Latest news with #SIDEC
The Sun
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
SIDEC marks 10 years boosting digital economy and semiconductor growth
SHAH ALAM: The Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation (SIDEC) marked its 10th anniversary with key initiatives to strengthen digital transformation and entrepreneurial growth. The event, officiated by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, highlighted strategic partnerships and talent development in Malaysia's semiconductor sector. Three industry leaders were appointed as advisers to guide SIDEC's future direction. Datuk Lai Yit Loong and Dr Chiang Shang-Yi, both veterans in semiconductor innovation, will focus on talent development and cross-border collaboration. Nurul Izzah Anwar was named executive chair of Polity, a think tank aimed at advancing digital empowerment and socio-economic policies. A tripartite MoU was signed between SIDEC, Permodalan Negeri Selangor Berhad (PNSB), and Artem Ventures to establish the Selangor Semiconductor Fund (SSF). This state-led venture capital initiative will support startups in IC design, AI chips, and advanced semiconductor solutions. The event also celebrated the first graduates of the Global Semiconductor Exchange Programme (GSEP), a training initiative in Shenzhen, China. Thirty participants gained hands-on experience in digital IC design, including EDA tools and system-level verification. Industry visits to firms like HONOR and Reexen Technology further enhanced their exposure. SIDEC reaffirmed its commitment to fostering innovation and digital growth, aligning with Selangor's vision to position Malaysia as a high-tech leader. - Bernama
The Sun
04-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Nurul Izzah appointed as SIDEC strategic advisor in Selangor
SHAH ALAM: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar has been named strategic advisor for the Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation (SIDEC). The announcement was made during the agency's 10th anniversary celebration. SIDEC stated that Nurul Izzah, who also serves as executive chairperson of think tank Polity, will contribute expertise in public policy, socioeconomic development, and digital empowerment. Joining her are former NVIDIA Corp and Foxconn vice president Datuk Lai Yit Loong and Foxconn director Dr. Chiang Shang-Yi. The appointments aim to enhance Selangor's role as a regional innovation hub by focusing on talent development and cross-border collaborations in technology and semiconductor manufacturing. SIDEC highlighted that these strategic moves will accelerate Malaysia's semiconductor ecosystem growth. Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari noted SIDEC's impact on the state's digital economy, with over 200 startups benefiting from its accelerator programme. He also pointed to the success of Malaysia's first Semiconductor IC Design Park in Selangor, which hosts major industry players like ARM and Siemens EDA. Selangor remains the nation's top GDP contributor at 26.2 percent, with RM432.1 billion in economic value and a 6.3 percent growth rate in 2024. Amirudin credited this achievement to strong collaboration between the state government, industries, and the people. - Bernama
Malay Mail
07-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
From brain drain to brain gain: Youth opportunities in the semiconductor space — Lim Yi Wei
MAY 7 — What's the deal with semiconductors? You might be wondering why semiconductors became so hot, and what shifting from 'From Made-in-Malaysia to Made-by-Malaysia' means. More importantly, what's in it for me? Semiconductors power our devices and technologies, from smartphones, cars, data centres, and artificial intelligence (AI) systems like ChatGPT. The onward march of digitisation, increased demand for faster, energy-efficient computing, and geopolitical tensions have spurred a global semiconductor race, or a 'chip war'. While Malaysia has a longstanding reputation as a manufacturer, the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS) seeks to develop our front-end capabilities in terms of chip design and advanced packaging, among others. Since its official launch last May involving fiscal support of USD5.3 billion (≈RM25 billion), the Selangor State Government via its executing agency Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation (SIDEC) has strongly supported the NSS through the pursuit of 3I's: investments, infrastructure, and intellect. When launching the first Malaysia Semiconductor Integrated Circuit (IC) Design Park in August 2024, SIDEC CEO Yong Kai Ping announced its full occupancy, and to expect the launch of the second IC design park in Cyberjaya in 2025. According to the author, addressing brain drain takes time, but the semiconductor sector can't afford delays — geopolitical tensions and looming US tariffs bring fresh uncertainties, and the industry's talent shortage needs urgent attention. — Reuters pic In March, I joined