Speech by MOS Low Yen Ling at Infineon’s OktoberTech Asia Pacific 2023

Mr Andreas Urshchitz, Chief Marketing Officer, Infineon,

Mr CS Chua, President and Managing Director, Infineon Technologies Asia Pacific,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Introduction

1. Good afternoon. I am pleased to be here at Infineon’s OktoberTech Asia Pacific 2023. The theme of this year’s conference, “Driving decarbonisation and digitalisation. Together.”, underscores our joint efforts in exploring ways to harness technology for a cleaner and more eco-friendly future.

2. Since the 1970s, Infineon has continued to be a trusted partner of Singapore.

a. Starting as a modest assembly centre, Infineon has expanded its operations significantly in the last five decades.  Today, Singapore serves as the regional headquarters for Infineon, as well as an R&D centre and the global lead site for developing smart manufacturing solutions and manufacturing automotive microcontrollers.

Expansion of Infineon’s Co-Innovation Space (COINS)

3. I am delighted to witness today yet another significant milestone in Infineon’s growth in Singapore with the expansion of its Co-Innovation Space, or COINS 2.0.

a. COINS was started in 2018 as a start-up development programme to drive cutting-edge innovation in the semiconductor ecosystem.

b. Infineon provides startups access to their semiconductor know-how and facilities through COINS, such as labs and test equipment.  This helps startups develop system solutions to capture opportunities in new growth markets.

c. Since the launch of COINS, Infineon has partnered with 13 local startups to develop products and solutions in growth areas such as smart homes and smart mobility.

d. Based on this success, COINS 2.0 will help Infineon double its annual startup partnerships. I am confident that this expansion will spark exciting technological breakthroughs and pave the way for new frontiers led by Infineon and its semiconductor partners.

Role of semiconductor companies in driving decarbonisation and digitalisation

4. The semiconductor industry is a crucial pillar of Singapore’s economy. Today, it is our largest manufacturing segment, accounting for over 7% of our GDP and is a key contributor to Singapore’s business expenditure in R&D (BERD).

a. While the semiconductor industry faces short-term challenges like high-interest rates and ongoing inflation, its long-term growth trajectory remains strong, driven by structural drivers such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and electrification.

b. As the unsung heroes that power our modern world, semiconductors will continue to serve as vital foundations for our progress in digitalisation and decarbonisation.

c. In the area of digitalisation, the need for greater computing power and ubiquitous connectivity is constantly growing. This and the increasing interest in automated systems and AI-powered solutions will continue to drive the demand for faster, smaller and more energy-efficient chips.

d. These small yet powerful components will also be a driving force behind our green transition. Semiconductors are set to play an increasingly critical role in powering electrification and renewable energy technologies. I understand that products powered by Infineon’s chips have contributed to about 100 million tonnes of emissions savings. This is roughly equivalent to 90,000 fully occupied flights of an Airbus A380 from Munich to Singapore.

Importance of collaboration in driving innovation

5. To further advance innovation in digitalisation and decarbonisation, collaboration is critical between the public and private sectors and within the sector.  The Government is committed to fostering greater cooperation between public and private players and promoting partnerships between MNCs and SMEs.  Allow me to elaborate briefly.

6. Singapore will continue to drive research and facilitate public-private collaboration to support the industry.

a. Under our S$25 billion Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2025 plan, the Government launched the Future of Microelectronics initiative to drive public-private research partnerships in several technology sectors. This includes Wide Bandgap Semiconductors and Heterogenous Integration, which are critical chip technologies in applications such as AI and electrification.

b. I encourage companies to explore collaboration opportunities with our local research institutes and universities, as they have the resources and expertise to support innovation in digitalisation and decarbonisation.

7. We will encourage more partnerships between MNCs and SMEs and strengthen these collaborations. Infineon has played a valuable role in driving these initiatives forward.

a. The expansion of COINS is a good example.

b. Under COINS, a wide range of innovative sustainability-centric solutions have been co-developed with local startups. For example, Infineon’s R&D team worked with AmpoTech, one of our local start-ups, to develop a smart meter that accurately measures energy usage across various industrial and household applications.

8. With COINS 2.0, I look forward to more opportunities for our local SMEs to forge partnerships with Infineon and other large enterprises.

Conclusion

9. Digitalisation and decarbonisation are megatrends the semiconductor industry must embrace with bold ambition. It is critical to foster greater innovation and forge more cross-sectoral partnerships. This is the path to surviving and thriving in a sustainable, low-carbon future.

10. Thank you, Infineon, for embracing these trends and providing a platform that cultivates collaboration in our local ecosystem in these vital areas. By working together, we can seize opportunities in new growth markets and develop more sustainable solutions for the future.

11. I look forward to the innovation breakthroughs that COINS 2.0 will bring and wish you a productive OktoberTech.

12. Thank you.