Investigations into Advanced Digital Gadgetry and Technology

The Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), a collaboration between MIT and the National Research Foundation of Singapore (NRF), has been investigating new technologies for eight years. One of the key programs within SMART is the Low Energy Electronic Systems (LEES) research program, led by Eugene A. Fitzgerald.

The SMART LEES program is focused on incorporating new materials into semiconductor systems, with a focus on lattice-mismatched materials and the process of integrating layers in electronic materials and devices with different lattice parameters. This approach could lead to the same sort of long-lasting benefits as Moore's Law, revolutionising the electronics industry.

At the SMART labs at CREATE, there is always at least one resident MIT professor per program working, and all 50 SMART faculty members spend one month a year in Singapore. Approximately 50 MIT faculty members are involved in SMART, more or less equally split between LEES and four other programs.

The goal of the SMART LEES program is to create new circuits incorporating new materials, resulting in new functionality in electronic circuits. The LEES group at SMART is combining new integrated circuit technology with existing fabrication methods. One such experiment involves the monolithic, lattice-mismatched integrated circuits using III-V (3-5) semiconductor materials combined with silicon CMOS technology.

III-V materials have better optical properties and are better at power management and communication than silicon. The integration of III-V semiconductors with silicon has been stymied by the difference in lattice constant sizes, but Fitzgerald has modified the process to control defect densities. This could potentially lead to the monolithic integration of LEDs with silicon electronics, greatly reducing the cost of smart LED lighting and potentially leading to thin displays with their own optical inter-device communications.

The technology could also reduce cellphone power consumption by offloading communication and sync. Moreover, the result might be a more secure alternative to WiFi. However, the search results do not provide information about institutions cooperating with SMART LEES on technology development for future cities like Singapore.

SMART's interdisciplinary and iterative approach to innovation is distinct. It brings together faculty with expertise in different areas to collaborate closely from start to finish. The SMART LEES program, for instance, draws on faculty and students from material sciences, devices, processing, and circuit design.

Other groups within SMART are also making significant strides. The ID group at SMART has joined with a multinational research team to announce the development of a viable dengue therapeutic for all dengue serotypes. The BioSyM group at SMART has developed a technique for detecting malaria within minutes. The FM group at SMART worked with NUS to launch the first driverless cars authorized for use on Singapore's streets. CENSAM at SMART has built a multifunction "LEDIF" sensor device for analyzing water quality.

As SMART enters its third five-year term starting in 2017, it will soon begin evaluating what new and existing programs will be funded. With its groundbreaking research and collaborative spirit, SMART continues to push the boundaries of innovation in Singapore and beyond.