【Conference News】AGOA at IWGO-6: Connecting Global Gallium Oxide Innovators to Explore Technology Advances and Industry Growth

      In August 2026, the Asian Gallium Oxide Alliance (AGOA) participated in the 6th International Workshop on Gallium Oxide and Related Materials (IWGO 2026) and traveled to the United States for on-site exchanges, gaining in-depth insights into the latest technological advancements and industry developments in the global gallium oxide field.

      Through this participation, AGOA engaged in discussions with leading experts, researchers, and industry representatives from around the world, providing its members and ecosystem partners with an important platform to follow international frontier trends and explore opportunities for collaboration.

      IWGO 2026 was held at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) in College Park, Maryland, USA. Founded in 1856, UMD is a leading public research university in the United States. Located near Washington, D.C., the university has strong research capabilities in fields such as engineering and computer science and is widely recognized as one of the “Public Ivies.”

      As the host venue of this year’s conference, UMD provided an excellent platform for global experts and researchers in the gallium oxide field to exchange ideas and foster collaboration, supported by its strong research environment and international academic atmosphere.

University of Maryland, College Park (UMD)

      IWGO 2026 attracted more than 300 experts, researchers, industry representatives, and professionals across the gallium oxide ecosystem from around the world, marking the largest attendance in the history of the workshop. The conference brought together universities, research institutions, and companies, covering key areas across the gallium oxide value chain, including crystal growth, substrate materials, epitaxial technologies, device fabrication, characterization and testing, and application development. Participants exchanged insights on the latest research achievements and industrialization pathways in gallium oxide materials and devices.

      During the conference, attendees actively participated in keynote presentations, poster sessions, and on-site discussions. Research teams presented their latest advances across various aspects of gallium oxide technologies and engaged in in-depth discussions on technical approaches, research methodologies, and application requirements. The poster session also attracted significant attention, with frequent interactions and a strong atmosphere of academic exchange.

      Through diverse formats including technical presentations, industry exhibitions, and poster discussions, IWGO 2026 provided a valuable face-to-face platform for global experts, researchers, and industry partners in the gallium oxide field, strengthening communication between academic innovation and industrial needs.

Technical Presentation Session

Poster Session

      The industry participation at IWGO 2026 continued to grow, with 19 companies and organizations exhibiting at the conference, marking the highest number of exhibitors in the history of the workshop.

      The exhibitors collectively showcased the multi-stage development landscape of the gallium oxide field, spanning fundamental research, material preparation, device development, and industrial support. Covering key segments including substrates, epitaxy, devices, thermal management, and characterization/testing, the exhibition highlighted the continued evolution and growing maturity of the global gallium oxide ecosystem.

Selected Exhibiting Organizations (Listed in Numerical Order)

      The exhibition area brought together representative organizations from across the global gallium oxide ecosystem.

      In the substrate and epitaxy sector, Novel Crystal Technology showcased its latest technologies in gallium oxide substrates, crystal growth, and epitaxial materials as a leading company in the field. Kyma Technologies presented its progress in gallium oxide HVPE thick-film epitaxy and related material development, while Orbray highlighted several frontier achievements, including its development of gallium oxide single-crystal growth using the Edge-defined Film-fed Growth (EFG) method.

      In the manufacturing equipment and industrial support sector, companies including AIXTRON and Dr. Eberl MBE-Komponenten GmbH presented epitaxial equipment solutions covering MOCVD, MBE, and thin-film deposition technologies. Furuya Metal showcased technologies related to crystal growth consumables and precision processing.

      In the device development and application sector, Gallox Semiconductors presented its advances in gallium oxide power device development and commercialization efforts.

      In the testing and characterization sector, companies including Rigaku, Laser Thermal Analysis, Microsanj, INSTEC, and MicroXact showcased technologies for thermal property analysis, electrical testing, crystal structure characterization, and material evaluation. Partow Technologies demonstrated wafer bonding equipment for heterogeneous integration, addressing thermal management challenges in gallium oxide devices.

      In addition, academic organizations and service platforms such as the AVS Literature Table (American Vacuum Society), the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the University of Houston, and the American Institute of Physics (AIP) Publishing also participated in the exhibition and technical exchanges.

      Meanwhile, Chinese company Suzhou Gaosemi Co., Ltd., as a Silver Sponsor of the conference, participated in the exhibition and showcased the latest progress in the industrialization of gallium oxide materials in China. Together, these participants demonstrated the active collaboration and continued development of the global gallium oxide industrial ecosystem.

      As one of the few Chinese industry organizations at the conference dedicated to industrial collaboration, the Asian Gallium Oxide Alliance (AGOA) actively participated throughout the event, engaging in technical presentations, research discussions, and industry exchanges. The Alliance held in-depth conversations with global experts, researchers, and company representatives to gain insights into the latest technological developments and industrial trends.

      Leveraging its role as an open industry collaboration platform, AGOA continues to follow technological evolution and ecosystem development in the global gallium oxide field, facilitating information exchange and resource connections among universities, research institutions, and enterprises. Through participation in IWGO 2026, AGOA further strengthens connections with global innovation resources, promoting exchanges of technical information, industry insights, and collaboration opportunities between domestic and international partners.

      The participation also provides AGOA members with a broader global perspective, enhanced opportunities for industrial cooperation, and international exchange resources, supporting the development of China’s gallium oxide industry from following global advances toward achieving synchronized progress and contributing to the industry’s independent and high-quality growth.

      Moving forward, AGOA will continue to organize and share insights from IWGO 2026, bringing more on-site observations, expert perspectives, and industry insights. Stay tuned for more updates!