Malaysia is urged to strengthen chip design and research and development (R&D) capabilities beyond its traditional role in semiconductor manufacturing, in line with global demand for high-value innovation to emphasise the need for integrated investment, talent development and strategic collaboration,
Dr Salleh Ahmad, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of Weeroc, said Malaysia’s semiconductor ecosystem has historically focused on manufacturing, as most core technologies were developed overseas.
“There has not yet been an active or well-promoted focus on chip design by the government, as most core technologies were previously developed overseas, with Malaysia mainly handling manufacturing.” he said.
Drawing on experience from semiconductor ecosystems in Europe as France has long invested in chip design, R&D and scientific research for more advanced capabilities compared to Malaysia.
“Malaysia is still largely concentrated on manufacturing. In France, the semiconductor sector has long been more advanced in terms of research and development and scientific capability.”
Weeroc founded in 2012, originating from France’s National Institute for Particle Physics and Nuclear Physics (CNRS/IN2P3), they specialise in radiation-hardened microchip designs and photodetector read-out systems for harsh environments, including aerospace and space applications.
In 2022, the company led a European Space Agency (ESA) microchip project for a European telecommunications satellite platform in collaboration with NASA, Airbus Defence and Space to strengthen its position in the global semiconductor and microelectronics industry.
He added semiconductor design represents one of the most critical and highest-value segments of the global value chain, enabling countries and companies to develop proprietary technologies and compete internationally.
“My hope is that we can move much further into chip design, as it is one of the most important segments of the semiconductor value chain. From there, we can develop our own technologies, and companies will be able to create their own products and market them globally.” he said.
Leveraging its extensive experience in France, Weeroc aims to expand its contribution in Malaysia by supporting local industry growth, collaborating with universities, and working with government agencies to strengthen the country’s semiconductor design capabilities.
Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation (Sidec) under the Malaysia Semiconductor IC Design Park initiative supports the semiconductor design industry through providing incentives, office facilities, access to specialised design software and assistance in hiring engineers.
This content is provided by Sidec
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
Interested in having your press releases, exclusive interviews, or branded content articles on Malaysiakini? For more information, contact [email protected] or [email protected]
