National Semiconductor Translation and Innovation Centre

What National Semiconductor Translation and Innovation Centre does

NSTIC (National Semiconductor Translation and Innovation Centre) is a Singapore national research platform hosted by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), focused on translating advanced photonics and semiconductor research into industrial capability. Established as a national platform in partnership with NUS, NTU, and SUTD, NSTIC concentrates on flat optics/metalens technology, silicon photonics, photonic integrated circuits (PICs), co-packaged optics (CPO), and heterogeneous integration. Its infrastructure includes a Class 10/100 cleanroom with 8-inch and 12-inch wafer processing capabilities — lithography (ArF immersion, KrF), etching, thin-film deposition (PVD, PECVD, ALD), CMP, electroplating, and advanced packaging — and an R&D Fab planned for Tampines in 2027.

The organisation operates as an R&D translation partner rather than a commercial product company. Its revenue model blends research collaboration projects, fee-for-service access to fabrication infrastructure (from single process runs to multi-step device fabrication), technology licensing of IP developed by A*STAR and partner universities, and small-volume manufacturing with transition pathways to commercial foundries. Pricing is project-specific and quote-based. End customers span semiconductor and photonics companies, academic and research institutions (including its own university partners), and data centre / network infrastructure providers developing next-generation optical transceivers.

NSTIC is government-owned and backed by an S$180 million investment commitment under Singapore's national semiconductor strategy, with policy and funding support from MTI, NRF, EDB, and EnterpriseSG. It actively engages global partners through exhibitions (CIOE, SPIE Photonics West, OFC, Laser World of Photonics) and collaborates commercially with entities such as MetaOptics on flat optics camera systems. A 2026 product launch — the NSTIC Photonic Platform PDK and Multi-Project Wafer service — signals a move toward externally accessible design enablement. The organisation does not disclose revenue and operates primarily on government appropriations rather than commercial sales.

Name

National Semiconductor Translation and Innovation Centre

Legal name

National Semiconductor Translation and Innovation Centre

Website

https://nstic.sg

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

NSTIC is a Singapore national research platform hosted by A*STAR that provides R&D infrastructure and translation services in flat optics, silicon photonics, photonic integrated circuits, and heterogeneous integration to semiconductor companies, research institutions, and data centre infrastructure providers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Semiconductor Photonics R&D Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in Nanotechnology (541713)

SIC

Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

R&D / Prototyping & MPW Shuttle Foundries (HDAHACAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Foundry Platform & Design Enablement Services (PDK/DFM/Process Qualification) (HDAHACAJ), Design Services & ASIC/SoC Implementation (EDA-Adjacent) (HDAHAFAL), System-in-Package (SiP) & Module Assembly (RF modules, power modules) (HDAHADAI)

Keywords

• Semiconductor photonics research
• Wafer-level fabrication
• Flat optics technology
• Silicon photonics platform
• R&D translation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Research Collaboration Projects: Collaborative R&D projects with industry and academia leveraging NSTIC's facilities and expertise for joint development of semiconductor photonics technologies.
2. Service Projects (Fee-for-Service): Access to R&D infrastructure and expertise on a fee-for-service basis, ranging from single process runs to multiple-step device fabrication.
3. Technology Licensing: Licensing of intellectual property portfolio in semiconductor fabrication, flat optics, and silicon photonics developed by A*STAR, NTU, NUS, and SUTD to industry partners.
4. Small Volume Manufacturing: Small-batch production for early-stage product runs, where process recipes and flows can be transitioned to commercial foundries for mass production.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

NSTIC operates as a national R&D translation centre for semiconductor photonics, providing companies and academic partners with access to a Class 10/100 cleanroom for wafer-level prototyping and small-volume fabrication. Core technical offerings include flat optics/metalens technology, silicon photonics platforms, photonic integrated circuits (PIC), co-packaged optics (CPO), heterogeneous integration, and a Silicon Photonics PDK for design enablement. The centre also licenses an IP portfolio developed jointly with A*STAR research institutes and partner universities (NUS, NTU, SUTD) and supports process transfer to commercial foundries for mass production.

