SINGAPORE (Aug 14): Singapore wants to strengthen the whole semiconductor manufacturing eco-system to maintain its role as a regional hub.
Minister for Finance Heng Swee Keat, who was speaking as guest of honour at the opening of US semiconductor company Micron Technology’s expanded 3D NAND flash memory fabrication operations facility, affirmed this.
The new facility is located next to Micron’s existing manufacturing complex at North Coast Drive.
“To remain relevant as a semiconductor hub, we will need to go beyond the efforts of individual firms. Singapore will need to build on our strong foundations of good connectivity, a pro-business environment, and a skilled and adaptable workforce,” says Heng who is also Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister.
Micron is the fourth largest semiconductor company in the world with operations in 18 countries and annual revenue of US$30.4 billion ($42.1 billion) for FY18.
Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra says, “Designed with the most advanced smart manufacturing capabilities, Micron’s NAND Center of Excellence provides scale for several generations of 3D NAND transitions.”
The expanded facility provides flexibility to facilitate technology transitions to more advanced nodes of 3D NAND technology. These are crucial steps in addressing customer needs in areas such as 5G, artificial intelligence and autonomous transportation.
While the exact cost of the expansion was not disclosed, the facility is just part of Micron’s multi-billion dollar global investment which will be staggered over the course of the next few years.
“Micron’s investment demonstrates confidence in Singapore and in the long term prospects of the semiconductor industry, a critical enabler for a data driven, connected and intelligent world,” says Beh Swan Gin, chairman of the Singapore Economic Development Board.
Micron expects manufacturing output from the expanded fabrication facility to commence in the second half of the year.
