XIVER explores growth as an independent MEMS foundry

After his last assignment at VDL NedCar, John van Soerland (63) had already retired. Yet, he could not resist the invitation to guide XIVER through its transition from a Philips subsidiary to an independent company. He guided the transition and has been at the table since January 2 as the first CEO of the new company.

After a solid career at Philips, NXP, and VDL, his move to XIVER marks a new chapter in what was essentially a finished career. Van Soerland calls it a "conscious choice" to seize the opportunities in the semiconductor sector. “You don't often get an opportunity like this: to build a company with more than forty years of history, while at the same time being a scale-up that is getting off to a flying start. Leading this transition from an internal Philips department to an independent, dynamic player in the MEMS market is unique.”

Cleanroom © XIVER

Micro-scale components

MEMS stands for Micro-Electromechanical Systems: components that combine electrical and mechanical functions on a micro-scale. XIVER produces these thin film and MEMS components, including membranes, filters, and ultrasound sensors, in the former Philips MEMS foundry on the High Tech Campus. Within Philips, this branch primarily served the company's business, which meant the activities could not become profitable.

That now has to change. Van Soerland does not expect to take long to turn the cash flow positive. “2025 will be a transition year,” he expects. The goal is to become profitable in 2026 as the only independent MEMS foundry in Europe that is not in Chinese hands. “The Philips MEMS Foundry has built up much intellectual property over the past 25 years. All this IP is now part of XIVER – a wealth of technological knowledge we will bring to the external market.” The company wants to link technological achievements to commercial success.

XIVER, which started with around 110 former Philips employees and has since grown to around 120, is rapidly expanding its development and production. Existing customers will continue to be served with both traditional and new products, while new companies can quickly be added to the XIVER portfolio. They are attracted by innovative projects and the prospect of producing components essential to today's chip industry.

The focus is on ultra-small ultrasound sensors, which are groundbreaking for the medical market. Van Soerland sees the entrepreneurial spirit of his employees and the strategic positioning on the High Tech Campus as the key to a successful continuation.

MEMS: the innovative engine

MEMS technology combines microelectronics with mechanical functionality, which can be used to create sensors, actuators, filters, and membranes. Van Soerland: “You start with a silicon wafer as a base and build mechanical and electronic structures on it, layer by layer, to create a microphone or sensor, for example. This allows you to generate and capture ultrasonic signals for imaging or monitoring. A MEMS component can thus enable devices with a wide range of applications, from medical diagnostics to applications in the automotive industry.”

Van Soerland emphasizes that MEMS, unlike traditional semiconductor chips, offers unique miniaturization: “Based on semiconductor technology, you can build these components on top of each other, and thus miniaturize them. The alternative is often much bulkier.”

XIVER MEMS foundry catheter tip

The advantages of this technology – which can also be applied to photonic chips – are becoming apparent in the medical sector, among others. Van Soerland illustrates this with the example of ultrasound imaging, in which MEMS are used to develop portable, high-quality devices. “With our technology, one can use patches to design a tiny device that is applied to the skin and still generates accurate images. In the past, this was only possible with bulky devices.” In addition to health tech and automotive, XIVER focuses on the high-tech industry. ASML, a leading semiconductor equipment company, is already a strategic partner and new partnerships are being developed.

John van Soerland, XIVER, © Bart van Overbeeke

The power of the High Tech Campus

Van Soerland is convinced that the strategic location on the High Tech Campus in Brainport Eindhoven is crucial to XIVER's success. “We are at the heart of the High Tech Campus, surrounded by an ecosystem of innovative companies. That is invaluable. This location offers access to a broad network of expertise and opportunities for collaboration. If you can become part of that - which is also a very conscious element of our strategy - you can derive great strength from it.”

The High Tech Campus is a breeding ground for technological innovation and a meeting place for companies, knowledge institutes, and investors. This ecosystem stimulates a fruitful cross-pollination of ideas. “Every morning when I walk to this building, I think, man, this is an inspiring environment.”

The positive working atmosphere and direct contact with other high-tech companies ensure that XIVER can quickly adapt and innovate, according to Van Soerland. “Even if we hadn't come out of Philips, I couldn't have imagined a better location than this one.” The strategic location offers an ideal infrastructure and access to talent and ensures a constant flow of new ideas and collaborations. In addition, the proximity of other leading companies also plays a crucial role. “There is so much knowledge and expertise in this region that as a start-up, you can benefit enormously from collaborating with companies such as Smart Photonics, ASML, and other OEMs.” XIVER also has something to offer in this respect: for example, its neighbor Smart Photonics fully uses the XIVER cleanroom.

Independent player

XIVER positions itself as an independent player in a market traditionally dominated by big names and integrated foundries. While Philips MEMS was developed initially as part of a broader roadmap, the new, independent approach allows the company to focus entirely on the external market. “We are a kind of job shop. We develop processes in collaboration with partners, and as soon as these are industrially feasible, a production order follows."

XIVER focuses on the future with a long-term vision: ”We invest in our people, the equipment, and platforms, such as CMUT ultrasound. This enables customers to develop the next generation of ultrasound devices, such as portable devices. These product platforms show how special XIVER is.”