Product overview

NSTIC operates as a National Platform hosted by A*STAR, providing a comprehensive semiconductor R&D infrastructure focused on flat optics and advanced photonics technologies. The core offering encompasses flat optics/metalens technology for metaoptics applications, silicon photonics platforms, photonic integrated circuits (PIC), co-packaged optics (CPO), and heterogeneous integration services. These are supported by R&D fabrication capabilities including an 8-inch and 12-inch wafer processing facility with Class 10/100 cleanroom, and enabled through the Silicon Photonics PDK for design enablement. NSTIC also offers technology licensing of IPs in semiconductor fabrication, flat optics, and silicon photonics, and provides small volume manufacturing with pathways to scale up production at commercial foundries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Flat Optics and Metalens Technology Flat optics technology using precisely engineered thin, planar surfaces patterned with nanostructures to manipulate light, enabling ultra-compact, high-performance optical systems including metalenses for imaging and sensing applications across visible, near-IR, and mid-IR spectrums. Supports NA > 0.99 flat lenses and single-layer flat optics colour cameras for semiconductor and photonics companies.
• Silicon Photonics Platform Silicon photonics platform utilizing silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers and standard semiconductor manufacturing processes to create photonic integrated circuits for high-speed optical communication and photonic sensing devices. Targets semiconductor and photonics companies developing optical communication, high-speed data transfer, and photonic sensing solutions.
• Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) Miniaturised optical systems incorporating multiple photonic components (lasers, modulators, waveguides, photodetectors) onto a single chip for compact, scalable, and energy-efficient optical communication and sensing solutions. Uses monolithic, heterogeneous, or hybrid integration schemes for semiconductor and photonics companies.
• Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) Advanced integration approach that embeds optical interconnects and electronic components within a unified package, enabling high bandwidth density, reduced latency, and up to 40% power reduction compared to traditional pluggable optics for data centres and high-speed networks. Designed for enterprises developing next-generation optical solutions.
• Heterogeneous Integration (HI) Integration service combining diverse semiconductor technologies including chiplets, chips, and chip components within a single package using advanced packaging technologies such as 2.5D integration, 3D stacking, wafer-level bonding, and hybrid bonding for enhanced performance and miniaturization. Used by semiconductor and photonics companies for next-generation device fabrication.
• Advanced Photonics Platform Integrated optical components on silicon substrates enabling high-speed optical communication, next-generation transceivers, and photonic heterogeneous integration using III/V-to-Si bonding for superior light generation, ultra-fast modulation, and low-loss light routing. Achieves NA > 0.99 with single-layer flat lens and supports 200G/lane data communication testing capability.
• Semiconductor and Photonics Solutions End-to-end semiconductor photonics solutions integrating light-based components onto semiconductor platforms for telecommunications, data centres, healthcare, automotive LiDAR, and quantum information systems applications. Serves semiconductor and photonics companies across multiple verticals.
• R&D Fabrication Services Wafer-level prototyping and small volume fabrication services including access to a Class 10/100 cleanroom, 8-inch and 12-inch wafer processing, lithography (ArF immersion, KrF scanners), dry/wet etching, thin film deposition (PVD, PECVD, ALD), CMP, electroplating, and advanced packaging capabilities. Available to industry and academia on a fee-for-service basis.
• Technology Licensing Access to intellectual property portfolio in semiconductor fabrication, flat optics, and silicon photonics developed by A*STAR, NTU, NUS, and SUTD, available for industry licensing to accelerate product development. Available to industry partners seeking to commercialise photonics and semiconductor IP.
• Silicon Photonics PDK and MPW Service Process Design Kit for silicon photonics providing designers with simulation tools, validated device models, and design rules for creating photonic integrated circuits using NSTIC's fabrication processes, accompanied by a Multi-Project Wafer (MPW) service. Available to designers and companies through the customer portal.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 40% power reduction in co-packaged optics compared to traditional pluggable optics
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and strategic.

