Germany’s Bosch acquires Dutch semiconductor company Ideas to the Market (ItoM)

Gerlingen, Germany-based Bosch, a German multinational engineering and technology company, announced on Thursday, September 22, that it has acquired Eindhoven-based semiconductor company Ideas to the Market (ItoM). 

With this acquisition, the German company aims to strengthen its expertise in high-frequency processing SoC. System-on-Chips (SoC) are semiconductors that are increasingly used in control units for the automotive industry. IToM’s developmental sites in Eindhoven and Enschede will be further expanded as a part of the acquisition. 

The financial details of the transaction haven’t been disclosed. The acquisition is subject to approval by the antitrust authorities.

Ideas to the Market: What you need to know

Founded in 1998, Ideas to the Market (ItoM) is a design service and IP provider focused on IC and system developments for RF transceivers and broadcast tuners.

Using standard BiCMOS IC technology, the Dutch company designed the first AM and FM Hi-Fi stereo radios without external components. 

ItoM has extensive IPs like LNAs, oscillators, mixers, AGCs, stereo decoders, etc., and experience in areas like harmonic distortion cancellation, mirror suppression, and noise blanking (e.g., Integration of large time constants patent).

In 2006, the company started fabricating in 55nm RF CMOS technology. These designs achieve an even higher level of integration than the earlier generations of chips, claims the company. 

“We have core expertise in mixed-signal IC design and bring a strong team to the table. Bosch offers the ideal framework to grow. I am convinced that the merger will open up new perspectives for our company and our employees,” Edwin Veldman, Managing Partner at ItoM.

Bosch: What you need to know

The Bosch Group is a global supplier of technology and services. The company’s operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology.  

As an IoT provider, Bosch offers innovative solutions for smart homes, Industry 4.0, and connected mobility. Bosch is pursuing a vision of mobility that is sustainable, safe, and exciting. 

“The team fits perfectly into our development area for integrated circuits and will strengthen the expertise in high-frequency circuits,” says Jens Fabrowsky, Executive Vice President of Automotive Electronics, Robert Bosch GmbH, responsible for the business field of Semiconductor Components at Bosch.