Applied Materials, Inc., the US semiconductor firm, has expanded its manufacturing and research and development (R&D) operations in Singapore with the new $500 million to support the global build-out of artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure.
The firm said in a statement on Tuesday that the new investment Tampines Campus more than doubles its advanced cleanroom capacity in Singapore and strengthens the company’s global manufacturing footprint, which also includes facilities in the United States, Europe, Israel and Taiwan.
The new facility, already operating at volume production, is focused on serving chipmakers that are expanding production to meet increasing AI-driven demand.
“AI is transforming every industry, creating unprecedented demand for advanced semiconductors,
“Our expanded manufacturing operations in Singapore strengthen Applied’s ability to deliver semiconductor manufacturing equipment that chipmakers need to bring next-generation chips to market faster,” said Gary Dickerson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Applied Materials.
The Tampines Campus marks a major milestone in Applied’s Singapore 2030 plan to strengthen the company’s global manufacturing and R&D capabilities, broaden technology ecosystem partnerships and promote local workforce development.
The campus features an expansive manufacturing cleanroom and production capacity along with R&D facilities to support global and regional customers.
With the expansion, Applied anticipates adding approximately 1,000 new local jobs over the next few years to support industry growth and technology commercialization.
“Singapore has been a strategic hub of Applied Materials’ global operations for 35 years, and our expansion here is a testament to the world-class semiconductor ecosystem, infrastructure and talent this country has built,
“Our new AI-enabled, automation-ready facility represents the next era of advanced manufacturing optimized for speed, precision and quality,” said KC Ong, Group Vice President of Worldwide Manufacturing at Applied Materials.
The firm noted that the Tampines Campus sets a new global benchmark for sustainable, intelligent semiconductor equipment production.
The facility deploys Autonomous Mobile Robots, autonomous assembly and testing systems, and AI-assisted quality inspection—deepening integration between manufacturing, R&D and ecosystem partners to accelerate time-to-market for new technologies.
Augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) tools further support technician training and precision maintenance operations.
Designed to achieve Building and Construction Authority (BCA) Green Mark Platinum Certification, the highest tier of Singapore’s green building rating system, the campus features an onsite solar panel system, LED lighting, low-carbon concrete construction, a closed-loop water reclamation system for zero water waste, and a Smart Building Management System that monitors energy and water consumption in real time.
“Applied Materials’ use of advanced automation and AI technologies in their new facility will accelerate product development and push the envelope of advanced manufacturing capabilities in Singapore,
“We welcome this expansion that will strengthen our vibrant semiconductor ecosystem, creating quality jobs and opportunities for Singaporeans,” said Png Cheong Boon, Chairman of Singapore’s Economic Development Board.
It is noted that over the past several years, Applied has nearly doubled its global manufacturing capacity, including the new Tampines Campus, and the company has invested more than $400 million in its U.S. equipment manufacturing infrastructure over the past five years.
Additionally, Applied’s new $5 billion EPIC Center in Silicon Valley, set to become operational this year, represents the largest-ever U.S. investment in advanced semiconductor equipment R&D.
The center is designed from the ground up to dramatically reduce the time it takes to commercialize breakthrough technologies from early-stage research to full-scale manufacturing.