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:

1. Sarawak Strengthens Semiconductor & Green Energy Ecosystem Through Global Collaboration
2. Sarawak Aims to be ‘AI Powerhouse of Borneo’ with Semiconductor Roadmap 2030
3. A Comprehensive Study on GaN Power Devices: Reliability, Performance, and Application Perspectives
4. Infeneon Targets Large Share of GaN Chip Market After Breakthrough
5. A Look at GaN Patent Portfolios’ Trends in 2025
6. GaN Semiconductor Devices Market Size and Share Analysis: Growth Trends and Forecasts (2025 – 2030)
7. The Strategic Importance of GaN in the Semiconductor Industry
8. Sarawak’s SMD Semiconductor Achieves New Milestone