The Singapore Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) has launched three initiatives that will strengthen Singapore’s semiconductor research and innovation capabilities at its inaugural Innovate Together event at SEMICON Southeast Asia 2025:
- The A*STAR Institute of Microelectronics (A*STAR IME) announced the world’s first industry-grade 200 mm Silicon Carbide Open R&D Line. Designed to enable joint silicon carbide (SiC) innovation between researchers and companies, this pioneering facility will strengthen Singapore's capabilities in wide bandgap semiconductor research and address the future demands for high-power applications.
- A*STAR also unveiled phase two of Lab-in-Fab, a 200 mm R&D and manufacturing line focused on piezoelectric micro-electro-mechanical systems (piezoMEMS), involving partners STMicroelectronics, ULVAC, and the National University of Singapore. The collaboration combines STMicroelectronics’ expertise in piezoMEMS R&D and wafer manufacturing, ULVAC’s advanced manufacturing equipment, and A*STAR IME’s expertise in piezoelectric thin film materials and device design.
-A*STAR IME, Enterprise Singapore, and electronic design automation (EDA) companies Cadence, Keysight, and Synopsys have partnered to set up EDA Garage, an initiative that will provide local companies, especially startups and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), with cost-effective access to advanced EDA tools.
EDA tools are specialised software suites that are used to design, simulate, analyse and verify semiconductor chips virtually before they are fabricated.
Silicon Carbide Open R&D Line
The Open R&D Line addresses key challenges faced in the development of SiC devices, including high cost of industry-grade tools, limited access to advanced technologies, complex and fragmented development processes, and lack of collaboration and knowledge sharing.
By offering a complete suite of SiC development and pilot manufacturing capabilities under one roof, the Open R&D Line increases the speed of R&D by eliminating the fragmented R&D processes that previously required researchers and companies to work with multiple facilities. Projects could span themes such as materials growth and defect analysis as well as device fabrication and testing.
Key equipment OEMs and materials suppliers—ASM, centrotherm, Nissin, Soitec and Toray—have contributed their latest technologies and are co-developing their next-generation products with A*STAR:
- ASM’s PE1O8 tool for depositing high-quality SiC epitaxial layers
- Centrotherm’s c.ACTIVATOR 200 and c.OXIDATOR 200 tools for high-temperature SiC annealing and oxidation
- Nissin’s first and only in-situ X-ray diffraction capability for the SiC ion implantation process
- Soitec’s SmartSiC semiconductor engineered substrate technology
- Toray’s materials for SiC power module packaging products
Several global and local companies have partnered with A*STAR IME to utilise the Open R&D Line:
- STMicroelectronics is leveraging engineering capabilities and tools to develop ways to streamline its manufacturing processes and improve the quality of its SiC devices
- One of the top foundries in the world is developing key process technologies through the Open R&D Line, with the intention to scale up production of advanced SiC devices
- WaferLead, a local startup, is using the Open R&D Line to develop, evaluate, and enhance the performance and reliability of its wafers
Lab-in-Fab phase two
Lab-in-Fab brings together sensor and actuator design companies, product companies as well as manufacturing companies and their suppliers into an ecosystem to collaboratively prototype and manufacture new products. To date, it has commercialised new lead-free piezoelectric materials and device platforms, as well as created employment opportunities in Singapore. Additionally, institutes of higher learning from Singapore and globally have tapped on Lab-in-Fab for their research and training needs.
The second phase of Lab-in-Fab expands the partnership to include A*STAR Institute of Materials Research and Engineering and the National University of Singapore to further accelerate the development of new piezoelectric materials and devices. It also adds sustainability as a central focus, to develop more energy efficient lead-free piezoMEMS transducers using environmentally-friendly materials like scandium-doped aluminium nitride (ScAIN).
Lab-in-Fab phase two builds on the success of the first phase, which led to a fully operational R&D and manufacturing line for piezoMEMS transducers. A key achievement of phase one was the development of a piezoMEMS transducer platform using physical vapour deposited lead zirconate titanate (PVD PZT) thin film. This is easier to manufacture compared to the conventional solgel method of depositing PZT thin films, and reduces lead content by 99% versus traditional ceramic PZT transducers—making it a more environmentally-friendly option. The platform has been offered to multiple customers for applications in medical, virtual reality (VR) and robotics.
Beyond technology development, Lab-in-Fab phase one introduced a multi-wafer project service for local and international universities and institutes, enabling new innovations for piezoMEMS devices and applications. This service will continue to provide differentiated piezoMEMS platforms that accelerate innovation for both researchers and companies.
Local SMEs have gained new capabilities through their participation in Lab-in-Fab. Micronclean, a local SME providing clean room services in Singapore, has developed a decontamination protocol that meets high-volume foundry requirements, for example. To kickstart international collaborations in semiconductor training and R&D, A*STAR IME signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with key partners, including the Uzeltexsanoat Association, representing Uzbekistan’s electronics sector, the Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association (SSIA), the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT KGP), and the Fraunhofer Institute for Electronic Nano Systems (ENAS)*. These partnerships pave the way for internship programmes, joint research projects, and knowledge exchange through training and knowledge-sharing activities.
EDA Garage
The EDA Garage initiative aims to nurture local semiconductor companies, and enable new innovations. The support by EDA companies will also contribute to building a skilled workforce, further strengthening Singapore's competitiveness in the global semiconductor industry.
Under EDA Garage, local companies will be able to purchase flexible, pay-per-use tool licenses. In addition, Cadence, Keysight and Synopsys will offer training and support to use their tools. This lowers the barrier to entry for companies who are designing their first chips.
CM Engineering Labs Singapore, a local company which develops radio frequency and analog integrated circuits for wireless communication and sensing applications, is the first subscriber of the EDA Garage.
At the sidelines of SEMICON Southeast Asia 2025 A*STAR also formalised its partnerships with GlobalFoundries and Nearfield Instruments, to expand capabilities in advanced packaging and drive innovation in semiconductor metrology technologies. Under an MoU, GlobalFoundries will gain access to A*STAR’s advanced R&D facilities, capabilities and technical support for technology development in advanced packaging and workforce skills enhancement.
The multiyear research collaboration between A*STAR IME and Nearfield Instruments, a specialist in advanced semiconductor metrology, will accelerate the development of advanced metrology solutions that enable efficient chip production.
Other developments at SEMICON Southeast Asia 2025 include: - Canon Singapore's first-ever collaboration with Mitsubishi Electric Asia in Southeast Asia. The two companies demonstrated a new automation solution integrating Canon’s Force Torque Sensor FH-300-20 with Mitsubishi Electric’s MELFA FR series FR PLUS industrial robots for the first time in Southeast Asia at SEMICON Southeast Asia 2025. Canon said the collaboration is a significant milestone in bringing precision robotics to industries across the region.
- VFlowTech, which produces long-duration energy storage solutions, announced it had raised US$20.5 M in its latest funding round. This funding will enable VFlowTech to:
Scale manufacturing and deployment of its proprietary vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs).
Strengthen its AI-driven cloud energy management platform to optimise efficiency and unlock new revenue streams.
Develop critical supply chains, including vanadium recycling, electrolyte innovation, and membrane advancements.
*Fraunhofer Singapore is the only affiliate of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in Asia, delivering applied research and development services.
No comments:
Post a Comment