Singapore’s IGaN says nation is at the cusp of becoming Asia’s epicentre for niche semiconductor technologies in power efficiencies.
Singapore-basedIGSS GaN Pte.Ltd (IGaN), an internationally-recognised technology developer and commercialisation experts in gallium nitride-on-silicon/silicon carbide (GaN-on-Si/SiC), furthers its expansion initiatives following demonstrated successes in pilot lines of customers. This has fuelled the company’s ambitions of setting up a combined commercial and Global Joint Lab for 4″- 8″ metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) GaN Epi Centre in Singapore. Additionally, IGaN’s recent onboarding of a renowned toolmaker reaffirms the company’s efforts in establishing an innovative GaN ecosystem that supports global demand for an energy-efficient, sustainable and mobile future.
Operationalisation of the GaN Epi Centre is envisioned for mid-2021, with IGaN, its holding company IGSS Ventures (IGSSV) and select partners investing some US$73 mil to expand GaN epi production capacity and mass production 8″ GaN fabrication technologies.
The Epi Centre capitalises on demands in new applications and next-generation technologies like power and renewable energy, 5G, wireless communication, and data centres – which require high switching frequencies, efficient energy management and the ability to perform under high power densities. Poised to accelerate “green goals” across Asia-Pacific, from China to Singapore-Malaysia to India, GaN technology is increasingly sought after by industry players looking to address public and private sector efforts in decarbonising digitalisation, energy distribution and mobility.
“What the industry lacks today is a concerted effort to enhance the overall GaN ecosystem to lower cost barriers so that technology adoption can happen at the pace the market is moving. We projected more than nine years ago that at 8″ wafer dimensions, GaN-on-Si capabilities becomes a competitive and powerful solution to create the right balance between superior performances and cost competitiveness. A commercial centre and Joint Lab hosting several top specialist brands and leading vendors is a timely market response to creating strategic partnerships that fast-track innovation, growth, and customer value. Capitalising on the recognisable Singapore-brand, second to none IPs standards, its known semiconductor infrastructure and IGaN’s in-house expertise, I truly believe we can set standards, create benchmarks and lead the global movement in GaN adoption,” he stressed.
Ambitions for the Epi Centre is indicative of the growing excitement in the industry as GaN technology sits at the intersection of power-efficient electronics, AI, 5G and IoT, charging systems/powertrain management, green energy and smart city demands. Spurring a wave of progress across several high-growth and mission-critical sectors such as consumer appliances, environmental monitoring, healthcare and automotive, GaN has unleashed unprecedented capabilities and new opportunities beyond the limits of existing technologies.
