The quest for Singapore’s technological future
In an era defined by rapid technological change, forwardlooking research and strategic talent development are key to maintaining Singapore’s global leadership in semiconductor innovation. Electrical and
If you’re using the latest smartphones or laptops, you’re experiencing innovations that are, in part, the brainchild of Professor Yeo Yee Chia. Currently serving as the Deputy Chief Executive (Innovation & Enterprise) at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), and holding a joint appointment at the College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Prof Yeo’s semiconductor breakthroughs have quietly revolutionised
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the devices and services we depend upon every day, from consumer electronics products to the massive data centres that crunch artificial-intelligence workloads.
Bridging research and reality
Forging New Frontiers
Prof Yeo’s semiconductor inventions, comprising more than 330 US patents, describe structures and methods for making transistors with improved speed performance, lower power consumption, and at higher densities or smaller dimensions. These advancements enable the fabrication of chips with increased functionality and reduced energy consumption. One of his contributions is the significant improvement of chip performance through incorporating novel materials in transistors, such as those that enable charge carriers to move at faster speeds. Some of these research ideas were conceptualised by Prof Yeo and his team while at NUS. Breakthroughs were reported by NUS at top technical conferences, and fostered many close collaborations with the industry. Prof Yeo then moved to the industry to implement the most promising ideas.
For eight years, Prof Yeo worked at the forefront of semiconductor innovation at TSMC, a leading semiconductor manufacturing company, developing the world’s most powerful and energy-efficient semiconductor technologies — chips down to three nanometres. The technologies developed have reshaped the landscape of electronics, advancing computing, mobile technology and artificial intelligence at breakneck speeds.
Recently, Prof Yeo has turned his focus back home, driven by a commitment to shape Singapore’s semiconductor research and development (R&D) to contribute to economic impact.
The world is experiencing a major technological upheaval like never before. With a combination of deep industry expertise and a sharp vision for translating research into tangible innovation, Prof Yeo is leading the charge in positioning Singapore as an influential leader in the evolving global semiconductor stage.
Through active management of large-scale national programmes and partnerships with many ecosystem stakeholders, semiconductor R&D efforts in Singapore are now very tightly coordinated, demand-driven, and outcomes-based to deliver economic impact.
Professor Yeo Yee-Chia is leading the charge in positioning Singapore as an influential leader in the evolving global semiconductor stage.
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Today at CDE and A*STAR, Prof Yeo translates rigorous scientific inquiry into tangible solutions. His research team recently developed a novel co-packaged optics solution that directly embeds optical components into semiconductor chips for data transfer, which significantly cuts power consumption in data centres.
Balancing Singapore’s position on an increasingly tense geopolitical tightrope between global superpowers is one of Prof Yeo’s strategic contributions. As semiconductor supply chains become progressively fragmented, Singapore’s R&D directions must pivot carefully to maintain relevance. Prof Yeo implements a focused approach, prioritising advanced chip packaging and silicon photonics — fields in which Singapore can lead.
Building the talent pipeline for tomorrow
Prof Yeo’s vision is as much about cultivating talent as it is about developing technology. Throughout his career he has trained a strong, capable workforce as he mentored over 40 doctoral students who now occupy influential roles in academia and industry. Among those mentored by Prof Yeo is Associate Professor Gong Xiao, also from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at CDE, whose research spans advanced transistors, emerging memory technologies and their applications in quantum computing and ultra-high frequency devices.
Above all, Prof Yeo believes that Singapore’s future as a semiconductor powerhouse hinges on continually replenishing its talent pool. He actively shapes initiatives designed to attract international expertise while rigorously training local talent. He prioritises industry-relevant skills and a culture of continuous innovation to set a robust foundation for Singapore’s ongoing leadership in semiconductor research.
“Semiconductor technology is advancing rapidly; if you fail to keep up, you’ll fall behind. And if Singapore doesn’t keep up, the world won’t need us anymore.”
Looking forward, Prof Yeo’s perspective captures the urgency of his role as both scientist and industry leader: “Semiconductor technology is advancing rapidly; if you fail to keep up, you’ll fall behind. And if Singapore doesn’t keep up, the world won’t need us anymore.”
