Europe’s semiconductor factory – she controls the levers at a machine park worth billions
For anyone wanting to understand Europe’s semiconductor initiatives in practice, Electrum is a concrete example of what such research infrastructure can look like.
For nearly four decades, the Electrum Laboratory in Kista has been at the forefront of research and development. Especially in semiconductors, an increasingly critical component in everything from mobile phones to electric cars.
As Europe now ramps up its investments in regional value chains, Electrum plays a key role.
But what does it really take to build a lab of this scale? To find out, we put on protective gear, and got a behind-the-scenes look at the work in progress inside the space that RISE and KTH run in collaboration. In this article, we lay out eight critical aspects that need to be in place.
How did Electrum come to be?
Semiconductors are a Swedish future industry that requires access to world-leading research at home. At least, that was the reasoning when the Electrum Laboratory was inaugurated in Kista in 1988 – an analysis that is even more relevant today.
In fact, the entire building on Isafjordsgatan was constructed in connection with the building of the cleanroom.
At that time, Carina Zaring was a doctoral student at KTH and became one of the first to move in to conduct her research. Today, together with her team, she is responsible for the operation of the Electrum Laboratory. The focus remains on providing cutting-edge infrastructure in materials research, electrical and optical components, and semiconductor manufacturing.
But what is the secret behind a laboratory that continues to deliver world-class research and innovation year after year?
1. Research and startups in symbiosis
Nothing resembling mass production for final market customers happens here, emphasizes Carina Zaring. Since KTH took over operations in 1993, researchers and lab students have primarily occupied the clean-room spaces.
But it’s also an excellent place to take ideas to a working prototype. Startups can rent space here and tap into infrastructure that would otherwise cost many millions to build themselves.
The symbiotic relationship between academia and industry also helps keep equipment up to date with the latest advances.
2. Cleanroom with a safety lock
Carina Zaring guides us around and intentionally puts “lab” in quotation marks. During the tour, it quickly becomes clear that this is more like a factory or research facility than a small lab.
“We are sometimes compared to a 300-square-meter lab that isn’t even close to the type of infrastructure in place here. Then it becomes a bit strange,” she says as we suit up from head to toe with protective equipment.
Electrum has a thorough cleanliness procedure for entering the cleanroom: full body suits, head covers, face masks, gloves, antistatic shoes, sticky mats at the door, and washing of phones and camera equipment.
The tiniest particle of dust can sabotage the sensitive materials handled inside the cleanroom.
3. Wet room and yellow room
The wet room is an important section inside the cleanroom where chemical processes take place that would otherwise disturb high-sensitivity machines. Many chemicals, acids, and solvents are involved.
Work inside the cleanroom requires separate air circulation and special filters to minimize particles in the room.
“The exhaust in the wet room uses as much energy as two villas annually, but can be regulated depending on use,” explains Zaring.
In another part of the cleanroom, everything is yellow. To pattern silicon wafers, a polymer coating and a specific light that alters the polymer’s structure, similar to developing camera film, are used.
“We filter out this light that would otherwise affect the entire wafer. That’s why it becomes yellow.”
4. From start to finish
A unique strength of the Electrum Laboratory is that the entire process exists in one place. From shiny silicon or silicon carbide wafers to semiconductor components used in electric vehicles, smartphones and data centers.
For anyone wanting to understand Europe’s semiconductor initiatives in practice, Electrum is a concrete example of what such research infrastructure can look like. The lab participates in one of five pilot lines within the EU project Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU). This is one of many initiatives to strengthen regional competitiveness in semiconductors.
“Our mission in the pilot line is to offer the full production line for silicon carbide and high-power bipolar transistors. That means vital support for researchers and companies who want to test new things.”
Every room houses a machine that performs a unique step in the process. To a layperson, the machines look incomprehensible.
“Often these are machines costing 10-20 million SEK each,” Zaring says.
5. Massive infrastructure
It is hard to grasp the scale. The cleanroom covers 1,300 square meters, but when every space is optimized it almost feels cramped. It is only when we exit the airlock and remove our protective gear that the full picture emerges.
“I would guess the entire building would cost about two billion SEK in today’s money. And that doesn’t include the machines,” Zaring says.
Down in the basement, things are different: massive pipes line the rooms, and cleanliness is nowhere to be found. District heating, district cooling, and large volumes of electricity are distributed here.
Everything must be ultra-clean from start to finish. To maintain the proper temperature and humidity in all parts of the cleanroom, extensive infrastructure above and below the lab is required.
Huge pumps power the machines above. A tabletop-sized machine may require a whole student-room full of equipment behind the scenes. In the garage stand two large air compressors connected to dehumidifiers and filters.
An absolute necessity is the water purification plant in its own basement room, requiring constant material and filter changes. Even the sprinkler system has its own room.
6. Air and alarms
But it does not end there. We climb a steep staircase to the attic. Here, the ventilation system sprawls like giant silver-colored sea creatures.
“Large heat exchangers take in air that is heated, cooled, filtered, humidified or dehumidified depending on the season. Sensitive materials require perfect conditions.”
On the way down, we pass the alarm center – placed openly so anyone can follow what is happening. The slightest deviation can trigger an alert, from temperature and humidity to gas leaks and smoke.
“My team is responsible for driving the big machine behind everything. We are on call day and night, all year round.”
7. Permits and materials
KTH operates the Electrum Laboratory. This means researchers and companies have access to a wide range of services and resources they might not otherwise consider. Equipment, consumables and protective gear are included for all facility users, as well as some chemicals and gases.
This requires maintenance, material purchases, waste handling, and many other pieces of the puzzle.
Companies can also rent their own rooms with privately owned machines that are put outside general use.
Establishing a laboratory of this kind also requires a number of permits and certifications which can take a long time. From building permits to environmental and workplace safety permits, and specialized licenses for radiation safety, handling of hazardous materials, waste management, and classified operations.
For industrial customers, certifications such as ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 are extremely valuable.
“It can take years just to get started. Many may not think about it, but us handling all administrative work is a big time saver,” Zaring says.
8. Visionaries and money
Carina Zaring emphasizes that many pieces have to fall into place for research infrastructure like Electrum to take shape. But one thing is easy to forget:
“What is really needed are visionaries with the mandate to use money,” she points out.
“Generally, more money is needed in the system so that researchers can apply for grants. There is room here for both more academic research and more innovative startups.”
What we saw on today’s tour is not just a “lab”. It is a critical infrastructure for researchers and entrepreneurs building Sweden’s future industry in materials, AI, vehicles and defense.
A place where ideas can come to life, and where innovations can strengthen Swedish competitiveness, resilience and independence.
