Dr Siah Soh Yun, VP of Technology Development at GlobalFoundries
GlobalFoundries (GF) is a leading global semiconductor manufacturer, focusing on feature-rich solutions. It supports advancements in autonomous and electrified vehicles (ACE), AI at the Edge, and connected devices, leveraging its strengths in radio frequency (RF) performance, embedded memory, and low-power solutions.
GF emphasises enhanced features and capabilities over traditional transistor scaling. This approach addresses the growing demand for energy-efficient, secure, and high-performing chips across high-growth sectors such as AI, automotive, and communications infrastructure.
e27 spoke with Dr Siah Soh Yun, Vice President (Technology Development), who shared her nearly thirty-year journey with GlobalFoundries, the pivotal changes she has witnessed in the semiconductor landscape, and her efforts in building an inclusive workplace.
Excerpts:
Dr Siah, with over 25 years in the semiconductor field, could you share some highlights of your journey with GlobalFoundries and the evolution you’ve witnessed in the industry? How has your experience at GlobalFoundries Singapore shaped your approach to technology development and leadership?
I have been with GlobalFoundries (GF) for nearly 28 years, and one of my proudest achievements has been advocating for diversity at GlobalFoundries.
Early in my career, I was often the only woman in the room, but I was fortunate to have mentors who believed in me. As a leader, I am focused on mentoring and institutionalising support for women engineers through our employee resource groups. This ensures we build a culture of inclusion from the top, which is critical for unlocking the potential of our diverse workforce and spurring the high level of innovation we need for our industry’s growth.
What are the critical priorities for GlobalFoundries’s technology roadmap in the next few years, particularly in Singapore? Which areas do you see it making the most significant technological differences in the foundry landscape?
At GlobalFoundries, we manufacture essential chips that account for 80 per cent of global semiconductor demand (measured by the total area of non-memory silicon processed at nodes 12nm and above). Our focus remains on innovation that allows us to add features and capabilities to our chips to meet our customers’ unique, dynamic needs at the best economics, or what we call feature-rich chips.
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With our global manufacturing sites spanning three continents, all dual-qualified with overlapping technology platforms, GlobalFoundries is uniquely positioned to meet our customers’ needs for these chips, setting us apart from the few other pure-play semiconductor foundries.
Can you walk us through the “More-than-Moore” speciality technologies and their role in GlobalFoundries’s overall strategy?
The “new era of more” drives GlobalFoundries’s growth, creating an explosion of data that demands increased computational power, better connectivity, and enhanced energy efficiency. Semiconductor innovation now focuses on adding features and capabilities to chips, delivering energy-efficient, secure, and feature-rich solutions that meet customer needs with optimised manufacturing and economics.
GlobalFoundries is a leader in manufacturing semiconductors for the evolving automotive industry, particularly as the shift from internal combustion engines (ICE) to autonomous, connected, and electrified (ACE) vehicles takes centre stage. GlobalFoundries’s technology supports increased safety, enhanced user experiences, and sustainability through vehicle electrification.
To succeed in AI at the Edge, GlobalFoundries leverages its strengths in RF performance, digital capabilities, low power consumption, and embedded memory. GlobalFoundries is advancing its technology roadmaps, including FDX (22FDX and next-gen 12FDX) and integrating embedded memory technologies (such as RRAM, MRAM, and ESF3) to enhance RF capability. These efforts position GF to meet the growing demands of AI at the Edge.
GlobalFoundries serves several high-growth sectors, such as AI, automotive, and communications infrastructure. Which sector is seeing the fastest technological advancements?
We are seeing strong momentum in the automotive industry, driven by the increasing electrification of vehicles. Smarter, more connected electric cars now use over 3,000 semiconductor chips, compared to just 50-150 in a typical car today.
This is because an EV is part of a broader network that is connected to the cloud with multiple highways of data being processed and transferred to and from in real-time, and at high speed. As consumer expectations for enhanced capabilities grow, such as advanced driver-assistance systems that enable adaptive cruise control, emergency braking, and collision warnings, the chips powering these systems must evolve accordingly. Continuous innovation in semiconductor technology becomes essential.
At this year’s GlobalFoundries’s Technology Summit, “AI Everywhere” was a key theme. Could you elaborate on GF’s role in supporting AI-driven innovations?
We believe that AI is the catalyst for GF’s next growth phase. The convergence of megatrends like digitisation, connectivity, and cloud computing has paved the way for the AI era. However, AI is not limited to the cloud or graphics processing units (GPUs); it’s about bringing intelligence to the Edge – enabling smarter, more capable devices.
Consumers will increasingly demand AI-powered features in their smart devices and IoT products, essentially putting AI at their fingertips or at the Edge. This shift will drive a massive hardware replacement cycle, with new devices requiring far more processing power than their predecessors. All of this will demand the essential chips that we produce at GlobalFoundries.
You guided GlobalFoundries Singapore through the pandemic’s global chip shortage and subsequent oversupply issues. What were the main takeaways from these experiences?