• A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSTIC is hosted by A*STAR as a National Platform. A*STAR provides the overarching institutional framework, research institute network, and strategic direction. NSTIC brings together A*STAR research institutes and universities to deliver national-level R&D translation for flat optics and silicon photonics.
• National University of Singapore (NUS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity R&D partner collaborating on semiconductor photonics research. Part of the ecosystem of institutes of higher learning supporting NSTIC's research translation mission.
• Nanyang Technological University (NTU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity R&D partner contributing to semiconductor photonics research and development. Collaborates with NSTIC on translational research initiatives.
• Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity R&D partner in the NSTIC ecosystem, contributing expertise to semiconductor photonics research and talent development.
• Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) SingaporeflagshipOthersGovernment ministry providing policy support and strategic direction for Singapore's semiconductor industry. Supports NSTIC as part of national semiconductor strategy.
• National Research Foundation (NRF) SingaporeflagshipOthersGovernment funding agency supporting research and development initiatives. Part of the government support ecosystem for NSTIC.
• Economic Development Board (EDB) SingaporeflagshipOthersGovernment agency driving economic development and investment in Singapore. Supports semiconductor ecosystem development including NSTIC.
• Enterprise SingaporecoreOthersGovernment agency supporting enterprise development and internationalisation. Part of NSTIC's supporting ecosystem.
• MetaOpticsstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on developing the World's First Single Layer Flat Optics Colour Camera. Joint development partner in flat optics technology.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IMEC: Belgium-based world-leading semiconductor R&D and translation centre offering PDKs, MPW shuttle services, advanced cleanroom access, and heterogeneous integration programs. Directly comparable to NSTIC in mission, model, and technology scope, though IMEC is far more mature with global commercial pull-through.
• CEA-Leti: France-based R&D institute focused on semiconductor and photonics technologies, offering cleanroom access, silicon photonics platforms, and industrial transfer programs. Operates as a comparable national-platform model with a strong heterogeneous integration and SiPh roadmap similar to NSTIC.
• AIM Photonics: US-based public-private Manufacturing USA institute for integrated photonics, offering PDKs, MPW services, and advanced packaging for silicon photonics. Highly comparable to NSTIC's PDK/MPW roadmap and photonics translation focus, and a likely direct competitor for global photonics customers.
• CompoundTek: Singapore-headquartered silicon photonics foundry services provider offering MPW, design enablement, and small-volume manufacturing. Closely comparable to NSTIC's silicon photonics PDK/MPW service line and likely a key local/regional peer in the same customer segment.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finland's national R&D centre operating a CMOS-compatible photonics process line with MPW services and quantum photonics capabilities. Directly comparable to NSTIC's national-platform R&D translation model and silicon photonics infrastructure offering.

Broad incumbents

• TSMC: World's largest foundry with growing silicon photonics, advanced packaging (CoWoS), and heterogeneous integration capabilities that are directly relevant to NSTIC's CPO and HI roadmap. A potential end-state mass-production partner for NSTIC's translated process flows.
• GlobalFoundries: Major global foundry offering silicon photonics (45CLO, 45RFE) platforms via its Fotonix platform. A broad incumbent with overlapping SiPh and heterogeneous integration capabilities, and a key potential customer/partner for NSTIC translation outputs.
• Tower Semiconductor: Global specialty foundry with established silicon photonics (PH18) and RF SOI platforms offering MPW and mass production. Comparable to NSTIC's photonics and heterogeneous integration roadmap but operating at commercial production scale rather than R&D translation.

Others

• Applied Materials: Global semiconductor equipment leader whose deposition, etch, CMP, and inspection tools underpin advanced fabs including photonics and heterogeneous integration lines. Functions as an enabling equipment supplier and ecosystem participant for NSTIC's cleanroom, rather than a direct competitor.

Emerging players

• MetaOptics: Singapore-based flat optics / metalens startup with whom NSTIC is co-developing the world's first single-layer flat optics colour camera. Both an emerging flat optics player and a current NSTIC collaboration partner, making it a tightly relevant emerging peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nstic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Semiconductor Translation and Innovation Centre