Cosmoke Builds Inline Non-Destructive Tester for MRAM Films

Cosmoke, a South Korean deep-tech startup, is developing an inline, non-destructive system that analyzes the magnetic thin films used in next-generation memory and sensors. The company wants to move its technology from the lab into semiconductor manufacturing lines.

Founded in 2023 by Jang Beom-jin, an assistant professor of robotics engineering at Hanyang University ERICA, Cosmoke builds on the magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE). It targets analysis demand from MRAM, magnetoresistive (MR) sensors and spintronic semiconductors.

Measuring what drives yield

Conventional semiconductor metrology has mostly focused on film thickness and surface defects. Cosmoke instead measures magnetic properties that directly affect device performance and yield. In magnetic devices such as MRAM, the strength, direction and uniformity of magnetization influence write current, data retention and error rates.

The company's differentiator is real-time checking of magnetic film anomalies inside the production line, rather than in a separate lab.

From research tool to fab equipment

Cosmoke says customer validation has confirmed the technology in its research model, COSMOKE RESEARCH. It is now extending that core technology to COSMOKE SEMI, a manufacturing model for inline, non-destructive magnetic characterization in MRAM and MR sensor processes.

The company is integrating an electromagnetic field generator, an optical module, a high-performance stage, an equipment front-end module (EFEM) and fan filter unit (FFU) suited to inline environments, and AI-based analysis and correction software into a single system. This year, development of the magnetic field generator and optical module, the core components of COSMOKE SEMI, is moving into full swing. Cosmoke is working with inline equipment specialists to bring the tool up to production standards.

Jang said there is not enough manufacturing-line equipment on the market that can analyze magnetic devices non-destructively. He said the company aims to finish a production-ready inline tool, help raise yields in next-generation chip processes and compete in the global inline metrology market.

The work is part of the 2026 Super-Gap Startup Project (DIPS), backed by Korea's Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea Startup Promotion Agency.