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.