Impinj, Inc. (NASDAQ: PI), a global leader in RAIN RFID solutions and a pioneer of the Internet of Things (IoT), has announced a strategic licensing agreement with EM Microelectronic, a Swiss-based semiconductor manufacturer renowned for ultra-low power integrated circuits. This collaboration will integrate Impinj Gen2X technology into future EM Microelectronic endpoint ICs, marking a significant step forward in the evolution of RFID-enabled IoT solutions.
The partnership underscores a shared commitment to expanding the RAIN RFID ecosystem while unlocking new performance capabilities across diverse industries and use cases.
Strengthening the RAIN RFID Ecosystem
At the core of this agreement is Impinj Gen2X, an advanced extension of the widely adopted RAIN RFID Gen2 standard. Gen2X is designed to enhance performance, reliability, and scalability—key factors as enterprises increasingly rely on RFID and IoT technologies to optimize operations.
“We are committed to enabling a broader ecosystem of product and technology providers to deliver powerful solutions to an array of market segments and use cases,” said Gahan Richardson, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Impinj Business Unit. He emphasized that extending Gen2X performance advantages to EM Microelectronic opens the door to future innovations that benefit the entire RFID value chain.
By licensing Gen2X, Impinj continues its strategy of collaborating with semiconductor leaders to accelerate adoption of next-generation RFID capabilities while maintaining compatibility with existing Gen2 standards.
Unlocking New Capabilities with Dual-Frequency RFID
For EM Microelectronic, the integration of Gen2X represents a major enhancement to its RAINFC dual-frequency product line. This product family already extends RFID functionality beyond traditional RAIN RFID use cases, and the addition of Gen2X is expected to further improve performance in established applications while enabling entry into new industries and market segments.
“Our RAINFC dual-frequency product line greatly extends RFID capability beyond traditional RAIN RFID use cases,” said Pierre Muller, RFID Business Unit Leader at EM Microelectronic. “Gen2X integration into this and future product lines will further improve performance on proven use cases while opening the door to new industries and segments, delivering unmatched value.”
This combination of ultra-low power IC design and enhanced RFID protocol capabilities is particularly relevant for battery-operated and field-powered devices—areas where efficiency, reliability, and scalability are critical.
Driving Innovation Across Industries
The collaboration between Impinj and EM Microelectronic has implications across a wide range of sectors, including retail, logistics, automotive, industrial automation, and wearable technology. As businesses seek real-time visibility into assets, inventory, and shipments, RAIN RFID and IoT solutions play an increasingly central role.
Impinj’s platform already enables billions of everyday items—such as apparel, luggage, automobile parts, and shipments—to connect wirelessly to the Internet. By delivering timely, accurate data, these solutions help organizations improve operational efficiency and enhance consumer experiences.
With EM Microelectronic’s proven expertise in ultra-low power semiconductor design and decades of RFID innovation, the integration of Gen2X strengthens the foundation for scalable, energy-efficient IoT deployments.
A Shared Vision for the Future of IoT
Both companies highlight the long-term innovation potential of this partnership. With demonstrated operational benefits and full compatibility with existing Gen2 standards, Gen2X offers a clear path for future advancements without disrupting current deployments.
As the demand for smart, connected devices continues to grow, collaborations like this one are essential to building a resilient and future-ready IoT ecosystem—one that balances performance, power efficiency, and interoperability.
About Impinj
Impinj (NASDAQ: PI) helps businesses solve operational challenges and improve consumer experience by wirelessly connecting billions of everyday things — such as apparel, automobile parts, luggage, and shipments — to the Internet. The Impinj platform uses RAIN RFID to deliver timely data about these everyday things to business and consumer applications, enabling a boundless Internet of Things. www.impinj.com
Impinj is a registered trademark of Impinj, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their owners.
About EM Microelectronic
EM Microelectronic, a company of the Swatch Group, designs and manufactures True Ultra-low power integrated circuits and modules for battery-operated and field-powered devices in wearable, consumer, automotive and industrial applications. A Swiss pioneer with more than 30 years’ track record in RFID, EM has been serving the market with premium solutions for small portable devices and green IoT since 1975. For more information visit www.emmicroelectronic.com.
