April 3, 2003
Volume I, Number 2

Caracal – Poised To Be Market Leader Of Silicon Carbide

Caracal is a newly formed Pennsylvania company aiming to become the market leader in the manufacture of Silicon Carbide (SiC) based power and microwave devices. Silicon Carbide (SiC) shows a greater performance advantage in these devices as compared to those made with the conventional semiconductors (Si). Circuitry can be made smaller, less costly, and more efficient; resulting in potential savings in both component parts’ costs, and energy consumption totaling billions of dollars in the United States and abroad.

The Silicon Carbide wafers will be used in power supplies in next-generation telecom, computer server, network and storage applications, TVs, audio equipment, microwaves or basically anything that plugs into a wall socket. The market size for SiC is anticipated to be at least $10 billion within 5 to 10 years.

Pittsburgh Gateways is assisting Caracal with development of its business strategy, attracting and structuring financing, facility planning, and is represented on the Board of Directors. Caracal has secured initial funding from the Pittsburgh Digital Greenhouse.

Caracal’s mission is to focus on its key strengths in innovative material growth technology and industry leading device designs to achieve success in this market. The founder, Dr. Olle Kordina, has more than 15 years of experience with semiconductors and SiC, along with several patents on these technologies. Dr. Kordina has also very good connections with both the SiC industry and the Si industry through previous employment. Caracal will further develop strategic university, government, and corporate partnerships for both investment, manufacturing and marketing/distribution. The SiC material will be processed by device foundries specializing in volume processing of semiconductor devices. The processed devices will be sold through large semiconductor manufacturers and through direct marketing.

Caracal chose Western Pennsylvania as its location because of the opportunity for close interactions with research and development institutions located in the Pittsburgh region, particularly the Electro-Optics Center in Kittanning and Pittsburgh Gateways Corporation. Caracal will locate its research and development facility in the Ford City Heritage & Technology Park. The current timetable for occupancy of the facility in Ford City is the fourth quarter of 2003.