Speech by Min(EST) at the official opening of the National Semiconductor Translation and Innovation Centre for Gallium Nitride

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. A very good morning to all. It is my great pleasure to join you today for the official opening of the National Semiconductor Translation and Innovation Centre for Gallium Nitride, or NSTIC (GaN) for short.

2. NSTIC is an A*STAR initiative that covers R&D programmes and infrastructure for key semiconductor technologies, with the aim to uplift our semiconductor industry through a coordinated effort towards research and development (R&D). In my Committee of Supply speech last year, I had announced the setup of NSTIC (Photonics) to support R&D in the fields of flat optics and silicon photonics. Earlier this year, DPM Gan also announced the $500 million NSTIC R&D Fabrication Facility, which will commence in 2027 with an initial focus on advanced packaging.

3. These centres provide companies and researchers with access to semiconductor R&D capabilities and infrastructure. They aim to accelerate the speed to market and scaling up of R&D solutions for the semiconductor industry, which is an important pillar of Singapore’s economy. By operating as collaborative hubs where public and private sector players share access to state-of-the-art cleanroom facilities, tools, and fabrication operations, these centres also foster partnerships between major global semiconductor players and SMEs or startups.

4. As a next step in advancing Singapore’s semiconductor R&D, I am pleased to officially open A*STAR’s NSTIC for Gallium Nitride. NSTIC (GaN) is now operational and ready to support companies and researchers with production-grade fabrication and R&D capabilities.

NSTIC (GaN): Driving Translation in Gallium Nitride

5. Gallium Nitride can operate at higher voltages, switch faster, and generate less heat compared to traditional silicon. These properties allow for smaller and more energy-efficient devices. Gallium Nitride technology is therefore increasingly relevant in use cases where high efficiency and compact size are critical, such as 5G and 6G communications, satellite systems, and next-generation mobility. With a surging demand for such systems, the global radio-frequency (RF) Gallium Nitride device market is projected to grow by more than double, to over US$2.7 billion from 2022 to 2028¹.

6. NSTIC (GaN) aims to leverage these global opportunities and spearhead the growth of GaN innovation in Singapore. It will be the first facility in Singapore to have both 6-inch Gallium Nitride on Silicon Carbide and 8-inch Gallium Nitride on Silicon wafer fabrication lines. This will position Singapore among the few global hubs capable of producing advanced semiconductors that will power future communication needs – strengthening both national resilience and increasing our global competitiveness.

7. At the same time, these two lines allow the centre to serve applications at different complexities and specifications, from common consumer products to advanced satellite communications. This will support a wide spectrum of the market, from startups to SMEs and MNCs, in their innovation journey.

Ecosystem Partnerships & Industry Momentum

8. I am heartened to see that many companies are coming forward to partner NSTIC (GaN) in innovating with GaN technologies. One such company is WaferLead, a local startup specialising in Silicon Carbide substrate, a critical component of the GaN wafers used in the production of advanced communication devices. This partnership will boost the availability of such specialised wafers for the ecosystem locally and position WaferLead as one of the few suppliers of high-quality Silicon Carbide substrate globally. NSTIC (GaN) will provide the platform for WaferLead to develop and enhance the performance, quality and reliability of its wafers.

9. Many other partners, from local R&D and manufacturing, as well as international technology firms, will also come onboard to collaborate with NSTIC (GaN). The signing ceremony for these collaboration agreements will take place shortly after this.

10. From mid-2026, NSTIC (GaN) will also increase its scope by offering commercial foundry services locally. This will allow companies to overcome high capital cost barriers, which is often a pain point in research translation. SMEs and startups will be able to access these services locally to accelerate their product development and fabrication and achieve speed-to-market. I hope that this will encourage more development of cutting-edge technologies to strengthen Singapore’s competitiveness in the semiconductor industry.

Investing in Talent, Building for the Long View

11. In all of this, we must never forget that while infrastructure can be built, talent must be cultivated.

12. NSTIC (GaN) is committed to developing a pipeline of the next generation of researchers and leaders who will form the bedrock of our GaN semiconductor R&D ecosystem. This includes involving university students in active research projects, allowing them to gain hands-on experience in an industry-like environment. NSTIC (GaN) will also provide research grants to Institutes of Higher Learning to train PhD students and collaborate with industry partners, deepening their translational R&D skillsets.

13. These talents will be the pioneers to drive our semiconductor future in the field of GaN. This is an important investment we need to make to build a skilled pipeline of translational researchers and engineers to drive Singapore’s capabilities in Gallium Nitride technology.

Conclusion

14. In closing, today’s volatile global environment, marked by supply chain fragmentation and strategic competition, reinforces the importance of developing world-leading capabilities. Only by building a deep technological differentiation can we drive the next bound of high growth and productivity and position ourselves at the forefront of next-generation semiconductor technologies.

15. The opening of NSTIC (GaN) marks a key milestone in Singapore’s journey to build a world-class semiconductor innovation ecosystem through industry partnerships, building the talent and capabilities we need for the future, and supporting companies in accelerating the translation of research.

16. I encourage more industry leaders, companies and universities to actively leverage NSTIC (GaN) to develop GaN innovations, foster new partnerships and collaborations, and unlock new growth opportunities.

17. Congratulations once again on the opening of NSTIC (GaN)!

18. Thank you.

[1] Source: Yole Group. (2023). RF GaN: Telecom infrastructure takes the lead.