Weebit Nano (ASX:WBT) - CEO, Coby Hanoch
CEO, Coby Hanoch
Source: Weebit Nano
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  • Weebit Nano (WBT) achieves commercial integration of an oxide-based ReRAM cell with an ovonic threshold switching selector
  • WBT and its development partner reached the milestone three months ahead of schedule and claim the creation to be a first for the discrete memory market
  • The company has also completed the design and verification stages of its embedded ReRAM memory module and taped-out a test chip for its integration
  • The fourth quarter saw Weebit awarded a roughly $2 million research and development incentive by the French Government for work done in 2020
  • Early in the session, shares are up by 3.6 per cent to $2.25 at 10:45 am AEST

Weebit Nano (WBT) has achieved commercial integration of an oxide-based ReRAM cell with an ovonic threshold switching (OTS) selector.

The update comes as a part of the WBT’s activities report for the June quarter, accompanied by several other highlights reported for the period.

Notably, Weebit and development partner Leti reached the milestone three months ahead of schedule and claim the creation to be a first for the discrete memory market.

The integration leverages Leti’s proprietary OTS selector — a key component within a ReRam chip that assists in isolating specific cells within the memory array.

According to Weebit, OTS is an ideal selector technology for discrete ReRAM chips because it enables the smallest ReRam bit cell, consumes low energy and has a high switching speed.

Weebit Nano CEO Coby Hanoch said the discrete memory market was key to Weebit’s medium-term strategy and broadened the company’s focus beyond embedded non-volatile memory where it is nearing commercialisation.

“Unlike embedded memory chips where a transistor is typically used as a selector, discrete memory chips require more sophisticated selectors that are much smaller and enable high-capacity memory chips,” he said.

Tape-out of embedded memory module

Meanwhile, the company has completed the design and verification stages of its embedded ReRAM memory module and taped-out a test chip for its integration.

To this end, WBT will use the integrated test chip as the final platform for testing and qualification, ahead of customer production.

Notably, the module leverages the company’s patent-pending analog and digital smart circuitry to enhance functionality and improve the array’s technical parameters, including speed, retention and endurance.

Weebit expects to finish the manufacturing process for the first test chips with the embedded ReRAM module in late 2021.

Following this, demonstration and function testing results are anticipated in the first quarter of 2022 with qualification to follow midway through next year.

Quarterly cashflows

In the fourth quarter, Weebit received $1.1 million through exercising listed options.

The company also received roughly $2 million from the French Government for research and development activities conducted in France in 2020.

Payments to related parties over the fourth quarter came to $210,000, including fees paid to directors and payroll.

Looking ahead

Weebit remains focussed on securing its first commercial agreement over the coming quarter and is in negotiations with several potential customers and production partners.

The company said a global shortage in semiconductors had impacted its ability to enter into a production agreement but it was making progress and hoped to finalise a deal shortly.

“We had an exceptionally productive quarter given the ability to hold face-to-face meetings with potential customers and production partners, and are well on the way to commercialisation of our next generation ReRAM memory technology,” CEO Coby Hanoch said.

Early in the session on Friday, Weebit shares were trading 3.6 per cent higher at $2.25 each at 10:45 am AEST.

WBT by the numbers
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