Irresistible Materials
Irresistible Materials is a UK specialty materials company developing the patented Multi-Trigger Resist (MTR™) platform, a small-molecule organic photoresist for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography serving semiconductor manufacturers and foundries targeting low-NA and high-NA EUV nodes.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersBirmingham, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Irresistible Materials does
Irresistible Materials Ltd is a UK-based specialty materials company founded in 2010 and headquartered at Wolverhampton Science Park, developing next-generation photoresists for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. Its sole commercial platform, Multi-Trigger Resist (MTR™), is a patented small-molecule organic resist designed to address the stochastic effects, narrow process windows, and high cost of ownership that limit EUV scaling. The technology uses a multi-trigger mechanism that suppresses unwanted catalytic reactions in unexposed areas while selectively accelerating desired reactions in exposed areas, enabling cleaner pattern transfer, higher scanner throughput, and support for both low-NA and high-NA EUV at sub-1nm dimensions.
The company protects its position through a portfolio of more than 50 patents and applications across 15 patent families covering both resist composition and application, and it conducts ongoing lithography testing through an embedded team at IMEC in Leuven, Belgium. Its go-to-market is enterprise B2B: joint development partnerships with semiconductor manufacturers and foundries, supplemented by an alliance ecosystem that includes ASML, KLA, Synopsys, SCREEN Holdings, Brewer Science, Nissan Chemical, Fractilia, and Panoramic Technology. In February 2026 the company received a strategic investment and entered a flagship joint development partnership with Tokyo Ohka Kogyo (TOK) to scale MTR for high-volume manufacturing, and in June 2026 it established a strategic business relationship with NANO-C involving the transfer of an advanced lithography patent portfolio.
Commercially, IM is in a pre-revenue to early commercialization stage. Revenue derives from sales of MTR materials to chip manufacturers under joint development arrangements, with pricing not publicly disclosed and tailored to enterprise customer requirements. The company is led by CEO Dinesh Bettadapur (appointed 2025), CTO and co-founder Alex Robinson, and CFO and co-founder David Ure, with Daniel Armbrust (co-founder of Silicon Catalyst and former SEMATECH CEO) as Chairman. The board includes representatives from Mercia Asset Management and TOK, reflecting a mix of UK venture capital backing and Japanese strategic investment.
Irresistible Materials firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Irresistible Materials
- Legal name
- Irresistible Materials Ltd
- Website
- https://irresistiblematerials.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Irresistible Materials is a UK specialty materials company developing the patented Multi-Trigger Resist (MTR™) platform, a small-molecule organic photoresist for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography serving semiconductor manufacturers and foundries targeting low-NA and high-NA EUV nodes.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Irresistible Materials industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Semiconductor Photoresist Materials
- NAICS
- Adhesive Manufacturing (32552)
- SIC
- Printed Circuit Boards (3672)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Photoresists & Lithography Chemicals (Resists/Developers/Anti-Reflective Coatings) (HDAHAGAE)
Keywords
Where Irresistible Materials is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Birmingham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Irresistible Materials business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- EUV Photoresist Materials Sales: Sale of proprietary Multi-Trigger Resist (MTR) photoresist materials to semiconductor manufacturers and foundries. The company develops and commercializes advanced materials for EUV lithography, working with customers through joint development partnerships to optimize formulations for specific manufacturing needs.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Irresistible Materials product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Irresistible Materials develops and commercializes the patented Multi-Trigger Resist (MTR™) Platform, a high-absorption small-molecule organic photoresist designed specifically for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. The platform uses a multi-trigger catalytic mechanism that suppresses unwanted reactions in unexposed areas and selectively accelerates desired reactions in exposed areas to deliver cleaner, more manufacturable EUV patterning for advanced semiconductor nodes, including low-NA and high-NA EUV.
Product overview
Irresistible Materials operates as a single unified product company focused exclusively on next-generation EUV photoresist development. The core offering is the Multi-Trigger Resist (MTR™) Platform, a patented small-molecule organic resist technology that serves as the foundational product for all company activities. The MTR platform addresses the material-level challenges limiting low NA and high NA EUV lithography adoption for high-volume semiconductor manufacturing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Multi-Trigger Resist (MTR™): Patented small-molecule resist platform for EUV lithography with molecular dimensions up to 10 times smaller than conventional polymer-based resists, designed to support both low-NA and high-NA EUV lithography.
