Applied Angstrom Technology (AAT) has inaugurated a state-of-the-art research and development facility aimed at advancing semiconductor manufacturing in Singapore. Launched on March 18, the facility is designed to innovate and produce next-generation semiconductor manufacturing equipment critical for the burgeoning AI sector.
Dr Richard Yang, the founder and CEO of AAT, emphasised the facility’s purpose is to support major semiconductor manufacturers in Singapore, including industry leaders such as Micron and GlobalFoundries. AAT is at the forefront of manufacturing technology that operates with atomic-level precision, enabling the creation of powerful graphics processing units, solid-state drives, and high-bandwidth memory chips.
Currently, most semiconductor manufacturers operate at a lower nano-level precision. In contrast, Taiwan’s TSMC is set to initiate mass production of its advanced 2-nanometre chips by the fourth quarter of 2025. Dr Yang noted, “We are building the equipment to enable chipmakers. They will be able to make chips needed for AI data centres. If you think about a data centre, you need to pack more transistors into a limited space, so you need to have the precision.” Modern semiconductors contain billions of transistors that manage electrical signals for processing and storage.
The Atomic Precision Innovation Center, AAT’s new facility, spans over 10,000 square feet and includes a cleanroom to support its innovative work. Located in Yishun, the facility has been operational since November 2025. While the firm has not disclosed its clientele, it has established a broad network of clients, suppliers, and partners across Asia, Europe, and the United States.
Investment in this facility has been supported by Philip Yeo, chairman of venture capital firm iGlobe Partners, who stated that the R&D centre “strengthens Singapore’s position in the global AI race.” He further remarked, “Our investment in AAT is a testament to the team’s leadership and expertise in scaling the high-precision processes required to build the hardware powering the next frontiers of AI.”
Enterprise Singapore has also provided backing for the facility. Wong Zeng Yi, assistant managing director for manufacturing, highlighted the importance of AAT’s site in bolstering Singapore’s role as a resilient and diversified semiconductor supply chain hub. He noted that the facility fosters a collaborative environment for innovators in the global AI supply chain.
Singapore is a significant player in the global semiconductor market, accounting for approximately 20 per cent of global semiconductor equipment production and producing one in ten of the world’s chips. In a recent budget debate on March 2, Dr Tan See Leng, Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology, announced that $800 million will be allocated to the Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) plan, which aims to establish a flagship initiative in semiconductors.
The RIE plan, managed by the National Research Foundation, outlines a five-year strategy to enhance Singapore’s research capabilities, focusing on advanced packaging and photonics to improve chip performance while reducing power consumption.
Dr Yang believes the world is approaching a new era of physical AI, where technology is integrated into hardware. In contrast to agentic AI, which operates in a digital environment, Dr Yang asserts that AAT’s equipment development in the physical AI field will be more agile than larger competitors, thanks to their capability to design from the ground up within a single facility.
On the same day, Swiss industrial equipment manufacturer Endress+Hauser also inaugurated a technological and calibration hub in Singapore. This facility, located in Jurong, aims to support product calibration and features a process training unit alongside interactive technology demonstrations. Richard Yu, the managing director for Singapore, stated that the hub will enable closer collaboration with customers, transforming real-world challenges into practical solutions.
Endress+Hauser has been present in Singapore since 1989 and currently employs around 100 individuals in the region.