Professor Graham Reed Represents UK Semiconductor Industry at Singapore Delegation
Renowned photonics expert, Professor Graham Reed, was recently part of an intensive week-long UK semiconductor delegation visit to Singapore, aimed at strengthening ties between the UK and Singapore Semiconductor technology sector. The event, organised by the Science and Innovation Network (SIN) team at the British High Commission in Singapore, took place from 16-20 September 2024 and featured a series of key events aimed at fostering collaboration and exploring opportunities between the UK and Singapore in this critical technology.
Key highlights of the delegation included in-depth discussions on the UK, Singapore and regional semiconductor ecosystems and exploring bilateral opportunities and challenges faced by the industry. The delegation’s priority moments included an inaugural UK-Singapore Semiconductor Workshop and participation in the Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association (Singapore’s largest semiconductor industry event) Annual Summit.
Other touchpoints on the agenda included a visit to Nanyang Technological University (NTU) to tour the School of Science and Technology and School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, a session with Enterprise SG and clean room and lab visits at Singapore’s A*STAR facilities. Delegates were also invited to a dinner hosted by the Deputy Trade Commissioner for Southeast Asia, Rhiannon Harries, which featured in-depth discussions on challenges and opportunities, as well as the future of the semiconductor sector.
Firstly, focussing on the inaugural UK-Singapore Semiconductor Workshop, hosted by the Institute of Microelectronics (IME, A*STAR), Professor Reed, a leader in the field of silicon photonics, delivered an insightful presentation, outlining the UK's capabilities in photonics research, and the importance of Photonics to the UK economy. His insights on the potential of photonics in driving innovation across sectors were met with enthusiasm, highlighting the UK’s strength in this cutting-edge technology. This was a great opportunity for Professor Reed to harness his expertise and provide valuable insight into discussions at this workshop on how to develop potential bilateral opportunities in the field, now and in the future.
Secondly, the Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association (SSIA) Annual Summit on 18 September was another significant part of the week’s events. With the theme "Synergizing Silicon: Pioneering the Future with AI and Quantum Technologies," the summit featured a range of expert speakers and special guests. Professor Reed joined other experts in exploring the convergence of AI, quantum computing, and semiconductor technologies. The summit began with an opening address by SSIA Executive Director Ang Wee Seng, followed by a keynote speech from UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Catherine West.
In her address, Catherine West emphasised the UK government’s commitment to advancing semiconductor research, especially in areas such as AI, quantum technologies, and silicon photonics. "With the world’s semiconductor chip market expected to double in size within the next 10 years, the UK would be foolish not to be investing in this area. And that is why we are working to boost our strengths in everything from chip design and new material semiconductors, to silicon photonics and advanced packaging“ she said. West also highlighted how this technology has the potential to revolutionise medicine, mitigate climate crisis and even defend our democracies against cyber-attack.
The week-long delegation concluded in a final meeting with the SIN Team at the British High Commission, where delegates reviewed the outcomes of the event and outlined steps for future collaboration. The visit was hailed as a success, with participants noting the importance of continued dialogue between the UK and Singapore in the rapidly evolving semiconductor industry.
Reed reflected on the events and commented “Attending the UK Semiconductor Industry Delegation in Singapore has been an educational experience. The opportunity to engage with industry leaders and researchers from both the UK and Singapore has highlighted the immense potential for collaboration in advancing semiconductor technologies. In particular, it was gratifying to see that Silicon Photonics is accepted by the Semiconductor community as a key technology for the future of the sector, particularly related to the commercialisation of co-packaged optics to enable continued growth in compute power, driven in part by the demands of AI.”
Professor Reed’s contributions at the workshop and throughout the delegation underscored the UK’s leadership in photonics and semiconductor innovation, paving the way for future collaborations and advancements in the field.