The launch of Sarawak’s first homegrown GaN semiconductor chip via keteq.GaN and keteq.ai mark a technological and economic milestone, positioning the state as a regional leader in advanced, energy-efficient power electronics.
The state’s government explains that the keteq.GaN chip merges GaN power devices with AI-driven control systems, forming a cornerstone for future microgrids, converters, and sustainable energy applications.
Sarawak’s GaN breakthrough is a milestone, but it’s just the opening chapter in a longer journey toward industrial maturity.
What Sarawak Gains from This Technological Leap
Sarawak’s progress in GaN technology is generating broad economic and technological impacts:
- Elevating Local Capability
Creating a GaN chip and linking it with AI is a leap from basic assembly to full-fledged innovation.
The state now shows capabilities in fields often led by international manufacturers, including device physics, embedded control, and systems engineering.
- Attracting Investment and Partnerships
The launch came alongside several international agreements aimed at strengthening Sarawak’s semiconductor and green energy industries, signalling the state’s emergence as a go-to destination for high-tech investments in Southeast Asia.
- Creating High-Value Talent and Jobs
Building GaN chips calls for engineers who can tackle device design, heat management, reliability testing, and embedded AI – the kind of skilled roles that fuel a knowledge-based economy.
- Supporting Sarawak’s Energy Transition
GaN-enabled power converters offer high efficiency for applications including microgrids, EV charging infrastructure, solar energy, and industrial energy optimisation – sectors highlighted in the Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 as critical for sustainable growth.
Sarawak’s foray into GaN semiconductor production is more than a technological achievement – it is a deliberate step towards a high-value, knowledge-based economy.
With coordinated investment, ecosystem development, and international partnerships, Sarawak can establish itself as a regional leader in wide-bandgap semiconductors, with significant economic, technological, and environmental returns.
References:
- Sarawak Strengthens Semiconductor & Green Energy Ecosystem Through Global Collaboration
- Sarawak Aims to be ‘AI Powerhouse of Borneo’ with Semiconductor Roadmap 2030
- A Comprehensive Study on GaN Power Devices: Reliability, Performance, and Application Perspectives
- Infeneon Targets Large Share of GaN Chip Market After Breakthrough
- A Look at GaN Patent Portfolios’ Trends in 2025
- GaN Semiconductor Devices Market Size and Share Analysis: Growth Trends and Forecasts (2025 – 2030)
- The Strategic Importance of GaN in the Semiconductor Industry
- Sarawak’s SMD Semiconductor Achieves New Milestone
