Bilkent NANOTAM to Commercialize Critical Radar Technology
The research activities of Bilkent University's Nanotechnology Center (NANOTAM) in the area of high-power, high-speed transistors will soon enter a new phase. ASELSAN Electronic Industries S.A. and NANOTAM have signed a memorandum of understanding on "Advanced Technology Investment for Gallium Nitride Transistor and Integrated Circuit Production." The agreement will result in the university's first "spin-off" high technology company.
ASELSAN, established by the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation in 1975, makes electronic systems for military and civilian use. At the signing ceremony for the memorandum of understanding, Undersecretary for Defense Industries Murad Bayar of Turkey's Ministry of National Defense explained that the new technology developed by Bilkent NANOTAM will be used in radar production. "We are acquiring the most critical technology for radar applications," he noted.
Another speaker at the ceremony, ASELSAN General Manager Cengiz Ergeneman, said that in order to achieve technological independence, Turkey must develop and produce such advanced systems. GaN transistors are commercially manufactured in only four countries worldwide, according to ASELSAN Radar, Electronic Warfare and Intelligence Systems Design Director Oğuz Şener, Moreover, he stated, sales of such transistors are restricted and subject to government-level authorization.
Bilkent University's rector, Prof. Abdullah Atalar, highlighted the translational nature of the project, noting that it will set a valuable precedent in terms of employing university research resources to develop "real-life" products.
GaN Transistors to Be Produced in 2016
The director of NANOTAM, Prof. Ekmel Özbay, stated that after 10 years of research efforts, GaN technology has been developed to the point where it is ready for commercial use. Prof. Özbay explained that this technology will be used for the production of high-power GaN transistors based on nanomaterials and nanofabrication. It is expected that the establishment of the new infrastructure and the development of the GaN transistor fabrication process in the new spin-off company will be completed in 2014, and that commercial production of GaN transistors to be used in Turkey's new-generation radar will begin in 2016.
What Is GaN Technology?
In the recent past, GaN technology has become a highly popular area in semiconductor research. GaN technology is targeted for use in both commercial and military applications.
As a result of the investment stipulated in the above-mentioned agreement, GaN transistor-based integrated circuits will be manufactured with national capabilities. Worldwide, these products are extensively used in radars, transponders, jammers and new-generation cellular phones. More critically, high-performance versions of these devices are used in the defense industry, and their sale is therefore tightly controlled.
Mastering GaN technology will make it possible to produce high-performance GaN transistors that are half the size of but five times more powerful than the existing transistor technologies.