Link: https://themalaysianreserve.com/2026/10/05/sarawak-unveils-first-locally-designed-gan-power-chip/
by AUFA MARDHIAH
SARAWAK has unveiled its first locally designed gallium nitride (GaN) power semiconductor chip, with the technology targeted at applications ranging from artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure to renewable energy and battery storage.
The KETEQ.GaN chip, developed by state-owned SMD Semiconductor Sdn Bhd, was officially unveiled by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg at the International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS) 2026 today.
“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,” Abang Johari said.
KETEQ.GaN is designed for power electronics, where semiconductors control the conversion and management of electricity.
Potential applications include AI infrastructure, renewable energy, battery energy storage systems (BESS), smart grids and future solid-state transformers.
GaN is a wide-bandgap semiconductor technology that can be used in applications requiring greater efficiency, power density and power management.
These characteristics are becoming increasingly relevant as computing requirements grow and energy systems become more distributed and complex.
The chip builds on KETEQ.GaN technology introduced by SMD in London in September 2025, when the company presented its GaN-based power technology.
The latest development moves the technology further towards defined industrial applications, four years after SMD was established in 2022.
Abang Johari said the challenge now is to turn that capability into products that can serve 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 said.
For SMD, the applications were considered from the start rather than after the chip had been developed.
SMD Semiconductor CEO Shariman Jamil said the objective was not to develop a semiconductor solely as a technology demonstration.
“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.
That includes power requirements associated with AI infrastructure, where rising computing demand is increasing the importance of efficient electricity conversion and management.
Renewable energy and BESS present another potential use case as power systems increasingly need to manage electricity generated, stored and supplied from different sources.
SMD is also looking at KETEQ.GaN for smart grids, next-generation grid infrastructure and future solid-state transformers.
The next test will be moving the technology from chip development into wider industrial use.
Following the unveiling, SMD held an engagement session with the Microelectronics Research and Development Institute (MRDI) Hong Kong and Gobi Partners, bringing together industry stakeholders to discuss requirements, opportunities and potential collaboration.
The discussions are aimed at connecting SMD’s semiconductor technology with industry needs and identifying pathways for further development and applications.
SMD Semiconductor was incorporated in September 2022 and is wholly owned by the Sarawak government through State Financial Secretary Incorporation.
It operates as a fabless chip design house specialising in analogue and mixed-signal integrated circuits.
