The Ajinomoto Group is not just about food. We’ve described the Group’s ventures into advanced medicine, cosmetics, and other industries in previous Stories.In this article, we explore something even more unexpected: the Group’s deep involvement in the ICT industry, specifically in semiconductor manufacturing.The Ajinomoto Group and semiconductors? It might be hard to imagine, but the reality is that the semiconductor materials produced by the Ajinomoto Group hold significant market share and are serious players in the industry.So how did a company famous for its umami seasoning come to manufacture semiconductor materials? We interviewed two members of the team from Ajinomoto Fine-Techno to uncover the story. We’ll also break down some essential knowledge about semiconductors along the way.What even are semiconductors in the first place?We all know that semiconductors are essential components found in computers, smartphones, home appliances, and even cars. But how does the Ajinomoto Group fit into this picture? And what exactly are semiconductors in the first place?A semiconductor has properties between a conductor (which allows electricity to flow) and an insulator (which blocks the flow of electricity).Common conductors include metals like gold, silver, copper, and aluminum, while insulators include materials like glass, rubber, and plastic.Then there are semiconductors, which function in both ways.That is to say, they half conduct, which is why they’re called “semi” conductors. In most cases these are made from materials such as silicon and germanium. Semiconductors can switch between conducting and insulating states, making them crucial for modern electronics.These chips come in all manner of shapes and formats depending on their specific function, and their tiny size allows them to be packed into the green circuit boards inside our computers, smartphones, and other such devices.With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and increasing demand for high-performance computing, semiconductors have become indispensable. AI relies heavily on semiconductor-based GPUs (graphics processing units), and global competition in semiconductor development is fiercer than ever.These tiny chips now play a central role in economic growth and technological progress all over the world.Over 95% global market share!? The Ajinomoto Group’s Surprising Connection to SemiconductorsNow, let’s get to the main topic.The semiconductor material we’re here to talk about today is Ajinomoto Build-up FilmTM (ABF), developed by Ajinomoto Fine-Techno.ABF is an insulating material that plays a crucial role in high-performance computers and data center servers engaged in complex, sophisticated processing. It boasts an impressive global market share—reportedly approaching 100%!Even more surprising, the origins of ABF are tied to none other than the Ajinomoto Group’s famous umami seasoning. To learn more about ABF’s development and why it dominates the market, we spoke with Takashi Takahashi and Akito Kitano from Ajinomoto Fine-Techno’s Electronics Materials Division.Please tell us about the ABF semiconductor insulating material.Takahashi:Insulating materials are essential to ensuring the performance of electronic devices. In a computer, for example, semiconductors are placed on a substrate before being connected to the electronic components inside. Inside the substrate are layers of wiring, and ABF is incorporated to cover this wiring. If there were no insulating material, electricity could flow to unintended components and trigger a short circuit.Short circuit!? That must mean insulating materials are essential for maintaining the safety of electronic devices.Kitano:As its name suggests, ABF is film-like, with a thickness of about 10 micrometers per layer. For reference, a human hair is about 80 micrometers in diameter.Semiconductor packages, the casing which houses and protects the semiconductors, come in a variety of types, such as SOP (Small Outline Package), QFP (Quad Flat Package), and LGA (Lang Grid Array). Among them, FC-BGA (Flip Chip-Ball Grid Array) is a semiconductor package that contributes to higher speed and multifunctionality of electronic devices, and is essential for high-performance PCs and data center servers. Functioning as an insulating material for these FC-BGAs, ABF boasts a high share of the global market.By “high market share,” do you mean like 30% overall? Or perhaps more generously around 50%?Kitano:More like 95% market share.That’s not far off from 100%!Kitano:That’s correct. It’s safe to think that practically all high-performance computers and servers around the world rely on ABF.How the company’s umami seasoning AJI-NO-MOTO® led to the birth of ABFWhat led the Ajinomoto Group to create ABF?Takahashi:The origin of ABF can be traced back to the umami seasoning AJI-NO-MOTO®. It started with chlorinated paraffin, a byproduct produced in the process of manufacturing monosodium glutamate (MSG), the