TARANTO is awarded ‘Best Technology Pioneer’ project by the ECSEL JU this year, because of exceptional technological advances that the project has reached with its 32 partners. The project consortium comprises the main European players in a complete value chain that extends from the BICMOS semiconductor technologies development, to the integrated circuits designs that enable system demonstrators to reach unsurpassed performance. The partners are research centres, universities, laboratories, and industrial leaders and users, thus combining the highest scientific excellence and the ability to validate the work carried out on appropriate demonstrators to be successful on the targeted markets. The IMS laboratory of the University of Bordeaux has made a significant contribution through its THz characterization activities.

The main objectives of TARANTO are to develop HBT (Heterojunction Bipolar Transistors) devices with high maximum frequency (Fmax: 600GHz) built into high-density CMOS processes, like 90nm for Infineon and 55nm for STMicroelectronics, and even higher maximum frequency at 700GHz in IHP pilot line with a technology that remains compatible with industrial constraints.

These BICMOS technologies have been used within TARANTO to reach outstanding results for optical and 5G wireless telecommunication systems, and for innovative radar systems concepts.

The impressive achievements have drawn great international attention and have been globally recognized as breakthrough, propelling Europe into pole position with these crucial BICMOS technologies.