Strategic GaN Alliance EPC Licenses eGaN Technology to Renesas

Related Vendors

EPC - Efficient Power Conversion Corporation

FAULHABER Drive Systems

Taiwan Machine Tool & Accessory Builders' Association (TMBA)

Wuxi InfiMotion Technology Co., Ltd.

Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) and Renesas Electronics Corporation are pooling their GaN expertise—and attacking the efficiency limits of silicon head-on. The alliance could fundamentally change power architectures.

On February 10, 2026, Efficient Power Conversion and Renesas Electronics signed a comprehensive license agreement. The aim of the cooperation is to significantly accelerate the market penetration of gallium nitride (GaN) power semiconductors and at the same time strengthen security of supply in dynamically growing markets.

Under the agreement, Renesas will gain access to EPC's proven low-voltage eGaN technology in enhancement mode and its established supply chain ecosystem. Both companies also plan to establish in-house wafer manufacturing capabilities for these products within one year. In addition, Renesas will manufacture selected, already mass-produced GaN components from EPC as a qualified second source. This will create a technological and strategic partnership with a clear focus on scaling and resilience.

GaN As An Answer to the Limits of Silicon

Power electronics are facing a structural change. Increasing demands on efficiency, power density and miniaturization are putting classic silicon MOSFETs under increasing pressure. Silicon-based technologies are reaching their physical limits, particularly at high switching frequencies and fast edges.

GaN transistors offer decisive advantages here. They enable higher switching speeds, lower switching losses and more compact designs. These properties open up new degrees of freedom in the design of DC-DC converters and point-of-load architectures. Efficiency gains can be achieved, particularly in low-voltage applications with high currents.

Portfolio Expansion from the High-Voltage to the Low-Voltage Range

Renesas had already strengthened its GaN portfolio by acquiring Transphorm. Its high-voltage GaN technology primarily addresses applications above 650 volts, including AC-DC power supplies, charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, solar inverters and industrial drive systems. The technology is designed for high reliability even under demanding operating conditions.

With the licensing of EPC's low-voltage eGaN technology, Renesas is now expanding this portfolio in the lower voltage range. This creates a consistent GaN offering from low-voltage to high-voltage applications. Modern AI architectures in particular, in which power converters transform from 48 volts to 12 volts down to the sub-1-volt range, require extremely efficient and compact solutions. Here, GaN enables a significant increase in power density while at the same time reducing thermal requirements.

Significance for Data Centers And Autonomous Systems

The energy requirements of AI data centers are growing rapidly. Every improvement in efficiency has a direct impact on operating costs and cooling concepts. GaN-based power converters allow higher switching frequencies and therefore smaller magnetic components and more compact modules. This reduces both installation space and losses.

Autonomous systems in industry and mobility also benefit from these properties. Higher power density with lower weight and better thermal behavior creates scope for more compact and efficient overall systems. The collaboration between EPC and Renesas therefore addresses key future markets.

Supply Chain Security As A Strategic Lever

In addition to technological performance, securing supply chains is becoming increasingly important. Particularly in data center and automotive applications, customers are demanding qualified second source options in order to minimize risks. The parallel production of selected EPC products at Renesas diversifies supply geographically and secures it structurally.

This measure will increase marketability in safety-critical applications. The alliance is therefore more than just a licensing agreement; it is a strategic step towards the industrialization of GaN across the entire voltage range. (mr)

Smart-Factory

Access solutions for the Smart Factory - Industry 4.0