Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg
KUCHING: Sarawak’s state-owned SMD Semiconductor Sdn Bhd has achieved another milestone with the launch of keteq.GaN technology using gallium nitride.
GaN is a wide bandgap semiconductor known for its high efficiency and performance in power electronics and optoelectronic applications.
Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said keteq.GaN is the first compound semiconductor product fully designed and owned by SMD Semiconductor, a milestone that affirms Sarawak’s leadership in advancing the Sarawak Semiconductor Roadmap 2030.
“The keteq.GaN withstands high temperatures, enabling data and information to be stored on wafers with high energy efficiency. This represents a new method of data storage and solutions for growing data needs, placing Sarawak at a highly competitive level in the global semiconductor industry,” he added at the launch during the Microelectronics UK Conference at the Excel London Conference Centre on Sept 25.
He said by combining GaN HEMT (Gallium Nitride High-Electron-Mobility Transistor) with keteq.ai would improve power conversion through faster switching, higher efficiency and compact design for smart energy systems.
The project was developed by SMD Semiconductor with partners including XFAB Germany, Cambridge Microelectronics and the United Kingdom’s Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult (CSA Catapult).
SMD Semiconductor specialises in integrated chip or IC design and Reduced Instruction Set Computer-V or RISC-V.
Abang Johari said the cross-border collaboration fosters new technologies that improve production efficiency and yield innovative products.
He said the latest achievement is the result of combined efforts from experts, suppliers and SMD Semiconductor working in an unified ecosystem.
“This global network of partnerships will drive technological development, reduce carbon emissions and build a greener working environment,” he added.
SMD Semiconductor chairman Datuk Seri Wan Lizozman Wan Omar said in the collaboration, the UK contributed expertise and infrastructure while Sarawak brought agility, ambition and renewable energy.
Wan Lizozmnan said SMD Semiconductor focuses on three main areas: building a resilient semiconductor ecosystem, ensuring sustainability through green innovation, and strengthening international linkages.
During the event, SMD Semiconductor inked two memoranda of understanding (MoU) on strategic partnership with its UK partners.
The first MoU is with Camutronics, XFAB Dresden Foundry and CSA Catapult UK for the development of GaN HEMT technology.
Under the second MoU, SMD Semiconductor engages Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB), 5G3i and CSA Catapult for the development of the keteq.ai power converter, which is currently undergoing international copyright registration.
State-owned SEB will test and deploy the converter to strengthen grid stability while Weeteq and CSA Catapult provide optimisation and commercialisation support.
CSA Catapult interim CEO Raj Gawera said his company’s expertise in semiconductor packaging and system integration would help move SMD Semiconductor’s technology into scalable applications.
