Thailand's first-ever silicon carbide wafer factory slated to start production in Lamphun province within the next two years will set a milestone for the country's semiconductor industry, according to the Thai Microelectronics Center (TMEC), the national research and development unit of wafer fabrication.
The TMEC's senior researcher Wutthinan Jeamsaksiri said the factory in Lamphun Industrial Park aims to cater to the increased global demand for power electronics.
The factory, under the FT1 Corporation -- a joint venture between Hana Microelectronics and PTT -- was supported by the TMEC, a speciality foundry for customised microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and is under the National Elections and Computer Technology Centre (NECTEC).
Mr Wutthinan said the TMEC was established in 1997 to help drive research innovations in the industrial sector.
As a state agency, the TMEC can help businesses in the private sector, such as the FT1 Corporation, to develop projects without having to start from zero.
The launching of the FT1 factory, which is also supported by the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), will ignite the country's competitiveness in the semiconductor industry, he said.
The TMEC's support for MEMS semiconductor device development ranges from design, to prototyping, testing, and commercial production as well, Mr Wutthinun said.
"Not only does the TMEC develop products based on research, we also provide manufacturing services, which is different from most research agencies that often work on paper-based innovations and patents," he said.
He said that the TMEC currently has clients in the United States, Europe, China and Korea.
"We have seen a business opportunity from clients looking to test its demo products, mostly related to mobile phones and electric vehicles," he said.
He added that the centre also plays a big role in strengthening the workforce in the semiconductor industry.
By working with the Office of the National Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy Council and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, the TMEC also helps to generate engineers to support the industry's future growth.
Mr Wutthinan added that the TMEC's team of 50 researchers and engineers also work on semiconductors for space technology, medical technology, agricultural technology, and other advanced science and technology development.
The TMEC recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Siriraj Hospital on research and development for medical diagnostic chips such as dilution chips, cell culture chips, and organ-on-chips.
If successful, it will help develop the new trend of precision medicine, Mr Wutthinun said.
