Singapore and Abu Dhabi, November 26, 2013: The Advanced Technology Investment Company  (ATIC) and the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), today announced the launch of  an international partnership that will  create  the Abu Dhabi – Singapore Twin Lab. The Twin Lab will focus on MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) research and development for next generation products for customers that are developing solutions aimed at the mobility, automotive, healthcare, aerospace and  consumer markets. Total funding pledged is US$21 million for three years.  The announcement was made at the 7th convening of the Abu Dhabi-Singapore Joint Forum (ADJSF) hosted in Singapore at the Marina Bay Sands Expo Convention Centre.

The Twin Lab is a unique collaborative effort between research institutions and industry with GLOBALFOUNDRIES, the industrial partner, serving as overall program manager and manufacturing partner.  Abu Dhabi’s Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, the academic partner, will develop novel device designs based on market requirements and  the Institute of Microelectronics Singapore, will serve as the research institute responsible for the execution of design concepts.   All parties will work closely  together  to bring these concepts to realization.

Initial areas of focus will include MEMS  inertial sensors platform, energy harvesters platform, nano-opto-mechanical sensors platform, and ultrasonic transducers platform. The collaboration is expected to deliver capabilities that can mitigate power issues in high performance devices such as automobile, industrial and autonomous wireless sensor nodes, as well as improve sensitivity and accuracy for effective detection in healthcare, aerospace and industry applications, where the monitoring of the environment is paramount to safety.

“Singapore has long been a strategic economic partner to Abu Dhabi. In addition to our GLOBALFOUNDRIES’ operations in the country,  we are pleased to strengthen our collaboration with the EDB,” said Ibrahim Ajami, CEO of ATIC. “This collaboration and focus on MEMS R&D, will further develop the MEMS capabilities and IP base for GLOBALFOUNDRIES,  while helping us to develop local MEMS research capabilities in Abu Dhabi  by collaborating with a best-in-class institution.”

“EDB is delighted to partner with ATIC to enable this R&D collaboration,” said Leo Yip, Chairman, EDB. “The Abu Dhabi-Singapore MEMS Twin Lab will offer solutions that help the MEMS industry shorten the overall time to market. This will in turn enhance the capabilities and attractiveness of Singapore as a choice location for MEMS manufacturing.”

This new Twin Lab strengthens the strategic collaboration between Singapore and Abu Dhabi. It will capitalize on the R&D strengths of both countries’ research institutions and will promote the exchange and pooling of research talent across borders.

Work is expected to begin in early 2014. The initial phase of the collaboration is expected to run for three years with subsequent phases of developments to be further planned.