Micro Journeys: The Pulse of What’s Next

Inside Polar Semiconductor: The Quiet Engine Behind U.S. Tech Resilience


Listen Later

In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo visits Polar Semiconductor in Minnesota to sit down with Surya Iyer, President and COO of the company. As the U.S. pushes for domestic semiconductor self-sufficiency, Polar is emerging as a key player with a distinct edge: power semiconductors and sensors manufactured at mature nodes. Surya shares Polar's transformation from a foreign-owned internal manufacturing facility to a U.S.-owned merchant foundry and details how that evolution aligns with national strategic goals.


Surya dives into how Polar’s specialty in power semiconductors—used in everything from cars and medical devices to aerospace and defense—is addressing a critical gap in the U.S. semiconductor supply chain. The conversation explores why mature nodes, compound semiconductors like gallium nitride, and foundry flexibility matter just as much as bleeding-edge logic chips. Surya also reveals Polar’s strategic CHIPS Act-funded expansion and what it means for workforce development, cybersecurity, and national resilience.


Tune in and listen to this episode to understand how Polar Semiconductor is reshaping America's semiconductor narrative—not by chasing hype, but by building the backbone of the technologies that keep our world running.


What You’ll Discover in This Episode:
  • [01:22] How Polar Semiconductor’s ownership transformation positioned it as a key U.S. foundry
  • [03:53] What makes power semiconductors mission-critical for industries like automotive, defense, and healthcare
  • [7:17] Why foundry capacity in the U.S. has lagged—and how Polar is helping close the gap
  • [12:55] The role of gallium nitride and silicon carbide in the future of high-voltage semiconductor manufacturing
  • [20:08] How CHIPS Act funding is enabling Polar’s $525M expansion and doubling of wafer capacity
  • [29:33] How Polar is investing in local workforce development and becoming a magnet for national semiconductor talent

Let’s Connect:
  • Daniel Marrujo
  • Surya Iyer
  • TSS Website

Learn more about TSS: https://tss.llc/micro-journeys-podcast/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Micro Journeys: The Pulse of What’s NextBy Trusted Strategic Solutions