【Expert Interview】Awaiting Dawn Before Daybreak: An Interview with Japan NCT President Kuramata Akito on Gallium Oxide Industrialization

      Speaking about his impressions of IWGO-6, President Akito Kuramata first highlighted the rapid development of Ga₂O₃ device technology in recent years. In his view, the research results and technological advances presented at the conference clearly demonstrated that Ga₂O₃ devices are continuing to move forward, with performance and technological maturity steadily improving. In the development of an emerging industry, advances in device technology mean more than improvements in performance metrics—they are also helping to strengthen confidence in the future of Ga₂O₃ among industry participants.

      Beyond the technology itself, however, President Kuramata also pointed to one regrettable aspect of this year’s conference: some Chinese researchers were unable to attend and participate in person.

      He expressed his deep regret over their absence. In his view, the value of an international conference lies not only in presenting research findings, but also in enabling researchers from different countries and regions to meet face-to-face, discuss technical challenges, exchange experiences, and explore new opportunities for collaboration. The absence of some Chinese researchers meant that some of these potential interactions and exchanges could not take place.

      This sense of regret was not limited to Chinese researchers or industry professionals. President Kuramata noted that many other attendees, including researchers from Europe and the United States, also felt that the lack of opportunities to interact fully with their Chinese counterparts was unfortunate. For a global industry developing as rapidly as Ga₂O₃, maintaining continuous and open exchange of information and ideas across countries and regions remains highly important.

      During the conference, President Kuramata also took note of the work of the Asian Gallium Oxide Alliance (AGOA). He said that many attendees had shown strong interest in the Alliance, reflecting the growing demand for information exchange and cross-regional communication as the Ga₂O₃ industry continues to develop.

      In his view, one of the Alliance’s important roles is to serve as an information bridge connecting different participants across the industry. Research institutions and companies in different countries and regions around the world are continuing to advance research and development in Ga₂O₃ materials, epitaxy, devices, and industrialization. Timely dissemination of industry information and greater mutual understanding are therefore important to the development of the industry as a whole.

      He hopes that the Alliance will continue to facilitate information exchange and communication between China and Europe, between China and Japan, and between China and the United States, enabling research institutions, companies, and industry professionals in different regions to stay better informed about developments elsewhere and creating opportunities for further communication and collaboration.

      He also recognized the work the Alliance has already undertaken in disseminating industry information and facilitating communication, and expressed his hope that this cross-regional and cross-border connection can be sustained over the long term.

      In his view, facilitating the flow of information is itself an important force driving the development of the industry.

      Looking ahead to the future of the Ga₂O₃ industry, President Kuramata placed greater emphasis on industrialization.

      He said that NCT is already preparing to move toward larger wafer sizes and lower costs. At the same time, epitaxial and device technologies across the industry have continued to make increasingly significant progress.

      In his view, the industry may now be closer than ever to entering the era of industrialization. It is no longer a distant or unattainable goal, but rather a matter of taking the “final step.”

      That final step is not simply about achieving another breakthrough in a particular technical metric. More importantly, it means ensuring that the entire industry chain is truly prepared for commercialization and mass production. As technological capabilities continue to improve, the factors that will increasingly distinguish companies and technologies will be their industrialization capabilities and level of readiness for large-scale deployment.

      He therefore hopes that industry peers will prepare in advance—not only keeping an eye on technological progress in the laboratory, but also thinking about how to achieve larger wafer sizes, lower costs, stable manufacturing, and greater coordination across the supply chain, so that technological achievements can truly move into the market and real-world applications.

      In President Kuramata’s view, the Ga₂O₃ industry is undergoing a critical turning point. Technology continues to advance, while the conditions needed for industrialization are gradually taking shape. The next step for the industry is to turn these technological achievements into scalable manufacturing and practical applications.

      “The present is merely the final test before daybreak. The first light is already on the horizon, and dawn is steadily approaching.”

      He looks forward to working together with colleagues across the global industry to help bring Ga₂O₃ into the era of industrialization and large-scale application.