A company from Tenerife creates microchips for the greatest technological powers in the world

Woooptix is a company specialized in semiconductor measurements whose technology reaches the highest level and makes it a leader in the microchip industry. Its production feeds the United States, Japan and Holland. Although this technique is applicable in areas such as endoscopy, automotive and holography, France is evaluating its use in ophthalmology, since it allows surgeons a view of the pupil at extraordinary dimensions.

Located in Nanotec, one of the technology centers hosted by INtech – it houses research groups and technological development and innovation companies, linked to nanoscience, sustainability, biodiversity and astrophysics –, it employs 45 people, most of them trained in Tenerife.

The president of the Government of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, learned on Thursday about the development of Woooptix SL, a spin-off – business initiative – created at the University of La Laguna, during a visit carried out together with the rector, Francisco García; the Councilor for Innovation and Development of the Cabildo, Juan José Martínez, and the CEO of the entity, Professor José Manuel Rodríguez.

What it does
Woooptix applies astrophysics adaptive optics techniques to measurements of the surface of silicon wafers, which are 30-centimeter diameter discs essential for manufacturing chips for any device. "We measure with subnanometer precision in milliseconds," which has benefits for multinationals in time and money since "they can manufacture many more chips, faster and much smaller," explains Rodríguez Ramos.

The company currently manufactures and installs three semiconductor metrology equipment in Japan, the United States and Holland, which the authorities learned about in a clean room at the Tenerife Science and Technology Park (PCTT) in which the prototypes are tested and applied. quality control.

One of the fundamental advances achieved by the company is that "we are able to see the phase of light with all the resolution that a detector has. Until now the standard was 40x40 pixels, while we give 4,000x4,000. It is a leap barbaric in the knowledge and treatment of light".

An example of success
The president of the Canarian Government, Fernando Clavijo, highlighted the value and international success of a company that emerged from the University of La Laguna. He maintained that this spin-off is a clear success story for the ULL, the result of interest in applying public financing and private investment. "Microchips are made here and competed from the Canary Islands." Line in which the insular R&D&i advisor of the Island Council of Tenerife, Juan José Martínez, spoke, who valued the great innovation that Woooptix represents in the research ecosystem of the Canary Islands and in the national one, with a great potential for transfer to the productive fabric.

For the rector, the developments of this technology-based company, founded in 2016, are a clear example of what science can contribute to society to solve many of its challenges, and of the great opportunities that can arise in the synergy between institutions to transform the Canary Islands. "We work to make science useful. In a context of radical uncertainty, science becomes a fundamental element to solve real problems. Our raw material is knowledge."

Woooptix evolves
Woooptix SL is based in Tenerife – in the ULL and the Science and Technology Park –, Madrid and San Francisco. Before summer it announced the signing of a Series B financing round of 10 million euros, led by current investors Bullnet Capital and CDTI (Center for Industrial Technological Development) and supported by other new investors such as Danobatgroup, Fagor Automation, Mondragón Promotion Fund and European Innovation Council Fund (EIC). Intel Capital, the company's current investor, also participates in the round. It should be noted that the company has also been recognized with an EIC Accelerator Program and a subsidy of 2.5 million, as a prior step to joining its shareholding through investment in Round B.