Archer Materials, a semiconductor company active in the quantum technology and medical diagnostics industries, has signed a contract to work with Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (IMEC) on the Company’s biosensor
product development.
IMEC will trial the use of silicon-based devices such as ion-selective field effect transistors alongside Archer's graphene devices. It was said that if proven to deliver comparable sensitivity to graphene, silicon will offer a faster and more scalable path to manufacturing, reducing barriers to clinical translation and commercial production.
IMEC will develop potassium ion sensors using semiconductor technology that is both scalable to high-volume manufacturing and will access mature and well-established semiconductor supply chains. A key milestone is testing semiconductor foundry processes to build and functionalize the chips—turning them into potassium ion sensors.
The project with IMEC will derisk various aspects of the biosensor development, such as supply chain, manufacturability, and integration of the chip into a final product. This marks another step in the potential commercialization of Archer’s biosensor platform.
The IMEC stage 1 project work is expected to be completed by November 2025 after which Archer expects to progress to the next stage with IMEC developing a full prototype which will include readout electronics and disposable cartridges for use with handheld biosensor readers.
IMEC can also support initial biochip production and later scale manufacturing to high-volume commercial foundries.
Commenting on the Biochip progress, Dr. Simon Ruffell, CEO of Archer, said: “The biosensor technology continues to demonstrate encouraging results in our testing. We are now working to ensure that the device can be manufactured using well-established semiconductor processes. Partnering with IMEC is a major milestone for Archer. Their global reputation as a leader in advanced technology development speaks for itself. The work we’re undertaking together is critical to scaling up our biosensor manufacturing, securing our supply chains, and achieving our target production costs—all essential steps toward commercial success.”
