Back in his second year at Nanyang Technological University, Foo Yong Li was already thinking ahead.
While his peers focused on lectures and campus activities, he had his mind set on a bigger goal: saving up for a Build-to-Order (BTO) flat with his fiancee.
Knowing they would receive their keys just two years after his graduation – a milestone they achieved this year – he began planning early.
The weight of this future financial commitment drove him to look beyond just earning his degree. He needed to secure a stable career path, which led him to an internship at GlobalFoundries, one of the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturers.
That early decision paid off, as he now works there as an equipment engineer.
During his internship, Yong Li became acquainted with colleagues who were on the Singapore-Industry Scholarship (SgIS). They advised him to apply as a mid-term applicant.
The SgIS is the only multi-industry scholarship in partnership with the Singapore Government. It provided Yong Li with an award grant that helped to cover his tuition fees.
This financial support brought Yong Li closer to his goal of saving up for his BTO flat. Even better, as an SgIS recipient, he would have the opportunity to work in other prestigious local and international companies that are among the 153 sponsoring organisations under the scholarship.
Yong Li, now 27, started full-time at GlobalFoundries in 2023 and is heading a team of three in the lithography department.
There, he manages lithography equipment that crafts the intricate features on modern microchips, which are found in smartphones, computers, vehicles and various home appliances.
A mechanical engineer by education, Yong Li had initially wanted a career in the automotive industry, but the disruption from electric mobility made him reconsider.
He first became interested in the semiconductor industry during the Covid-19 pandemic. “Everybody was talking about the chips at the time,” he recalls. “How they were in your laptops, cars and home appliances, which became especially apparent during the work-from-home period.”
It became clear to him that semiconductors were indispensable in modern life, and with demand only set to grow, the industry offered the stability and long-term career security he was looking for.
With four manufacturing sites located in the United States, Germany and Singapore, Yong Li appreciates the diverse learning opportunities and exposure he receives at GlobalFoundries.
In under two years, Yong Li has had multiple opportunities to upgrade legacy processes – including improving workflows such as troubleshooting procedures and compiling lists of crisis scenarios and contingencies – so more staff will be prepared to handle various situations as and when issues arise.
His greatest achievement so far has been writing a software solution to make up for the hardware shortcomings of existing legacy equipment, saving the company tens of thousands of dollars by extending the lifespan of its older fabrication equipment.
This would not have been possible without his superiors keeping an open mind and being willing to accept his suggestions, he says.
Yong Li is also currently on GlobalFoundries’ Graduate Excellence Model (GEM) programme, an accelerated scheme for fresh graduates to give them greater exposure to the different roles and responsibilities within the company.
“With artificial intelligence becoming such a huge part of everyday life, the semiconductor industry is more important than ever.”
– Foo Yong Li, recipient of the Singapore-Industry Scholarship (Mid-Term Local)
His expertise on the assembly line, especially in the areas of troubleshooting and recovery, has put him in a position to advise and support junior staff.
Helping his juniors grow in their roles is something Yong Li finds fulfilling, but he is also excited about the bigger picture.
“With artificial intelligence becoming such a huge part of everyday life, the semiconductor industry is more important than ever,” he says.
“That’s what makes it so exciting – we are constantly challenging ourselves to improve, not just for our success but the entire world’s.”
