STMicroelectronics breaks through the 20 nm technology node to improve the cost competitiveness of the new generation of microcontrollers

STMicroelectronics has announced an advanced manufacturing process based on 18 nm fully depleted Silicon on Insulator (FD-SOI) technology and integrated embedded Phase Change memory (ePCM) to support the evolution of the next generation of embedded processors. The new process technology, jointly developed by ST and Samsung Foundry, enables a quantum leap in performance and power consumption for embedded processing applications, while allowing for the integration of larger memory capacities and more analog and digital peripherals. The first product of the next generation of STM32 microcontrollers based on the new technology will be available to some customers in the second half of 2024, with production scheduled for the second half of 2025.

Remi El-Ouazzane, President of ST Microcontrollers, Digital ics and RF Products, said: "As an innovative company at the forefront of the semiconductor industry, ST is the first to bring automotive and aerospace grade FD-SOI and PCM technologies to customers. Our next step is to make the benefits of these two advanced technologies available to industrial application developers, starting with the next generation of STM32 microcontrollers."

What are the benefits for STM32 microcontroller developers and customers?

This cost-competitive technology will give developers a new class of high-performance, low-power, wireless MCUS. Large storage capacity supports the market's growing demand for edge AI processing, multi-RF protocol stacks, over-the-air updates, and advanced security features. The high processing performance and large storage capacity will incentivize developers who are currently developing products using microprocessors to move to more integrated and cost-effective microcontrollers. This new technology will further improve the energy efficiency of ultra-low power devices, a market in which ST's portfolio is currently well positioned.

The first microcontroller based on this technology will integrate ARM's most advanced ARM® Cortex-M cores, bringing enhanced computing performance to machine learning and digital signal processing applications. The product will have a fast and flexible external memory interface, advanced graphics capabilities, and will integrate numerous analog and digital peripherals, as well as advanced certified security features already introduced on ST's latest MCUS.