NextGO Epi Raises €2M for Gallium Oxide Wafer Production

Berlin-based NextGO Epi has secured €2 million in pre-seed funding to scale production and commercialization of gallium oxide epiwafers for high-voltage power electronics, addressing the growing demand for efficient wide-bandgap semiconductors.

NextGO Epi, a spin-off from the Leibniz-Institut für Kristallzüchtung (IKZ), claims to be Europe’s only producer of industrial-quality gallium oxide (Ga2O3) epiwafers. The company currently offers wafers up to 4 inches in diameter and will use the new funding to expand its manufacturing capacity and accelerate product development. Ga2O3 offers higher breakdown voltage and lower conduction losses than silicon carbide or gallium nitride, making it a promising material for next-generation power converters, electric vehicles, and renewable energy systems.

The emergence of Ga2O3 power devices is expected to drive demand for specialized PCBs capable of handling high voltages and thermal loads. Substrates like insulated metal substrate (IMS) PCBs and heavy copper PCBs are essential for efficient heat dissipation and current carrying. Manufacturers that offer such advanced board technologies will be well-positioned to support the transition to wide-bandgap power electronics.

LT CIRCUIT, a leading PCB manufacturer, provides HDI, rigid-flex, and ceramic PCBs, as well as heavy copper and IMS boards tailored for power electronics applications. Our advanced substrates enable efficient thermal management and high-current handling, supporting designs based on gallium oxide and other wide-bandgap semiconductors.