Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, to Acquire Unity-SC
July 19, 2024 | Merck KGaAEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, intends to acquire Unity-SC, a provider of metrology and inspection instrumentation for the semiconductor industry. The transaction amount includes a payment of € 155 million as well as further milestone-based payments. Based in Montbonnot-Saint-Martin near Grenoble, France, Unity-SC employs approximately 160 people, of whom 70 work in research & development.
“The acquisition of Unity-SC complements our science and technology-driven portfolio for the semiconductor industry. It strengthens our ability to benefit from the growth opportunities of Artificial Intelligence as an integrated solutions provider for our customers in developing next-generation chips,” said Belén Garijo, Chair of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.
The highly precise metrology measurement devices of Unity-SC make it possible to further optimize the quality, yield, and manufacturing costs of chips used in applications related to Artificial Intelligence (AI), High-Performance Computing (HPC), and High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM). As quality requirements in the semiconductor industry are particularly high, measuring and evaluating physical properties are crucial steps in quality control for the production of modern chips. Among other things, Unity-SC specializes in the testing of chips produced via “Advanced Packaging” and “Heterogeneous Integration”. In both these processes, numerous smaller chips – also known as chiplets – are stacked in a very small space to form a mostly three-dimensional structure. This results in high-performance chips for the most demanding fields of application, such as AI data centers, autonomous vehicles, 5G, smartphones, and virtual reality.
The combination of Unity-SC's measurement technologies with the offering of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, in the field of semiconductor materials will contribute to the development of computer chips required for the next steps in innovating AI and other applications. “We are convinced that 3D metrology tools will further advance the semiconductor industry. Adding metrology to our portfolio allows us to provide more materials and more solutions that effectively solve our customers challenges in developing ever faster, more powerful, and more efficient chips,” said Kai Beckmann, Member of the Executive Board of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and CEO Electronics.
“We can benefit from the broad knowledge Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, has in semiconductor materials manufacturing and their extensive optical expertise in light manipulation. Together with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, we can create high value solutions to serve our common customers. We are looking forward to becoming an integral part of a global company with close customer relationships and an extensive offering to the semiconductor industry,” said Dan Lee, CEO of Unity-SC.
The intended acquisition requires a French works council's consultation and would remain subject to regulatory approval and other closing conditions. Subject to meeting the relevant requirements, it is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.
Testimonial
"Advertising in PCB007 Magazine has been a great way to showcase our bare board testers to the right audience. The I-Connect007 team makes the process smooth and professional. We’re proud to be featured in such a trusted publication."
Klaus Koziol - atgSuggested Items
U.S. CHIPS Act Funding Detailed on SIA Website
09/12/2025 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007The U.S. CHIPS Act has moved well into the implementation stage in 2025. But where has that money gone? The Semiconductor Industry Association has been tracking these projects and provides details on its website. It was updated May. Among the five key programs being managed under CHIPS, two stand out as influencing advanced electronic packaging: the National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program (NAPMP), and the CHIPS Manufacturing USA Institute (MFG USA).
PsiQuantum Raises $1 Billion to Build Million-Qubit Scale, Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computers
09/10/2025 | BUSINESS WIREPsiQuantum announced it has raised $1 billion in funding for its Series E round to build the world’s first commercially useful, fault-tolerant quantum computers.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
09/05/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, I-Connect007It’s almost fall here in Atlanta, and that means that the temperature is finally dropping. And it quit raining! It’s been raining since March, and I’m so over it, as the social influencers say. Last night we grilled out on the deck, and it wasn’t hot, and we didn’t get rained on. Life is good. It was a busy week in the industry. In this installment of my must-reads, we say goodbye to Walt Custer, the man who made PCB data points interesting for the rest of us.
Defense Speak Interpreted: If CHIPS Cuts Back, What Happens to Electronics Packaging Funds?
09/02/2025 | Dennis Fritz -- Column: Defense Speak InterpretedIn my May column, I examined the topic of the CHIPS Act and its current status as a U.S. government program. I found that CHIPS activities continue, but some corporations have delayed or canceled them because of budget cuts or corporation-specific problems. However, CHIPS integrated circuits—mostly administered by the Department of Commerce—don’t fully drive the electronics interconnection activity being funded by the government. Let’s cover the progress/status of other programs:
U.S. Uses Secret Trackers to Trace AI Chips Diverted to China, Sources Say
08/18/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamTwo sources told Reuters that U.S. authorities have secretly placed location trackers in some advanced chip shipments they see as at high risk of illegal diversion to China. They said the trackers are intended to locate AI chips that are sent to locations restricted by U.S. export laws, but authorities only examine some shipments.