The Semico Action Alert: MEMS Oscillators

Phoenix, Arizona June 12, 2012 - MEMS oscillators are poised for steep growth in the next few years. MEMS represented only 1.4% of all oscillator and clock generator circuits in 2011, but by the end of 2012, Semico expects to see at least a dozen vendors. Where is the opportunity for you to invest in this market?

Semico projects the 2011-2016 CAGR for MEMS oscillators will be 85.6%, approaching $1.2 billion by 2016. This is the perfect time for investment, because the market is poised to take off in 2013. There is opportunity for established companies leveraging existing applications, but also for those with innovative designs targeting key high growth markets. Semico foresees the main driving markets for MEMS oscillators will be portable applications such as smart phones, tablets and ultrabooks. These are fast changing designs that can benefit from the advantages offered by MEMS oscillators among which are lower cost, lower power consumption and smaller, thinner packages.

There are currently over 50 crystal oscillator suppliers worldwide, and you should pay close attention to those vendors pursuing a MEMS strategy. More MEMS oscillator vendors will emerge over the next few years, with some raising funds (like Sand9), and others being acquired (like VTI). Look closely at the technology and market strategies, i.e. which applications are being targeted and the solution being offered.

A MEMS oscillator may be secondary to system designers, who look more to microprocessors and SoCs, but the timing circuit is an important enabling technology that ties together the entire system design. A MEMS oscillator vendor needs to deliver on reliability, performance, cost and the right package for an application while marketing their product aggressively to overcome the entrenched position of quartz oscillators. This is the kind of company to invest in.

Semico Research is your go-to partner for developing financial, strategic, and capital investment decisions for the entire MEMS market. We offer reports covering specific aspects of the MEMS market, including MEMS displays and MEMS oscillators, and we also offer custom research, so contact us today for a quote on just the information you need!

For more information contact: Jim Feldhan at 602-997-0337 or jfeldhan@semico.com.