Sarawak unveils first locally designed GaN power semiconductor chip
KUCHING, 5 October 2026: Sarawak has unveiled its first locally designed Gallium Nitride (GaN) power semiconductor chip, keteq.GaN, marking a new step in the State’s push to develop homegrown semiconductor technology and intellectual property.
The keteq.GaN Power Module, developed by SMD Semiconductor Sdn Bhd, was unveiled by Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg at the opening of the International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS) 2026 here today.
Carrying the message “Designed in Sarawak, Built for the World”, keteq.GaN is developed for next-generation power electronics, with applications spanning artificial intelligence infrastructure, renewable energy, battery energy storage systems, smart grids and future solid-state transformers.
The launch comes just four years after the establishment of SMD Semiconductor in 2022 and marked an important step in the company’s progression from building semiconductor capabilities to developing and launching its own GaN power semiconductor chip.
More importantly, keteq.GaN represents SMD’s move into developing and owning high-value semiconductor technology and intellectual property, with the ambition of taking technology developed in Sarawak into real industrial applications and markets beyond the State.
Abang Johari said keteq.GaN reflects an important shift in Sarawak’s role in the semiconductor value chain, as Sarawak builds on its existing strengths in energy and semiconductor manufacturing to develop its own technology and intellectual property.
“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.
Abang Johari noted that the focus going forward would be on turning the growing capability into greater economic and high-value industrial opportunities for Sarawak.
“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.
Gallium Nitride is a wide-bandgap semiconductor technology increasingly used in power electronics where efficiency, power density and power management are becoming more important.
As digital infrastructure expands and energy systems become more distributed and intelligent, power semiconductors play an increasingly important role in how electricity is converted, managed and delivered.
For SMD Semiconductor Chairman and Sarawak State Financial Secretary Dato Sri Dr. Wan Lizozman, the launch marks another step in the rapid development of SMD since its establishment four years ago from building its semiconductor capabilities to developing its own semiconductor technology.
“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 the achievement also demonstrates the importance of building the capabilities and industry connections needed to take homegrown semiconductor technology further.
“For SMD, this is about taking what we have developed and connecting it with real industry needs. As Sarawak strengthens its semiconductor and foundry ecosystem, we want to see more technology developed here create value beyond the technology itself,” he added.
Meanwhile, SMD Semiconductor chief executive officer Shariman Jamil said the development of keteq.GaN was driven by potential industrial applications rather than being treated simply as a technology demonstration.
He said the development process was driven by the applications the technology could ultimately serve, rather than treating the semiconductor as a standalone 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.
“That is why we are looking at applications such as AI power, renewable energy, battery energy storage, smart grids and future solid-state transformers. These are areas where power efficiency and power management are becoming increasingly important,” he said.
SMD Semiconductor also showcased its technologies and capabilities at the SMD Semiconductor Pavilion during IDECS 2026.
Following the launch, SMD Semiconductor, in collaboration with the Microelectronics Research and Development Institute (MRDI) Hong Kong, and Gobi Partners convened an engagement session with industry stakeholders to exchange views on industry capabilities, requirements, and opportunities, and to explore potential areas of collaboration to strengthen Sarawak’s semiconductor and foundry ecosystem.
The unveiling of keteq.GaN was part of IDECS 2026, themed “Scaling Innovation Ecosystems for a Borderless Economy: Earth, Orbit and Beyond”, which brings together technologies and industries linked to Sarawak’s digital and economic development.
The launch represents a further step in Sarawak’s effort to move from building semiconductor industry capabilities towards developing homegrown technology, intellectual property and industrial applications.
