A new nanomanufacturing process developed by Northeastern University professor Ahmed Busnaina could transform the microelectronics industry by reducing chip production costs to just 1% of current methods. Traditional chip fabrication relies on a subtractive approach, where materials are layered and then etched away, leading to high costs, energy waste, and long production cycles. In contrast, Busnaina’s additive, bottom-up method deposits only the necessary material at precise locations, eliminating waste and significantly cutting power consumption and production time. This innovation enables chip structures as small as 25 nanometers to be printed in under a minute, offering high-speed, low-cost manufacturing that could accelerate chip development, decentralize production, and make advanced electronics widely accessible.
My Take
If this technology scales, it could upend the semiconductor industry by shifting chip production from a few elite players to a more agile, decentralized model—just like 3D printing transformed prototyping. Companies should prepare now for a future where hardware innovation moves at software speed. The mass production timeline for this nanomanufacturing process is unknown, but my guesstimate is in 5-10 years.
#Semiconductors #Nanotechnology #AIChips #ManufacturingInnovation #TechDisruption #ChipShortage #Electronics #Startups
Link to article:
https://techxplore.com/news/2025-02-nanomanufacturing-slashes-chip-production.amp
Credit: Tech Xplore
This post reflects my own thoughts and analysis, informed by media reports, personal insights, and professional experience. While AI-assisted, it has been reviewed for clarity and relevance.