Meet VTI's new Chief Technology Officer Anssi Korhonen: Semiconductor technology in DNA

- If in anything my roots are deeply in semiconductors and microelectronics, says VTI's new CTO Anssi Korhonen while describing his enthusiastic attitude towards MEMS-technology and his interest in sensors. The challenge that drives him is "to measure analogue human life and environment to be processed electronically". At the same time he keeps his feet well on the ground: - We have a great amount of engineering talent in the company already, my aim is merely to strengthen our team by bringing new ideas for achieving cost-efficiency and flexibility in our operating model, Korhonen says.

Could you please tell a bit more about your background in the semiconductor field?

I have studied electron physics and semiconductor (manufacturing) technology in university. I worked early in my career in a laboratory involving a CMOS process as a research scientist quite hands on with the manufacturing processes. Also, I have experience in back end processing of bare integrated circuits, worked with flip chip and chip scale packaging, actually quite pioneer work in mid 90's. More recently, and among other things, I have run manufacturing operations, development and business units of consumer electronics products where semiconductor vendors have been

What are you responsible for in VTI actually?

I am heading Innovation and Technology Management that is responsible for our products meeting specifications and manufacturability. We do this by resourcing the product development programs, developing and maintaining manufacturing processes. ITM is also responsible for new technology concepts, research and innovation.

You have a very versatile experience of production, product line management and also product development. Which are the main advantages of your experiences when considering your current position as VTI's CTO?

Maybe one of the strengths is actually in the versatility of my background. I do not consider myself an expert or guru in any one item. I have a fair understanding of various functions, be it R&D, operations or sales and account management and on the other hand perspective in how business is run in terms of financials, systems, tools, processes and human capital.

You also worked years in Ericsson and Elcoteq, which must have brought very wide understanding of mobile phone business field.  Which are the most important lessons learnt and ideas to be exploited in VTI from technological point of view?

Extreme speed of change is typical to the mobile phone business. You had to be fast and flexible. Concerning technology it is very risky to strive to build an infrastructure when adapting a new technology. One should check that there are sufficient amount of suppliers, competition, when developing and adapting new technologies unless there are specific reasons and value in being absolutely the first in the market with something. New technology is an enabler that is often evolutionary rather than revolutionary.

Which are VTI's core competences from technological perspective?

MEMS-platforms involve a lot of process related know-how that is core. Also, I think we have developed a fair amount of intellectual property around sensor design and measurement physics. 

How will you make an influence on our customers' experience of VTI?

Through the organization really. Not the least through our strategy each and every person in my organization should ask themselves do I have a sufficient understanding in customers measurement challenge. We are going to expose ourselves to understanding customers even better and make sure that sufficient training is available. There is the enthusiastic engineer in all of us that want to understand and solve customers' challenges. I am happy to see the members our (R&D/ITM) organization meeting customers in joint projects, audits and other visits on a regular basis.

What have you started and achieved so far?

Well, first of all I have tried to meet and conduct introductory discussions with as many people as possible. Now I try to get on top of operative things really and lastly but not least to business processes and administrative stuff.

What do you believe are major changes and innovations in MEMS-technology and markets in 2009-2011?

I think automotive market is adapting high performance gyros big time, consumer handheld products are taking low cost sensors to major volumes and integration continues to take further advances. Supply chains are becoming more robust, availability of MEMS foundry services increases and some consolidation in the market probably takes place as it matures. The MEMS market is going to see innovations in radio frequency and microfluidics areas.