MRAM Companies

Canon Anelva (ANalysis ELectronics VAcuum) is a japanese company that manufactures major equipment for the fabrication of semiconductors and LCDs using vacuum technology. Anelva developed a 200- to 300-mm-wafer-compliant deposition (sputtering) equipment for MRAM, the C-7100, using their unique low-pressure plasma deposition technique.

In october 2005, Canon bought Anelva. 

Anelva's web page (english)

Crocus is a new startup, headquartered in Grenoble (France) with operations in the Paris area and in Silicon Valley.
Crocus mission is to become the leading supplier of products and technologies to the MRAM market.
The MRAM technology that is the foundation on which Crocus is built was developed in the Grenoble-based Spintec research center and Crocus has formal joint development programs with Spintec and other leading European laboratories.
In June 2006, Crocus has raised 17M$

Crocus' web page

Cypress is a diversified, broadline supplier of high-performance integrated circuits for network infrastructure and access equipment. Cypress has released preliminary data sheets for 64-kilobit and 256-kilobit MRAMs which are pin-for-pin replacements for their SRAM. Cypress has said that it has made working MRAM using NVE intelectual property, and has started to sample in early 2005. Later in 2005, Cypress decided to sell its MRAM subsidiary, saying it does not believes its MRAM product will be able to attack the SRAM market.

Cypress trades in the NASDAQ (ticker is CY).

Cypress' web page 

Despatch Industries has been involved in the magnetic annealing industry for the last 15 years, and has provided over 100 units to the head/data storage industry. Despatch's MRAM magnetic anneal program began about 4 years ago. Despatch installed the world’s first 50-wafer fully automated system last year and that system is now producing standard MRAM devices at Freescale. Despatch has also manufactured and tested a 300mm 50-wafer thermal chamber.
Despatch, which celebrated its 100 year anniversary in 2002, mainly deals with heat processing and environmental simulation.

Despatch's web site

Freescale Semiconductor (formerly Motorola Semi) is a leading global semiconductor company focused on providing embedded processing and connectivity products to large, high-growth markets. Freescale is one of the pioneers of the MRAM industry.

In July 2006, Freescale became the first company to offer commercial MRAM modules (4 Mbit,25$). IP issues with NVE are still open.
Freescale trades in the NASDAQ (ticker is FSL).

Freescale's web page 

Grandis, established in 2002 and headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, develops Spin Torque Transfer based RAM technology (STT-RAMTM). STT-RAMTM is a "second generation" magnetic random access memory (MRAM) which solves the writing current scaling problem for conventional MRAM.
In November 2002, Grandis announced a collaboration with Renesas, and in April 2008 they extended this collaboration. They have also announced a licensing deal with Hynix.

Grandis' web site

Honeywell International is a diversified technology and manufacturing company, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials.

Honeywell has an advanced MRAM research program, and in July 2005 they posted a 1-Mbit Rad-Hard MRAM module data sheet. Honeywell is an NVE's licensee.

Honeywell's web site

Hynix Semiconductor is a memory semiconductor supplier of Dynamic Random Access Memory chips ('DRAMs') and Flash memory chips. Hynix is into MRAM research, having licensed technology from Grandis, and is also working on STT-RAM with Samsung.

Hynix's web page 

IBM is one of the largest technology companies in the world, involved in Hardware, software, services and research. IBM has produced more research breakthroughs than any other company in the IT industry. IBM is one of the MRAM pioneers, and are working on MRAM together with Infineon.

IBM trades in the NYSE (ticker is IBM).

IBM's web page 

Infineon is a leading innovator in the international semiconductor industry. Infineon designs, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of semiconductors and complete system solutions targeted at selected industries. Infineon is working on MRAM together with IBM. Infineon trades both in the Frankfurt Stock exchange, and as an ADS in the NYSE (ticker is IFX).

Infineon's web page 

Intel, The world's largest chip maker, is also a manufacturer of computer, networking, memory and communications products. Intel is researching several next-generation memory technologies, including OUM and MRAM.

Intel's web site 

Magnetic Solutions is a global supplier of High Field, Magnetic Annealing Tools to semiconductor and data storage industries for magneto-electronic applications. It’s MRT Magnetic Annealing Tool Technology is used in volume production of thin film heads for data storage, and in development lines for MRAM, magnetic sensors and emerging magneto-electronic applications.

Magnetic Solutions' web site

Micromem has focused the last 5 years on the development of an MRAM memory. The memory will be suitable for various applications including Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags. The company's first market objective will be the RFID sector.
Micromem trades in the NASDAQ (ticker is MMTIF.OB).

Micromem's web page 

Northern Lights Semiconductor Corporation is located in Plymouth, Minnesota, and it was founded and incorporated in 2003. NLSC designs, manufactures and markets high-density EMRAM (ElectroMagnetoresistive RAM) ICs for both embedded and non-embedded applications.
NLSC has developed a family of parallel and serial standalone EMRAM devices with storage densities ranging from 4Kb to 1Mb. NLSC also offers embedded EMRAM (eEMRAM) up to 1Mb for ASIC and SoC, and it is also developing 16Mb EMRAM. It serves customers in a variety of industries and markets including computer, computer peripheral, communication, consumer and industrial markets.

Northern light's web page

NVE develops and sells devices using "spintronics," a nanotechnology which utilizes electron spin rather than electron charge to acquire, store and transmit information. NVE is a licensor of spintronic MRAM, and lists Motorola, Cypress and Agilent as licensees. NVE also sells sensors and couplers.
NVE trades in the NASDAQ (ticker is NVEC).

NVE's web page 

Renesas was established in 2003 by Mitsubishi and Hitachi. Renesas business is development, design, manufacture, sales and servicing of system LSIs, including microcomputers, logic and analog devices, discrete devices and memory products, including flash memory and SRAM.
In November 2005, Renesas Technology and Grandis said the will collaborate on MRAM development (65 nm MRAM Employing Spin Torque Transfer).

Renesas' web page 

Samsung is a hugekorean conglomerate, with a Digital Appliance Business, Digital Media Business, LCD Business, Semiconductor Business and Telecommunication Network Business. Samsung is a big memory chip maker, and is researching several next-generation memory technologies, including OUM and MRAM.

Samsung's web site

Silicon Laude (pronounced "Laudee") is a privately held, fabless semiconductor company headquartered in Austin, Texas. Formed in 2005, Silicon Laude is primarily a service-oriented company specializing in low-to-medium volume and quick-turn production of standard and customized microcontroller IC designs for select customers.

The 8051 multi-controller mates with both Freescale's and Honeywell's MRAM modules.

Silicon Laude's Web site

Singulus technologies is a german company focusing on manufacturing equipment for optical discs. Singulus' products range from mastering and injection molding to replication lines.

Singulus is offering its TIMARIS machine for Thin Film read/write heads, used in MRAM production, and has already sold several systems.

Singulus trades in the german stock exchange (WKN 723 890)

Singulus' web page