Recognized as an outstanding innovative startup, INFINITY Technology is brimming with energy under the leadership of CEO Mr. Steve Lin. The company stands out due to its integrated vertical development capabilities in Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology, combining research and development with production. This differentiates INFINITY from other companies that focus solely on either front-end design or back-end manufacturing. The market is curious about the company's business management strategy—how does it achieve excellence and what is the key to its success?
 
A Management Philosophy of Talent and Trust
CEO Steve Lin explains that INFINITY Technology, to shorten its R&D processes and ensure confidentiality, invested in acquiring the management rights of Wellywave Semiconductors Inc. in 2022. The company also appointed Dr. Wang Peizhi, former General Manager of ARIMA OPTOELECTRONICS CORP., as Chairman of Wellywave. Dr. Wang’s experience in LED manufacturing is critical in advancing chip production, aligning perfectly with INFINITY’s chip design capabilities. Together, they can quickly validate designs, adjust process parameters, and fine-tune design specifications, thus shortening development timelines.
 
Regarding market development and customer relationships, INFINITY Technology, with its manufacturing capabilities in microwave communication components and power devices, is able to meet customer needs in terms of quality and performance. The company’s approach is to balance the diverse demands of end customers while incorporating the unique features of its products.
 
Steve Lin points out that INFINITY Communication Technology’s R&D focuses on both RF (radio frequency) chip design and power chip design, with specialized teams led by highly experienced professionals. In the RF chip domain, INFINITY initially developed wide-band RF GaN transistors, which, due to their high-frequency and high-power characteristics, are suitable for array radar systems, low-earth-orbit satellites, and drone communications. The company’s technology has already been successfully applied to military drone jammers. Subsequently, through engagement with 5G system manufacturers, INFINITY identified that power amplifiers for 5G small base station front-end modules were entirely sourced from abroad. This insight led to the development of commercial narrow-band GaN PA MMICs (Gallium Nitride Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits), solving a key problem for customers while also fostering a local supply chain to improve chip manufacturing capabilities.
 
In the power chip sector, after visiting various academic institutions and exploring GaN transistor applications, INFINITY focused its R&D on high-voltage chips. With China’s heavy support for InnoScience, producing low-cost GaN power devices, INFINITY turned its attention to developing 650V, 1,200V, and 1,700V power chips for higher-frequency, high-voltage, and high-power applications. INFINITY has already pioneered the development of 650V and 1,200V power chips in Taiwan, which are applicable in computer power converters, industrial equipment, and AI server power supplies. Moving forward, the company plans to focus on 1,700V and high-power chips for applications in solar energy, energy storage systems, commercial EV charging stations, industrial air conditioning, and welding machines.
 
Maintaining Competitive Advantages
To maintain its technological leadership, INFINITY Technology put all efforts in new product development and technological innovation. CEO Lin states that the company is currently developing Taiwan’s first RF front-end power amplifier module and has applied for government funding through the A+ plan to secure a technological lead. Additionally, INFINITY is collaborating with the National Science and Technology Council to develop 1,200V and 1,700V power chips for use in induction cookers, with potential applications in industrial furnaces.
 
Regarding geopolitical challenges, particularly the dynamics between China and the U.S., Steve observes that the global economic shifts resulting from this tension have prompted many nations and Taiwanese companies to scale back investments in China, which has had a positive impact on Taiwan’s economy. However, he cautions that some industries have experienced hollowing out, particularly in areas such as the packaging of low-end GaN power components. Taiwan often struggles to find local packaging providers for these tasks and frequently resorts to outsourcing to China. This is a concern that should be addressed by the government.
 
Although INFINITY has developed 650V and 1,200V power devices for domestic applications, market adoption has been challenging. Local manufacturers of power supplies still favor low-efficiency MOSFETs or GaN components from China due to cost considerations. INFINITY hopes that government policies will support the promotion of domestic GaN products, thus enhancing their visibility and opening opportunities for international expansion.
 
In the RF chip domain, China and Western countries have already gained significant leadership. INFINITY is racing to catch up to meet the immediate needs of domestic system manufacturers, particularly in the field of commercial 5G amplifiers. In military RF chips, where global giants dominate, INFINITY is working hard to develop domestic alternatives. The company has already succeeded in applying its technology to drone jammers on naval vessels, contributing to national security.
 
Transferring Experience from Different Fields
Steve Lin, with years of experience at the leading network equipment company, D-Link, explains how his expertise has been transferred to the development of compound semiconductor products. He shares that at D-Link, the company was a global leader, and when transitioning to GaN-based products, it was clear that using GaN in power adapters for Wi-Fi routers would enhance energy efficiency by 3%, meeting ESG requirements. Similarly, D-Link’s PoE (Power over Ethernet) switches and network routers are well-known globally, and INFINITY is now focused on converting power supply units (PSUs) from silicon (Si) to GaN, which will also improve energy efficiency. With D-Link’s global distribution network, INFINITY’s GaN products have the potential to make a significant impact worldwide.
 
In the 5G telecom services sector, Taiwan’s use of 5G private networks has become quite mature, but the primary RF power amplifiers (PAs) and digital predistortion (DPD) technologies are still reliant on foreign products, resulting in high costs. INFINITY is aiming to collaborate with the Institute for Information Industry to test Taiwan’s domestically produced small 5G base stations. If successful, these could be marketed globally through D-Link’s subsidiaries, leading to a major market breakthrough.
 
Government Support, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Sustainable Development
Since its inception, INFINITY Technology has benefited from the government’s initiatives, such as the “Value Creation” program. The government is actively promoting five key industries, including next-generation communications, and INFINITY hopes to receive continued support. The company is confident in developing high-voltage, high-conversion power components for AI server power supplies and other power products. However, once these products are developed, INFINITY requires government policy assistance to promote domestic adoption of these components and increase their visibility. Without such support, the significant R&D investments made by companies like INFINITY may struggle to gain traction.
 
On the topic of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainable development, INFINITY emphasizes its commitment to environmental protection, social responsibility, and good governance (ESG).
 
Environmental Protection: The company adopts environmentally friendly practices in its office design, including the use of green materials, energy-efficient cooling systems, and LED lighting. As a maker of GaN RF and power devices, INFINITY is already contributing to energy-saving efforts. The high efficiency of GaN can reduce energy consumption by 3–5%, and if widely adopted across Taiwan, it could potentially save the equivalent energy of a large power plant.
 
Social Responsibility: INFINITY offers fair compensation and provides opportunities for employees to thrive based on their skills, ensuring a balanced workload. The company also emphasizes job safety and has established local supply chains to boost employment and national productivity.
 
Corporate Governance: INFINITY promotes diversity and inclusion, encouraging employees from diverse backgrounds to express different perspectives. The company ensures equal employment opportunities for women and older workers and fosters an organizational culture that values honesty, transparency, and fairness. Internal audits are conducted to ensure compliance and uphold ethical standards.
 
In conclusion, Lin emphasizes that CSR and sustainable development are long-term commitments. Companies need to tailor strategies to their industry characteristics, resource capabilities, and stakeholder expectations. By doing so, they can enhance their brand image, strengthen their long-term competitiveness, and better manage risks.