---
title: "Silicon CMOS image sensor microchips"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000771544"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000771544"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000771544.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000771544.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH"
published: "2024-07-04"
---

# Silicon CMOS image sensor microchips

Buyer: UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000771544

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## Summary

The University Of Edinburgh has awarded a contract for the procurement of Silicon CMOS image sensor microchips through a limited procurement method. The tender, titled "Silicon CMOS image sensor microchips," is in the goods category and aims to develop miniature cameras with advanced technology. The buying organization, University Of Edinburgh, located in Edinburgh, UK, initiated the tender process, which has now reached the award stage as of 4th July 2024. The University is seeking these microchips to develop cutting-edge cameras for specific research purposes.

This tender presents an opportunity for businesses specializing in high-tech sensor manufacturing to collaborate with the University Of Edinburgh on innovative projects. Companies with expertise in fabricating advanced sensor technologies, such as STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd, are well-suited to compete in this procurement process. The project requires state-of-the-art technology not widely available, making it ideal for manufacturers with specialized capabilities in developing sensitive camera components. By successfully fulfilling this contract, businesses can establish valuable partnerships with academic institutions and contribute to groundbreaking research initiatives.

## Notice

3D stacked back-side illuminated Single Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD)

### Lot Information

Lot 1

EPSRC Quantic Project run by the University of Edinburgh requires that microchips be purchased to be a component in cameras that are being developed that require a 3D stacked back-side illuminated SPAD array to obtain the sensitivity required to detect neural activity, combined with an advanced digital bottom tier for digital image processing. This limits the number of potential manufacturers to only a few worldwide (aside from STMicroelectronics these are Sony, Samsung, TSMC, TowerJazz, AMS) as this is state-of-the-art technology developed in only the last few years through billions of dollars of capital investment. A previous NCA allowed us to purchase these Microchips and understand the Market in 2021 which has not moved in relation this commodity and market movement to consumers. What this has done however, has been to build a relationship with STMicroelectronic products. The University of Edinburgh through the EPSRC Qunatic Project has been engaged with STMicroelectronics and even if these manufacturers would make their technology available, the effort of porting the original design database to another manufacturer's process would be prohibitive within the small resources of the research project, which builds on several years of continuous development in STMicroelectronics technology. If other manufacturers could or would make their technology available to UoE, there would be significant technical challenges in adapting to a new manufacturing process of the cameras. The time required to port our original design database to another manufacturer's process would be prohibitive within the small resources of our research project, which builds on 7 years of continuous development in STMicroelectronics technology through EPSRC Quantic Project (EP/T00097X/1). Thus, it would not be cost effective or feasible to proceed with an alternative manufacturer.

### Procurement Information

This project aims to develop miniature cameras, that are as small as a 50 pence piece, and that can take videos at thousands of frames per second. The cameras being developed require a 3D stacked back-side illuminated SPAD array to obtain the sensitivity required to detect neural activity, combined with an advanced digital bottom tier for digital image processing so that the camera operates at the thousands of frames per second required to detect key brain events. Mass manufacturers as well as not deeming a sale commercially beneficial, do not make available their comparable manufacturing capabilities to academic groups working at the Universities' scale. Thus, STMicroelectronics is the only manufacturer that is both capable and willing to fabricate the sensors required to deliver the project goals.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL509150 |
| Notice type | PCS Notice - Website Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 4 Jul 2024 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 4 Jul 2024 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £221,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH |
| Locality | EDINBURGH |
| Post town | Edinburgh |
| Postcode | EH1 1HT |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM1 East Central Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM13 City of Edinburgh |
| Local authority | City of Edinburgh |
| Electoral ward | City Centre |
| Westminster constituency | Edinburgh East and Musselburgh |
| Delivery location | TLM75 City of Edinburgh |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | STMICROELECTRONICS (R&D |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

### Codes

- 33000000 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

## Release History

- 4 Jul 2024 at 00:00 - Award - PCS Notice - Website Contract Award Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL509150

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL509150
  Silicon CMOS image sensor microchips - 3D stacked back-side illuminated Single Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD)

## Notice URLs

- http://
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000771544
- https://www.ed.ac.uk

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000771544. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000771544.json.