Our key takeaway from navigating the global chip shortage and subsequent oversupply was the importance of strong relationships and collaboration with our customers and suppliers.
At GlobalFoundries Singapore, we made the bold decision to expand our site when many others were still adopting a cautious watch-and-wait approach. This was possible thanks to our unique economic model—a three-way partnership between GlobalFoundries, the Singapore Economic Development Board, and customers to protect economic and national security and competitiveness.
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Such an approach also underscored the value of taking a relationship-first approach, working closely with our trusted customers and partners to secure long-term agreements that helped stabilise demand and guaranteed supply to customers worldwide.
How does GlobalFoundries balance maintaining a stable supply chain with the often unpredictable fluctuations in demand within the semiconductor industry?
The semiconductor industry will continue to face complex macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges. At GlobalFoundries, we recognise these risks and have made strategic investments over the years to build a robust, global manufacturing footprint across three key regions–Germany, Singapore, and the US. Our products are dual-qualified, meaning we can manufacture the same product in multiple locations, ensuring flexibility and continuity.
Additionally, we source materials from various suppliers as part of our comprehensive business continuity plan. This enables us to shift production across facilities as needed, offering our customers the geographical diversification and supply chain security they rely on.
How is GlobalFoundries addressing the challenge of creating semiconductors that balance high performance with energy efficiency, especially as sustainability becomes increasingly crucial?
GlobalFoundries’s mission is to innovate and partner with our customers to deliver process technology solutions for all humanity. The semiconductors we deliver to our customers are a core technology enabling energy efficiency across multiple end markets and the associated reductions in greenhouse gases.
Power efficiency is critical in this new era of semiconductors, especially for battery-powered devices. GF’s technology solutions prioritise power optimisation, ensuring sustainability while maintaining performance. High-speed connectivity, high-performance RF, and low-latency data transmission are vital to meet the needs of data centres, IoT, and smart devices.
Our solutions also integrate embedded intelligence and security, providing robust capabilities for handling and protecting large amounts of data efficiently.
Could you share your approach to talent development within GF, particularly in encouraging the next generation of semiconductor engineers?
GlobalFoundries takes a comprehensive approach to talent development, emphasising continuous learning, innovation, and empowerment. GF advocates for modernising job roles through digital transformation. By leveraging AI, machine learning, and other advanced technologies, engineers can optimise production, improve quality, reduce waste, and address manufacturing challenges more efficiently. This also reshapes perceptions about the industry, attracting tech-savvy GenZ talent.
Given the semiconductor industry’s highly skilled workforce, GF nurtures a robust skills ecosystem focused on continuous upskilling, reskilling, and cross-skilling.
We provide various learning opportunities, scholarships, work-study programs, and strategic partnerships tailored to support employees at every career stage. Through strong collaborations with local universities and government agencies, GF ensures it stays at the forefront of innovation while actively developing the next generation of semiconductor talent.
Given GF’s global footprint, what unique opportunities or challenges come with managing a team in Singapore within such a multinational organisation?
Managing a team in Singapore at GlobalFoundries offers opportunities for global collaboration, access to a skilled workforce, and leadership in the growing semiconductor sector.
However, challenges include navigating cross-cultural differences and ensuring inclusivity, as diverse communication styles and work norms require thoughtful leadership to foster integration and alignment.
GlobalFoundries promotes inclusion and cultural diversity through initiatives like executive-sponsored Employee Resource Groups for connection and advocacy, cultural competence tools like GlobeSmart to improve cross-cultural collaboration, and inclusive leadership training to equip managers with the skills to foster diversity and equal opportunities.
This approach helps maximise the potential of a diverse team while contributing to the continued success and growth of the organisation in the semiconductor industry.
How will the semiconductor landscape change over the next decade, especially in Southeast Asia?
Southeast Asia has experienced significant growth in its semiconductor industry, with Singapore standing out as a key hub. The country boasts a robust semiconductor ecosystem, including design houses, foundries, and equipment and material suppliers.
The region’s lower labour costs, skilled workforce, and stable infrastructure have driven the growth of backend and testing facilities. Geopolitical shifts have further increased Southeast Asia’s appeal as an alternative location for companies looking to diversify their semiconductor production.
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As the semiconductor ecosystem in Southeast Asia continues to grow, particularly in backend services like assembly, packaging, and testing, the region’s role in the global semiconductor supply chain will only strengthen.
What advice would you give emerging female leaders aiming for a career in STEM, especially in a traditionally male-dominated industry like semiconductors?
Female leaders’ contributions are crucial to shaping the semiconductor industry, which thrives on innovation. I would encourage emerging female leaders to embrace the power of their unique perspective and resilience, be brave in exploring their interests, and pursue their aspirations with confidence.
To support their growth, female leaders should consider building a network of mentors and allies. Every challenge one overcomes paves the way for others, and every step forward strengthens the presence of women in this field.
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