SUSS, a leading manufacturer of equipment and process solutions for the semiconductor industry, has announced a strategic partnership with Ignite Next, a European deep-tech platform that connects industry leaders, startups, investors, and research institutions. The collaboration positions SUSS as the semiconductor equipment and process technology partner within the Ignite Next ecosystem, providing the company with early exposure to next-generation technologies and strategic growth opportunities beyond its Ambition 2030 horizon.
Ignite Next focuses on turning early-stage deep-tech ventures into globally competitive scale-ups. Its independent structure enables close collaboration between technology companies and founders, with an emphasis on IP-intensive innovations in semiconductors, physical AI, and advanced computing. The platform works with leading technology companies—including Infineon, Intel, and Synopsys—to connect startups with technical and business expertise. As a partner, SUSS will participate in technology scouting, startup evaluations, expert exchanges, and innovation programs, while contributing its manufacturing and process engineering knowledge to support the industrialization of promising solutions.
The partnership matters because it gives SUSS a structured window into emerging developments that could shape future semiconductor manufacturing and advanced packaging requirements. By engaging with deep-tech startups and entrepreneurs, SUSS can identify evolving customer needs, new application areas, and strategic growth opportunities earlier than through traditional networks. This added perspective supports the company’s long-term strategic positioning and creates optionality beyond its current growth roadmap, particularly as the industry moves toward more complex, AI-driven computing demands.
Burkhardt Frick, CEO of SUSS, said the company’s customers, research partners, and R&D teams remain at the core of its innovation strategy. He noted that Ignite Next complements this foundation by connecting SUSS with leading startups, technology companies, and investors. As the ecosystem’s semiconductor equipment partner, SUSS gains exposure to emerging developments beyond its traditional networks, enabling it to anticipate future market requirements, evaluate new application fields, and strengthen its long-term strategic positioning.
Markus Bohl, Co-Founder and CEO of Ignite Next, emphasized that breakthrough innovations only change the world once they can be built at scale. He explained that Ignite Next brings founders, technology leaders, and investors together in one network, from chip design to manufacturing. SUSS, he said, helps founders make the leap from lab to fab, and in return gains a front-row seat to the technologies that will shape the industry’s next decade.
For SUSS, headquartered in Garching, Germany, the partnership represents a broadening of its innovation ecosystem. With approximately 1,500 employees worldwide and recent sales of about €500 million, SUSS operates production sites in Germany and Taiwan and development centers across Europe, Asia, and the US. The company is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and is part of the TecDAX and MDAX indices. More information about SUSS is available at www.suss.com. The original release can be viewed on www.newmediawire.com.
By establishing a structured connection to the global deep-tech ecosystem, SUSS is creating additional strategic optionality beyond its current growth roadmap. The partnership strengthens its ability to identify opportunities that may become relevant beyond 2030, ensuring the company remains at the forefront of semiconductor innovation.
