The Czech semiconductor ecosystem made a strong showing at the 7th Annual Conference of the Association for Foreign Investment (AFI), held in Prague on 10 September 2026. Two of this year’s AFI Awards went to projects and people closely connected with the Czech Semiconductor Centre (CSC) and its wider ecosystem.
Korymbos Photonics received the AFI and CzechInvest Award for Innovative Idea of the Year for advancing wafer-scale terahertz (THz) ellipsometry, an innovative method for analysing and inspecting semiconductor structures.
The technology is designed to enable non-contact and non-destructive measurement of semiconductor wafers. It builds on more than two decades of research in ellipsometry and THz spectroscopy at VSB – Technical University of Ostrava and is now moving towards commercial application through the university spin-off Korymbos Photonics.
For semiconductor manufacturers, the technology has the potential to provide detailed information about semiconductor structures while helping to reduce costs, minimise the use of chemicals and improve production yields.
The second semiconductor-related distinction went to Stanislav Černý, President of the Czech National Semiconductor Cluster (CNSC), who received the AFI Award for Long-Term Development of the Investment Environment as well as to Michal Lorenc, representative of onsemi and vice-President of the CNSC.
Their work has contributed significantly to building a more visible, connected and internationally oriented semiconductor ecosystem in Czechia. The Czech National Semiconductor Cluster and onsemi are founding partners of the Czech Semiconductor Centre. Both Černý and Lorenc have also been closely involved in activities promoting Czechia internationally as a semiconductor location and in strengthening cooperation between industry, research and public-sector partners.
Photos: Pavel Šinagl for AFI
