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A*STAR’s Institute of Microelectronics and STMicroelectronics Team Up on Silicon Carbide R&D for the EV Market and Industrial Applications

The Institute of Microelectronics (IME) at the Agency for Science,
Technology and Research (A*STAR) and STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a
global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of
electronics applications, announced the start of a Research & Development
(R&D) collaboration in the field of silicon carbide (SiC) for
power-electronics applications in the automotive and industrial markets. The
collaboration sets a foundation for a comprehensive SiC ecosystem in
Singapore and creates opportunities for other companies to engage with IME
and ST in SiC research.

SiC solutions can outperform conventional silicon (Si) devices in power
electronics for Electric Vehicles (EVs) and industrial applications to meet
the need for power modules with smaller form factors or higher power
outputs, as well as higher temperature operation. Under this research
collaboration, A*STAR’s IME and STMicroelectronics aim to develop and
optimize SiC integrated devices and package modules to offer significantly
better performance in next-generation power electronics.

“We are pleased to collaborate with STMicroelectronics to develop
breakthrough technologies that meet the needs of the growing electric
vehicles market. Such efforts will continue to anchor high-value R&D
activities in Singapore and bolster its reputation as an attractive regional
hub for research, innovation and enterprise,” said Prof Dim-Lee Kwong,
Executive Director of IME.

“This new collaboration with IME encourages the growth of a silicon carbide
ecosystem in Singapore, as we ramp up our manufacturing activities there in
addition to Catania (Italy). The multi-year collaborative effort helps us
scale up our global R&D effort across our existing programs managed out of
Catania and Norrköping (Sweden), covering the entire SiC value chain,” said
Edoardo Merli, Power Transistor Macro-Division General Manager and Group
Vice President of STMicroelectronics Automotive and Discrete Group. “IME’s
strong knowledge and expertise in wide bandgap materials, and notably SiC,
supports us in accelerating the development of new technologies and products
addressing the challenges of sustainable mobility and better energy
efficiency in a wide spectrum of applications.”

Power electronics involves the control and conversion of electricity using
electronic devices. While silicon-based devices are predominantly used in
today’s power electronics, next-generation power electronics are expected to
be based on Wide-Bandgap materials like silicon carbide (SiC) owing to its
better characteristics for power conversion. With higher energy efficiencies
and smaller form factors, SiC power devices can yield energy savings in
several key systems inside EVs such as the traction inverter (the “engine”
of an EV), on-board chargers and DC-DC converters (which power headlights,
interior lights, wiper and window motors, fans, pumps, and many other
systems from the main high-power source, after conversion to a lower
voltage).

About the Institute of Microelectronics (IME)

The Institute of Microelectronics (IME) is a research institute of the
Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). Positioned to bridge
the R&D between academia and industry, IME’s mission is to add value to
Singapore’s semiconductor industry by developing strategic competencies,
innovative technologies and intellectual property; enabling enterprises to
be technologically competitive; and cultivating a technology talent pool to
inject new knowledge to the industry. Its key research areas are in
Heterogeneous Integration, System-in-Package, Sensor, Actuators and
Microsystems, RF & mmWave, SiC/GaN-on-SiC Power Electronics, and MedTech.
For more information on IME, please visit www.a-star.edu.sg/ime
.

About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)

The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is Singapore’s lead
public sector R&D agency. Through open innovation, we collaborate with our
partners in both the public and private sectors to benefit the economy and
society. As a Science and Technology Organisation, A*STAR bridges the gap
between academia and industry. Our research creates economic growth and jobs
for Singapore, and enhances lives by improving societal outcomes in
healthcare, urban living, and sustainability. A*STAR plays a key role in
nurturing scientific talent and leaders for the wider research community and
industry. A*STAR’s R&D activities span biomedical sciences to physical
sciences and engineering, with research entities primarily located in
Biopolis and Fusionopolis. For ongoing news, visit www.a-star.edu.sg

About STMicroelectronics

At ST, we are 46,000 creators and makers of semiconductor technologies
mastering the semiconductor supply chain with state-of-the-art manufacturing
facilities. An independent device manufacturer, we work with more than
100,000 customers and thousands of partners to design and build products,
solutions, and ecosystems that address their challenges and opportunities,
and the need to support a more sustainable world. Our technologies enable
smarter mobility, more efficient power and energy management, and the
wide-scale deployment of the Internet of Things and 5G technology. Further
information can be found at www.st.com

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