11:25 – 12:10
Panel Discussion: How Far Can Package and Substrate Scaling Go Beyond 2028?
Moderator
Kinya Ichikawa
3DIC Research Lab
Kinya Ichikawa retired from TSMC Japan 3DIC R&D Center Inc. as Technical Director in September 2024 and subsequently founded 3DIC Research Lab LLC, providing technical consulting for Japan’s semiconductor packaging ecosystem. At TSMC, he led the establishment of the Tsukuba R&D Center, aligned R&D with Taiwan headquarters, and managed NEDO project planning and execution. Before joining TSMC, he directed a joint development project at Nichia Corporation with European partners on next-generation high-definition micro-LED headlamps, which entered mass production in 2024. Earlier, he spent 24 years at Intel, pioneering FCBGA (OLGA) and EMIB technologies.
3DIC Research Lab
Company Profile
3DIC Research Lab LLC is a specialized consulting firm dedicated to advancing semiconductor packaging technologies with a focus on 3D integration. Founded by experts with decades of experience in wafer-level packaging, TSV, hybrid bonding, and advanced substrate technologies, the company provides deep technical insights and strategic guidance to semiconductor manufacturers, material suppliers, and equipment vendors. 3DIC Research Lab operates as a bridge between cutting-edge academic research and industrial applications, helping partners accelerate innovation, reduce risks, and optimize manufacturing processes. With strong expertise in areas such as HBM integration, fan-out packaging, and chiplet-based architectures, the company supports its clients in addressing key challenges in power, performance, thermal management, and reliability. By combining technical consulting with market perspectives, 3DIC Research Lab contributes to the realization of next-generation semiconductor solutions for AI, HPC, and consumer electronics.
Company Products & Services
3DIC Research Lab LLC offers a comprehensive range of consulting services tailored to the semiconductor packaging ecosystem. Its core services include technology evaluation, material selection support, process integration strategies, and roadmap development for advanced packaging solutions. The company provides in-depth technical analysis on critical areas such as wafer thinning, TSV formation, RDL scaling, underfill materials, and thermal interface solutions. Additionally, 3DIC Research Lab delivers customized training programs, workshops, and technical seminars to support knowledge transfer and skill development within client organizations. By leveraging a strong global network and hands-on expertise, the firm helps clients benchmark emerging technologies, assess competitive landscapes, and establish collaborations across the supply chain. Whether guiding material suppliers to meet stringent reliability requirements or advising device makers on cost-performance trade-offs, 3DIC Research Lab ensures that its partners are equipped to navigate the complexities of heterogeneous integration and advanced packaging.
Panelist
Deepak Kulkarni, Ph.D.
AMD
Deepak Kulkarni is a Senior Fellow at Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), where he leads the Instinct and Optics Technology Development team. In this role, he develops heterogeneous architectures for AMD’s AI accelerator products and oversees Photonics technology development.
With twenty years in technology development, Deepak has led the development of several innovative technologies such as panel-level fan-out, Embedded Multi-die Interconnect Bridge (EMIB), Elevated Fan-Out Bridge (EFB), and 3.5D packaging solutions. Recognized with top awards at both AMD and Intel, and a frequent voice on high-level industry panels, Deepak brings both technical depth and strategic vision to advancing heterogeneous integration.
Deepak’s technical interests cover Co-packaged Optics, Panel-level packaging, and design-technology co-optimization. He holds forty patents and has published over twenty papers. He earned his PhD in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Computational Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
AMD
Company Profile
For 50 years, AMD has driven in high-performance computing, graphics, and visualization technologies – the building blocks for gaming, immersive platforms, and the datacenter. Hundreds of millions of consumers, leading Fortune 500 businesses and cutting-edge scientific research facilities around the world rely on AMD technology daily to improve how they live, work and play. AMD employees around the world are focused on building great products that push the boundaries of what is possible. For more information about how AMD is enabling today and inspiring tomorrow, visit AMD (NASDAQ:AMD) on their website, blog, Facebook and Twitter pages.
Panelist
Rahul Manepalli, Ph.D.
