(Yicai Global) Feb. 24 -- Sineng Electric, a Chinese maker of photovoltaic inverters, has deepened its collaboration with Onsemi, an American semiconductor firm, by establishing a joint laboratory to promote breakthroughs in electrical devices that can be used in green energy products.

The pair will work on the practical application of semiconductor devices and cutting-edge technologies, the Wuxi-based company said in a statement on its WeChat account today, without disclosing the location of the lab which will test and evaluate single-tube insulated-gate bipolar transistors and silicon carbide diodes.

David Chow, senior vice president of Phoenix-headquartered Onsemi, said that the company expects to widen its cooperation and communication with Sineng Electric in resource sharing, product innovation and technical services.

The move was expected as Chief Executive Hassane El-Khoury said at an online conference in November that Onsemi plans to empower automotive clients in China by establishing joint labs and signing long-term supply agreements. As of last year, the firm had 10 joint labs in the Asian country, while more than half of them were working on automotive technologies.

El-Khoury added that Onsemi definitely wants to compete for market share in the Chinese car market, especially in the segment of smart automobiles. Its two pillar technologies of smart sensing and smart power solutions are gaining popularity among Chinese customers, he added. The American company's revenue exceeded USD2 billion for the first time in the second quarter of last year, and automotive and industrial segments accounted for nearly 70 percent of the total.

Editor: Emmi Laine, Xiao Yi