Core Viewpoint - IBM has formed a significant alliance with Deca Technologies in the semiconductor packaging sector, allowing IBM to enter the advanced fan-out wafer-level packaging (FOWLP) market [1][2]. Group 1: IBM and Deca Technologies Collaboration - IBM plans to establish a new high-volume production line at its existing packaging facility in Bromont, Quebec, to produce advanced packaging based on Deca's M series fan-out interconnect technology (MFIT) [1]. - The MFIT technology enables the integration of complex multi-chip packages, particularly for AI and memory-intensive computing applications [2][12]. - The collaboration aims to expand IBM's packaging capabilities and provide North American customers with new fan-out production options [2][9]. Group 2: Background on IBM's Semiconductor History - IBM has a long history in the semiconductor industry, dating back to its founding in 1911, and has made significant contributions, including the invention of DRAM in 1966 [4][5]. - The company entered the commercial semiconductor market in 1993, manufacturing and selling ASICs, processors, and other chips [5]. - In the 2010s, IBM's microelectronics division faced challenges, leading to the sale of its semiconductor business to GlobalFoundries in 2014 [6][8]. Group 3: Current Semiconductor and Packaging Efforts - IBM continues to design processors and chips but relies on foundries for production, with a significant semiconductor R&D center in New York [8]. - The Bromont facility is the largest outsourced semiconductor packaging and testing (OSAT) facility in North America, providing flip-chip packaging and testing services [8]. - IBM is also collaborating with Rapidus to develop 2nm processes based on IBM's nanosheet transistor technology [8]. Group 4: Fan-Out Wafer-Level Packaging (FOWLP) - FOWLP is an advanced packaging technology that integrates complex chips into a small package, enhancing chip performance [1][10]. - The technology gained prominence in 2016 when Apple used TSMC's fan-out packaging in its iPhone 7 [10]. - FOWLP allows for the integration of multiple chips and components, offering a compact solution with numerous I/O interfaces [10][12]. Group 5: Future Developments and Contracts - IBM and SkyWater are developing fan-out packaging capabilities based on Deca's technology, with SkyWater having secured a $120 million contract with the U.S. Department of Defense [11]. - Deca is also advancing its M series technology, which includes the MFIT version, enabling high-density integration of memory and processors [12].