Intel Corporation
Dr. Rahul Manepalli is an Intel Fellow, Vice President and Director of the Substrate & Wafer Assembly Technology Development organization in Intel. He currently leads the IC substrate technology development and 3DIC wafer assembly technology development teams in Intel’s Advanced Packaging Technology and Manufacturing Organization. He and his team are driving the pathfinding & development of materials, processes and equipment for the next generation of substrate, wafer level assembly technologies. His team has been the driving force behind many of the technology innovations in Intel’s Embedded Multi-die Interconnect Bridge (EMIB/EMIB-T), Panel ODI, Glass core substrate, Foveros (Solder and HBI die to wafer interconnect) technologies. Over his 25+ year career at Intel, Rahul has also held leadership roles in Intel’s assembly materials development and pathfinding teams leading to several innovations in encapsulants, thermal interface materials and solder alloys. Rahul is the author of over 250 patent publications in semiconductor packaging, over 50 technical papers and invited talks. He has a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Intel Corporation
Company Profile
Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) is an industry leader, creating world-changing technology that enables global progress and enriches lives. Inspired by Moore’s Law, we continuously work to advance the design and manufacturing of semiconductors to help address our customers’ greatest challenges. By embedding intelligence in the cloud, network, edge and every kind of computing device, we unleash the potential of data to transform business and society for the better.
To learn more about Intel’s innovations, go to newsroom.intel.com and intel.com.
Panelist
Cleon Chan
Onto Innovation
Cleon Chan is the Vice President, Business Development for the Panel Solutions for Onto Innovation since 2019 after merger between Rudolph Technologies and Nanometrics. He worked with many companies on FOPLP, Interposer and Substrate (2.xD, 2.5D and 3D Heterogeneous Integration) to identify challenges and how Onto Steppers, Inspection/Metrology and Yield solutions can enable the Advanced IC Substrate and Packaging roadmap. Previously, he was with Rudolph Technologies as Global Sales and Applications in 2015. Prior to Rudolph, he was with Applied Materials as Strategic Marketing GM and was responsible for some key process equipment for both Advanced Packaging and Frontend processes. He also held management positions at Varian Semiconductor and STEAG Microtech before joining Applied Materials. Cleon graduated with Bachelor of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (Hons) from National University of Singapore.
Onto Innovation
Company Profile
Onto Innovation is a leader in process control, combining global scale with an expanded portfolio of leading-edge technologies that include: Un-patterned wafer quality; 3D metrology spanning chip features from nanometer scale transistors to large die interconnects; macro defect inspection of wafers and packages; elemental layer composition; overlay metrology; factory analytics; and lithography for advanced semiconductor packaging. Our breadth of offerings across the entire semiconductor value chain helps our customers solve their most difficult yield, device performance, quality, and reliability issues. Onto Innovation strives to optimize customers’ critical path of progress by making them smarter, faster and more efficient. Headquartered in Wilmington, Massachusetts, Onto Innovation supports customers with a worldwide sales and service organization.
General Telephone: +1 978 253 6200
General email: info@ontoinnovation.com
Website: www.ontoinnovation.com
Panelist
Hidenori Abe
Resonac Corporation
Hidenori Abe is CTO for semiconductor materials and Executive Director of Electronics Business Headquarters at Resonac. He leads R&D and strategy for electronic materials in semiconductors, substrates, and displays. Previously, Mr. Abe served as the head of the Electronics R&D Center and Packaging Solution Center, where he contributed to advanced packaging development through open innovation. Notably, in 2021, he directed the launch of JOINT2, a consortium targeting 2.xD and 3D packaging technologies. He received a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan, and a master’s degree in the Executive MBA program from the University of Oxford, UK.
Resonac Corporation
Company Profile
Resonac defines its purpose as “Change society through the power of chemistry.” Resonac aims to be a world-class functional chemical manufacturer, creating functions necessary for the times, supporting technological innovation, and contributing to the sustainable development of our customers. Resonac is Global Leading semiconductor materials supplier. In order to achieve technological innovation for solving various social issues, it is essential for us to make wide-ranging co-creative efforts with partners, and Resonac is open to collaboration including 1on1 co-development with any partner.
We have opened a Packaging Solution Center and are actively engaged in next-generation semiconductor co-creation activities through JOINT2 with many partner companies. Furthermore, starting this year, we will also seek co-creation opportunities in the United States by launching US-JOINT.
Panelist
Yasushi Araki
SHINKO
Graduated from Applied Chemistry, Nagoya University in 1989.
1989-2000: Joined Fujitsu Ltd. Engaged in IC assembly technology.
2000-2021: Joined Shinko Electric Industries Co., Ltd. Engaged in IC Assembly technology.
From 2021: Engaged in Research and Development in the R&D Div.
SHINKO
Company Profile
SHINKO is a worldwide semiconductor packaging supplier with diverse technology driven initiatives and industry leading manufacturing capabilities.
