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Oudenaarde-based chipmaker BelGaN files for bankruptcy, 440 jobs at risk

Oudenaarde-based chipmaker BelGaN files for bankruptcy, 440 jobs at risk

“This morning, BelGaN BV in Oudenaarde, a producer of silicon nitride and gallium semiconductor chips, filed for bankruptcy,” BelGaN said in a press release.

The site in Oudenaarde was founded more than 40 years ago as MIETEC and has developed into a high-tech company in the strategically important semiconductor chip sector.

BelGaN was founded on February 8, 2022, taking over the production and R&D unit of Onsemi. In recent years, BelGaN has been working on the transition from silicon chip technologies to innovative gallium nitride chip technologies, which provide highly efficient electrical energy conversion and thus contribute to a “green” carbon-free future.

To finance the significant investments associated with this transformation, additional investments were sought after the initial investment by shareholders. “Various approaches were pursued, unfortunately without success,” BelGaN says in a press release. “As a result, the company has now had to close its books.”

BelGaN employs 440 employees. Management regrets that this beautiful story in Flanders seems to be coming to an end, but will continue to do its utmost within its capabilities to continue to search for solutions and support employees in this process.