The extension of the “Lab-in-Fab” (LiF) in Singapore has been announced by STMicroelectronics in partnership with the A*STAR Institute of Microelectronics (A*STAR IME) and ULVAC. Projects with the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Singapore’s A*STAR Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (A*STAR IMRE) are part of this new phase.
Miniaturized, affordable sensors and actuators will be made possible by this project, which will also advance environmentally friendly lead-free piezoelectric materials.
The entire production line will be available for use by startups, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), and Multinational Corporations (MNCs) to hasten the commercialization of novel piezoelectric Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (piezoMEMS) devices.
Devices that are anticipated to be produced include miniature speakers for personal electronics, autofocus devices for smartphone camera modules, and piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers (PMUT) for 3D mapping and imaging.
This expansion is a result of the success of the first Lab-in-Fab, which was founded in 2020 to create a physical vapor deposited (PVD) technique for manufacturing lead zirconate titanate (PZT) thin films, which dramatically reduces lead content in comparison to traditional bulk piezoelectric technology.
In addition to advanced packaging based on heterogeneous integration, millimeter wave radio frequency technologies, wide bandgap semiconductors like silicon carbide and gallium nitride, and advanced photonics like flat optics and photonics heterogenous integration, one of Singapore’s R&D focus areas is piezoMEMS.
In order to help Singapore become an innovation-driven economy and society, these focus areas were chosen for the Research, Innovation, and Enterprise 2025 Plan (RIE 2025).
For more than 20 years, STMicroelectronics has been a major player in the MEMS business. Through integrated design and production capabilities, the company supports customers by utilizing its Integrated Device Manufacturer (IDM) business model.
One of the first companies in Singapore to invest in the semiconductor sector was STMicroelectronics, and the Lab-in-Fab is a valuable addition to the company’s Ang Mo Kio campus, enhancing its volume manufacturing operations and advancing the growth of Singapore’s semiconductor manufacturing sector.
Leadership Comments
“We are excited to advance our collaboration with A*STAR IME and ULVAC, and welcome A*STAR IMRE and NUS to work on new projects in the Lab-in-Fab 2.0. This initiative will drive innovation in piezoelectric MEMS technology and support the commercialization of next-generation devices,” said Anton Hofmeister, Group Vice President and General Manager, Central R&D for the Analog, Power & Discrete, MEMS & Sensors Group, STMicroelectronics.
“We are innovating the way we translate R&D outcomes by deepening and broadening the partnerships between key innovators in materials, tools, process modules, technology development, design, and manufacturing. This shall accelerate the commercialization of next generation power-efficient piezoMEMS devices using environmentally friendly lead-free materials and strengthen Singapore’s position in the global semiconductor value chain,” said Professor Yeo Yee Chia, Deputy Chief Executive (Innovation & Enterprise) at A*STAR.
“We are proud to be part of this groundbreaking initiative and to contribute our expertise in manufacturing technology solutions for the piezoMEMS industry,” said Harunori Iwai, Executive Officer, General Manager of Advanced Electronics Equipment Division, Equipment Business HQ, ULVAC.
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