- 31 March 2005 -

GaN success story

Having achieved a worldwide device market of $3.2 billion in 2004, gallium nitride technology continues to be one of the biggest success stories in compound semiconductors, according to Silicon Valley-based market research firm Strategies Unlimited.

Although high-brightness LEDs dominate the market currently, gallium-nitride-based laser diodes and electronic devices are in the early stages of market growth and will achieve substantial volumes in the next five years.

The total market for all types of gallium nitride devices is forecast at $7.2bn in 2009. In the fourth edition of its report, Gallium Nitride 2005 – Technology Status, Applications, and Market Forecasts, Strategies Unlimited updates the status of worldwide technology developments and markets for gallium nitride optoelectronic and electronic devices.

As of early 2005, 232 companies were participating in gallium nitride production or development, and 394 universities and research centers were involved in gallium nitride R&D. These worldwide figures represent an increase of 26% and 35%, respectively, since the previous gallium nitride report in June 2003.

Gallium Nitride 2005 is a 430-page report that addresses multiple aspects of gallium nitride technology, including material properties, substrates, deposition, etching, contacts, packaging, and device performance.

It tabulates the 725 companies, universities, research centers and government agencies involved in or supporting gallium nitride production and R&D, and profiles 32 such organizations.

In addition, the report analyzes 20 applications of gallium nitride optoelectronic and electronic devices, and provides detailed market forecasts through 2009.