Products and services
- Multi-Trigger Resist (MTR™) Platform
Quantifiable outcome
- Molecular dimensions up to 10 times smaller than conventional polymer-based resists
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Irresistible Materials
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Irresistible Materials technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Irresistible Materials partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- NANO-C, Inc.coreStrategic business relationship where Nano-C, a leader in nanostructured carbon, electronic materials, and specialty chemicals, acquired an advanced lithography patent portfolio from Irresistible Materials. The partnership advances mutual business interests in electronic materials for semiconductor manufacturing.
- Tokyo Ohka Kogyo Co., Ltd. (TOK)flagshipStrategic investment and joint development partnership to accelerate commercialization of IM's Multi-Trigger Resist (MTR) platform for EUV lithography. TOK, a leading Japanese photoresist manufacturer, will leverage its world-class manufacturing capabilities to scale up MTR for mass production, aiming to deliver next-generation EUV resist solutions to semiconductor manufacturers faster. IM will use the funding to expand its workforce and infrastructure.
- IMECcoreActive engagement with leading industry consortia and research programs. IMEC is a key partner where IM runs lithography experiments to test resist formulations against key requirements from customers and partners, undertaking metrology and providing feedback.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Irresistible Materials competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Sumitomo Chemical:
- Tokyo Ohka Kogyo (TOK): TOK is IM's strategic investor and joint development partner, but also a top-3 global photoresist manufacturer with decades of EUV resist development. Its dual role as both investor and direct competitor makes it a critical comparable for IM's commercialization path.
- Shin-Etsu Chemical: Shin-Etsu is a leading global supplier of EUV and ArF photoresists, as well as silicon wafers, with decades-long incumbent positions at TSMC, Samsung, and Intel. It competes directly with IM for advanced-node resist wallet share.
- Merck KGaA (Electronics): Merck KGaA operates its Electronics business (including the former AZ Electronic Materials) supplying photoresists and specialty materials to semiconductor manufacturers. It is a broad incumbent with overlapping EUV resist offerings.
Direct peers
- JSR Corporation: JSR is one of the world's largest photoresist manufacturers and acquired Inpria (a leading EUV metal-oxide resist developer) in 2021, making it the most direct competitive comparable to Irresistible Materials' MTR platform.
- Inpria Corporation (JSR subsidiary): Inpria develops metal-oxide EUV photoresists and was acquired by JSR in 2021. It is the most technically analogous pure-play EUV resist developer to IM, though focused on metal-oxide rather than small-molecule organic chemistry.
- Fujifilm Electronic Materials: Fujifilm's Electronic Materials division supplies photoresists for advanced semiconductor lithography including EUV. As a major diversified materials supplier with established foundry relationships, it is a direct competitor to IM.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Irresistible Materials social profiles
Digital presenceIrresistible Materials financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Irresistible Materials leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Irresistible Materials funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Irresistible Materials M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Irresistible Materials
What does Irresistible Materials do?
Irresistible Materials develops and commercializes the patented Multi-Trigger Resist (MTR™) Platform, a high-absorption small-molecule organic photoresist designed specifically for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. The platform uses a multi-trigger catalytic mechanism that suppresses unwanted reactions in unexposed areas and selectively accelerates desired reactions in exposed areas to deliver cleaner, more manufacturable EUV patterning for advanced semiconductor nodes, including low-NA and high-NA EUV.
Is Irresistible Materials a public or private company?
Irresistible Materials is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Irresistible Materials founded?
Irresistible Materials was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Irresistible Materials based?
Irresistible Materials is headquartered in Birmingham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Irresistible Materials make money?
One revenue line is on record: EUV Photoresist Materials Sales.
Who are Irresistible Materials's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Sumitomo Chemical, Tokyo Ohka Kogyo (TOK), Shin-Etsu Chemical and Merck KGaA (Electronics). Direct peers are JSR Corporation, Inpria Corporation (JSR subsidiary) and Fujifilm Electronic Materials.
Does Irresistible Materials have an API?
No public API is recorded for Irresistible Materials.
What industry is Irresistible Materials in?
Irresistible Materials's product category is Semiconductor Photoresist Materials. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHAGAE, Photoresists & Lithography Chemicals (Resists/Developers/Anti-Reflective Coatings). Its NAICS code is 32552 and its SIC code is 3672.