[This is a sponsored article written in collaboration with Selangor Information Technology & Digital Economy Corporation (Sidec).]
You may’ve recognized Malaysia as a BTS member within the semiconductor world. No, not the boyband, however a behind-the-scenes participant that ships hundreds of thousands of chips by assembling, testing, and packaging them.
However that’s all about to vary.
In March 2025, Malaysia inked a US$250 million, 10-year cope with UK semiconductor agency Arm Holdings to license seven superior chip designs and prepare 10,000 engineers within the course of.
In different phrases, we’re inserting a critical guess on the way forward for homegrown mental property (IP), transitioning from “Made in Malaysia” to “Made by Malaysia”.
On the core of this shift is the Malaysia Semiconductor IC Design Park, an initiative spearheaded by the Selangor authorities beneath Sidec and the federal authorities by way of the Ministry of Economic system.
12 corporations, 1 IC design park
A centralised innovation ecosystem, the Malaysia Semiconductor IC Design Park is designed to incubate semiconductor breakthroughs. It serves as an area to foster data sharing, R&D, collaboration, and real-time innovation.
Right here, 12 established native and international semiconductor corporations work facet by facet:
- MaiStorage Expertise Sdn Bhd
- SkyeChip
- Infinecs Techniques Sdn Bhd
- Airis Labs Ltd.
- Tenasic Expertise
- Cortical Labs
- NSW Automation
- WyseTime Resolution
- Weeroc House Sdn Bhd
- Alphaswift Industries
- ChipInventor
- First Chip Sdn Bhd
Every of them has made vital contributions to the semiconductor {industry}. For instance, SkyeChip is thought for its experience in creating superior IP and ASIC merchandise. However, MaiStorage is likely one of the world’s main impartial suppliers of NAND controller ICs and storage options.
Past that, although, the 15,000 sq. ft. park is a platform that empowers companies with a slew of amenities and assist.
Infrastructure, funding, and assist multi functional place
To begin off, it supplies a dynamic setting that’s fully-fitted with co-working areas, high-tech superior chip design infrastructure, and specialised chip improvement labs.
These state-of-the-art amenities and labs present complete assist and open entry to the native superior chip design group, enabling innovation that meets international provide chain and market calls for.
They’re outfitted with cutting-edge post-silicon, superior take a look at, and packaging gear for superior semiconductor chip improvement.
“As well as, an upcoming superior emulation system will quickly be obtainable, offering important capabilities for AI chip improvement by enabling speedy verification, system-level prototyping, and efficiency optimisation earlier than fabrication,” a spokesperson from Sidec shared.
Corporations can achieve entry to industry-leading infrastructure as nicely, comparable to Digital Design Automation (EDA) instruments, IP companies, Multi-Undertaking Wafer (MPW) companies, and different fashionable testing instruments.
To permit companies to give attention to innovation, the Malaysia Semiconductor IC Design Park subsidises as much as 100% on using important IC design instruments and gear.
Furthermore, it facilitates entry to non-public and public funding. Aligned with the Nationwide Semiconductor Technique, corporations are supplied with early-stage funding alternatives, capital expenditure allowances, and earnings tax exemptions for as much as 10 years.
Its notable investing companions are Selangor Semiconductor Fud (SSF), Artem Ventures, and Permodalan Negeri Selangor Berhad (PNSB) have collectively contributed US$23.7 million (RM100 million) to the fund.
Did we point out that workplace lease, utilities, and web are additionally subsidised for the primary three years?
The place Malaysia’s subsequent chip engineers are being educated
However what units the park aside from different innovation hubs is the expertise that powers all of it.
Simply final month, the Superior Semiconductor Academy of Malaysia (ASEM) formally launched the Arm On-Demand Coaching Programme. It’s the primary ever Arm-led coaching programme in Malaysia that brings collectively engineering college students and professionals to upskill in IC design and superior applied sciences.
Hosted beneath the Malaysia Semiconductor IC Design Park initiative, the programme is the nation’s effort to develop a high-tech workforce.
“We purpose to coach, upskill, and reskill 20,000 engineers, attaining 30% of the Nationwide Semiconductor Technique’s expertise KPI,” mentioned Angel Low, Common Supervisor of ASEM. “It will assist guarantee Malaysia stays on the forefront of the worldwide semiconductor worth chain—with Selangor main the cost.”
This primary cohort consists of 400 engineers, representing members from over 40 universities and greater than 80 corporations.
The programme covers areas such because the Arm Cortex-A, Cortex-R, and Cortex-M processors, embedded techniques, System-on-Chip (SoC) improvement, and supplies entry to Arm’s On-Demand Coaching platform. This consists of modules on varied superior applied sciences like Mali GPUs, Ethos NPUs, and extra.
It will foster graduates of the coaching programme to create homegrown chip merchandise and options, supporting the nation’s ambitions within the tech house and contributing to Malaysia’s rising digital economic system.
From the primary day of coaching, prime candidates are matched with park tenants whereas remaining abilities are launched to different main semiconductor corporations nationwide.
ASEM at present works with over 150 employers, together with prime corporations like Intel, Infineon, Texas Devices, Micron, and different worldwide provide chain leaders.
Future-proofing Malaysia’s workforce
Designed to be ongoing with a number of cohorts annually, it’s anticipated that a number of teams of engineers will likely be educated yearly to satisfy the rising expertise calls for for areas like AI and information centres.
“Our mission is to make sure that Malaysia’s brightest engineering minds are recognized, educated, and positioned in roles the place they will make an affect—each regionally and on the worldwide stage,” Angel said.
This spirit of bringing sensible abilities collectively may even be on full show on the SDEC 2025 Recruitment Day that’s occurring from October 8 to 11, 2025, on the Kuala Lumpur Conference Centre and Grand Hyatt KL.
Whether or not you’re a pupil, recent graduate, or skilled, that is your probability to discover roles within the digital economic system and good metropolis sectors and to be a part of Malaysia’s subsequent wave of semiconductor breakthroughs.
people can discover out extra data or register your curiosity right here.
- Study extra concerning the Malaysia Semiconductor IC Design Park right here.
- Study extra about Superior Semiconductor Academy of Malaysia (ASEM) right here.
- Study extra about SDEC 2025 right here.
- Learn tales we’re written about Malaysian startups right here.
Featured Picture Credit score: Sidec
Elevate your perspective with NextTech Information, the place innovation meets perception.
Uncover the most recent breakthroughs, get unique updates, and join with a worldwide community of future-focused thinkers.
Unlock tomorrow’s tendencies in the present day: learn extra, subscribe to our publication, and turn out to be a part of the NextTech group at NextTech-news.com
