The agreement marks a major step towards harnessing microgravity and low-Earth orbit (LEO) conditions to develop next-generation semiconductor materials, potentially transforming the future of chip production.
Resonac’s chief technology officer, Masato Fukushima, said the space environment provides unique opportunities for innovation.
“The unique environment of space offers immense potential for advancing semiconductor materials, especially in crystal growth,” Fukushima said. “Partnering with Axiom Space, we aim to accelerate experiments and drive innovation in materials, fostering industrial growth and societal progress.”
Under the collaboration, the two companies will research how microgravity and the vacuum of LEO can be used to produce high-performance materials for chip packaging and other critical applications. The lack of convection and sedimentation in space allows for the growth of near-perfect crystals, resins and two-dimensional materials.
Experiments will make use of the International Space Station (ISS), Axiom Space’s orbital platforms and the forthcoming Axiom Station, the first commercial space station to progress from proof of concept to scalable, commercially viable production.
Resonac also plans to extend ongoing work with Axiom Space focused on developing radiation-resistant moulding compounds to reduce “soft errors” bit flips caused by cosmic rays striking semiconductor transistors. The company is currently testing materials on both the interior and exterior of the ISS.
Axiom Space chief technology officer and astronaut Koichi Wakata said the partnership highlights the growing role of space in driving industrial innovation.
“Our collaboration with Resonac underscores how Axiom Space is enabling global corporations to leverage space to drive manufacturing innovation across critical technology sectors such as semiconductors,” Dr Wakata said.
Divya Panchanathan, Axiom Space’s global lead for in-space semiconductor commercialisation, said space-based production could unlock entirely new material properties.
“Space offers pristine conditions that can’t be replicated on Earth,” Panchanathan said. “With Resonac’s strong semiconductor materials expertise, we aim to fuel in-space innovations and enable new technologies that drive industrialisation in low-Earth orbit.”
The alliance between Axiom Space and Resonac is set to play a leading role in shaping the future of space-enabled manufacturing, laying the groundwork for scalable orbital production and breakthrough semiconductor technologies that could benefit industries both on Earth and beyond.