On September 17, 2019, ST officially inaugurated its SG8E FAB expansion in Singapore and held a gala dinner to celebrate its 50th anniversary in the Lion City. Thanks to its 15,500 m2 (166,840 sq. ft) clean room, the SG8E expansion will further increase our 8-inch-wafer capabilities and add 400 people to the 4,900 ST employees in that country. The new manufacturing capabilities will focus on power devices and microcontrollers for automotive, industrial, and consumer applications to ensure we can answer the challenges that the latest market trends are currently raising. SG8E is also a highly symbolic fab because it further solidifies our presence and engagement in Singapore, one of the major pillars of our operations.
ST in Singapore: A Story of Innovation and Commitment
ST was one of the first semiconductor companies to open factories in Singapore, with our first assembly and test plant dating back to 1969. Comprehending the strategic importance of this city-state and riding on its positive transformations, ST opened its first wafer fab (5-inch), wafer sorting (5-inch) and IC Design facilities in Singapore in 1984. Subsequently, our first 6-inch wafers came out of our Singaporean fabs in 2000 and became the fastest-growing wafer diameter in our history thanks in part to the innovative spirit and industrious culture that our Singaporean employees bring to our facilities every day. And in 2003, Pasquale Pistorio, at the time President and CEO of ST, was one of the first to ever receive the Singapore Honorary Citizen award, testifying of the excellent relationship between ST, the Lion City, and its people.
In 2010, the ST TechnoPark produced its first 8-inch wafers and production continues to increase, steadily overtaking 6-inch wafers, thus ensuring that ST can offer more cost-effective solutions and lower the barrier of entry to companies looking for the latest technologies to differentiate their designs. Today, the country is home to our Asian Pacific headquarters, and our Singaporean design teams are already behind 550 patent filings. ST has buildings across Singapore (Toa Payoh, Loyang), while SG8E will further expand its already impressive ST TechnoPark in Ang Mo Kio. Thanks to the commitment of our teams in the face of increasingly complex technological challenges, ST Singapore is not only a pioneer but an innovative actor with modern manufacturing processes and industry-leading devices.
Singapore in ST: A Tale of Talent Development
ST also works together with the local government agencies to foster talent development in Singapore. We’ve been a sponsor of FIRST (Fostering Industrial Research Success Together), an initiative of the Singapore University of Technology and Design, since its inception in 2016. We are part of the Electronics and Information Technology Academic Advisory Committee of Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education to further the development of a national curriculum on microelectronics. We also worked with the Institute on the Work-Learn Technical Diploma (WLTD) in Microelectronics that launched in 2019, and our offices in Singapore received 13 graduates from this program. Additionally, ST contributes to the Singapore Industry Scholarship (SgIS), which helps scholars jumpstart their careers.
Beyond technology, Singapore is a driving force in our environmental efforts. Its drive for green buildings and ecological initiatives makes it an example for the rest of the world. And to support these various projects, ST initiated a reforestation program in the region, which received the 2012 Green Plan Award from Singapore’s National Environment Agency. It was the continuation of our efforts after we obtained, in 2009, the President’s Award for the Environment, which recompensed our exemplary practices in water conservation, waste reduction, and environmental protections, initiatives that are still bearing fruits today according to our latest Sustainability Report.
Ultimately, the story of ST in Singapore is also the story of Singapore in ST and how working with the ecosystem, as well as a desire for growth and innovation, can ensure that we create a better tomorrow while leading an entire industry by example.
