News: Suppliers
4 October 2021
Oxford Instruments and ITRI cooperating on compound semiconductor research
On 24 September, witnessed by officials of Taiwan’s Department of Industrial Technology (DoIT), Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), HsinChu-based Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and the UK’s Oxford Instruments plc signed an agreement for a cooperative research project on the development of next-generation compound semiconductors. The project is expected to complement the R&D capacities of both parties and help to develop a new industry supply chain for compound semiconductors in Taiwan to create new opportunities in the global market.
The MOEA has been active in assisting Taiwan’s manufacturers in advancing core technologies associated with ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) components by providing key technology solutions and development platforms. It has also been dedicated to facilitating collaborations between Taiwan companies and global partners. For example, its International Industrial Innovative R&D Program and the Fast Track Program for clinical trials have attracted many cooperations and investments as well as the establishment of R&D centers in Taiwan. Up until the end of this April, a total of 18 applications have been received.
ITRI is an important stronghold of Oxford Instruments in the Asia-Pacific region, notes ITRI’s executive VP Pei-Zen Chang. Both parties began cooperation on precision testing analysis 15 years ago and have achieved excellent results in multiple fields such as high-brightness light-emitting diodes (HB-LEDs), micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), micro-LEDs, silicon photonics, and nano-analysis. “The collaboration with Oxford Instrument will enhance the growth of a next-gen semiconductor supply chain in Taiwan, allowing R&D to be implemented in system integration and multi-disciplinary innovation. This will further boost the industrial transformation and economy development of Taiwan,” he reckons.
For both fundamental and applied research on compound semiconductors, many new technologies are coming through the UK’s innovation-focused companies, remarks John Dennis, representative of the British Office in Taipei. Beyond this, the UK also has a number of key specialist companies providing equipment and services for semiconductor production, and Oxford Instruments is an example of this, providing high-tech products and services globally to industrial companies and scientific research communities including ITRI. The collaboration between Oxford Instruments and ITRI in compound semiconductors is expected to open the door to technologies including electric vehicles (EVs), 5G and other wireless technologies, as well as power converters in wind turbines.
Oxford Instruments’ CEO Ian Barkshire points out that Oxford Instrument’s R&D base established at ITRI in 2011 has allowed the firm to accelerate its technology program and better support its customers across Asia. With the new agreement, Oxford Instruments and ITRI aim to combine their innovation, technological and end-market knowledge to drive advances in semiconductors and power devices that will enable a greener, healthier, more connected, advanced and sustainable society.
ITRI VP & general director of its Electronic and Optoelectronic System Research Laboratories Chih-I Wu pointed out that ITRI has already developed gallium nitride (GaN) technology for application in high-frequency communications, and it has cooperated with universities on epitaxy technology and UHF communication components. “Based on Taiwan’s key leading technology, its comprehensive industry chain in semiconductors, and ITRI’s innovative R&D capabilities, the collaboration with Oxford Instruments on the development of compound semiconductors will help increase the yield rate of GaN’s high-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) component processing and improve the source charging power and transistor performance,” he reckons.
UK’s CSA Catapult and Taiwan’s ITRI sign MoU
Oxford Instruments boosting Asia-Pacific R&D center at Taiwan’s ITRI
