  The SiPM is a novel solid state photodetector which can be operated in the
single photon counting mode. It has excellent features, such as high quantum
efficiency, good charge resolution, fast response, very compact size, high gain
of 106, very low power consumption, immunity to the magnetic field and low bias
voltage (30-70V). Drawbacks of this device currently are a large dark current,
crosstalk between micropixels and relatively low sensitivity to UV and blue
light. In the last few years, we have developed large size SiPMs (9 mm^2 and 25
mm^2) for applications in the imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes, MAGIC
and CTA, and in the space-borne fluorescence telescope EUSO. The current status
of the SiPM development by MPI and MEPhI will be presented.
