S’wak unveils keteq.GaN, first locally designed GaN power semiconductor chip at IDECS 2026

A close-up view of Sarawak’s first locally designed Gallium Nitride (GaN) power semiconductor chip, keteq.GaN. Photo credit: SMD Semiconductor Sdn Bhd

By Amanda L

KUCHING, Oct 5: Sarawak today unveiled keteq.GaN, its first locally designed Gallium Nitride (GaN) power semiconductor chip, marking a major milestone in the state’s high-tech ambitions.

Developed by Sarawak Microelectronics Design (SMD) Semiconductor Sdn Bhd, the chip was launched by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg at the opening of the International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS) 2026 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).

Designed for next-generation power electronics, keteq.GaN targets sectors including artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, renewable energy, battery energy storage systems, smart grids and future solid-state transformers.

The launch comes four years after SMD Semiconductor was established in 2022, marking its progression from building semiconductor capabilities to developing its own GaN technology and intellectual property (IP).

A cA circuit board featuring the keteq.GaN power semiconductor technology developed by SMD Semiconductor. Photo credit: SMD Semiconductor Sdn Bhd

Abang Johari said the chip builds on years of investment in energy resources, industrial capacity, semiconductor manufacturing and talent development.

“Sarawak has spent years putting the foundations in place — from our energy resources and industrial capabilities to semiconductor manufacturing and talent development. What we are seeing today is the next step in that journey: the ability to develop semiconductor technology here and create intellectual property that originates from Sarawak,” he said.

He said keteq.GaN could help Sarawak move beyond being part of the manufacturing chain and develop technology for industries and markets beyond the State.

“keteq.GaN gives us something tangible to build on. It shows that Sarawak can move beyond being part of the manufacturing chain and begin creating technology of its own, with the potential to serve industries and markets well beyond our shores,” he added.

SMD Semiconductor chairman and Sarawak State Financial Secretary Dato Sri Dr Wan Lizozman said the next step was to move the technology beyond the design stage and into real applications.

“keteq.GaN is an important step for SMD, but what matters now is what we do with that capability. We want to see technology developed here move beyond the design stage and find its place in real applications, creating value not only for SMD, but also for Sarawak’s wider semiconductor industry,” he said.

SMD Semiconductor CEO Shariman Jamil said the chip was developed for applications where power efficiency and power management are increasingly important.

“When we started developing keteq.GaN, the objective was not simply to design a semiconductor and stop there.

“We were looking at where the technology could make a difference, particularly in applications where power efficiency and power management are becoming increasingly important, and how it could eventually be integrated into real power systems and products,” he said.

In collaboration with the Microelectronics Research and Development Institute (MRDI) Hong Kong and Gobi Partners, SMD Semiconductor also held an engagement session with industry stakeholders to explore potential collaborations and strengthen Sarawak’s semiconductor and foundry ecosystem. — DayakDaily