co-funded by the European Union and Region Stockholm, and is run by Kista Science City, KTH, RISE and Sting.
Do you want to get involved? Reach out to hanna.eldh@kistasciencecity.com
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