a SIDEC delegation to Taiwan, led by Selangor State Exco of Investment, Trade and Mobility, YB Ng Sze Han. We met several semiconductor giants such as TSMC, Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation, and MediaTek. Besides promoting Selangor's attractiveness, SIDEC is proposing a 30 per cent local-content policy, which will allow Malaysian original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and original design manufacturers (ODMs) to enter the IC design supply chain in specific sectors like data centres, electric vehicles (EVs), and aerospace. Youth opportunities in Selangor 1. Competitive salaries comparable to Singapore and Vietnam According to Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA) president Datuk Wong Siew Hai, Malaysia loses an average 15 per cent of semiconductor talent annually to brain drain. And understandably so – conventional engineering roles offer starting monthly salaries of RM2,800 – RM3,500; similar roles in Singapore or Taiwan pay upward of RM6,000. Today, the IC Design Park offers a salary of RM5,000 – RM6,000 for undergraduate engineers, while master's degree holders can earn upwards of RM7,000. Each IC park requires around 400 – 600 engineers in computer science and mechanical and electrical engineering. The Malaysia Semiconductor Recruitment Day 2024 organised by SIDEC attracted 2,000 turn-ups, 3,000 screenings, and 25 leading semiconductor companies over two days; some secured jobs on the spot. Besides attractive salaries, the IC design parks also factor accessibility (for logistics and shipping) and lifestyle e.g. public transportation, F&B, retail, recreational facilities, and schools. 2. Gain practical application through industry-varsity collaborations In March 2024, NXP signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Universiti Malaya (UM) to conduct a series of workshops towards the aim of designing an elective course for the university curriculum in the next academic year. NXP and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) also established the UPM-NXP Collaboration Laboratory to provide opportunities for research, practical application, and a pipeline to absorb talented graduates into NXP's workforce. Encouragingly, other universities have been organising talks with semiconductor companies to promote women in STEM. Last month, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing (FMM), and Bintang Capital Partners (Bintang Capital) signed an MOU introducing the Bintang Semiconductor Impact Fund I (BSIF I). Besides its core business of investing, BSIF I aims to support carbon transition initiatives and career development opportunities for women. 3. Upskilling and international exposure via the Advanced Semiconductor Academy of Malaysia (ASEM) During our trip, ASEM signed a MOU with the National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) and National Tsing Hua University. Malaysian engineering students and researchers can now join exchange programmes and access advanced research and development (R&D) labs in Taiwan. ASEM also manages two programmes in partnership with ChipInventor, a Brazil-developed cloud-based semiconductor chip design platform: The National Semiconductor Excellence Programme (NSEP) for Year 3 and 4 undergrads, recent graduates, and new hires in electric and electrical (E&E) engineering, computer science, or related fields. Applications are open for the July and September intakes. The Global Semiconductor Exchange Programme (GSEP) for undergrads and fresh grads in a broad range of engineering streams, and new hires. Applications are open for the August intake. Last week, 30 students departed for the Shenzhen Institute of Information Technology (SZIIT) with full scholarships. ASEM's partnership ecosystem that combines academic institutions, semiconductor players, and a job portal creates a direct pipeline between its alumni to enter the workforce. Universities include UM, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Unisel, Sunway University, Monash University, New Era University College, and Xiamen University Malaysia. A future worth staying for Our brain drain problems cannot be solved overnight. Geopolitical tensions and the US tariffs issue have introduced uncertainty in financial markets. Currently, tariffs have not been imposed on semiconductors, but we must be prepared. The talent crunch in our semiconductor industry must be tackled sooner than later. In an age where 'work from home' (WFH) is possible, and mental health and work-life balance prioritised over 'looking busy', semiconductor companies and universities should resist manufacturing a workforce purely for industry. Driving innovation and moving up the value chain must go hand in hand with better, fairer and more inclusive workplaces that are engines of wellbeing. If the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS) can deliver this well, we can build a future our young engineers will find worth staying for. * Lim Yi Wei is the Kampung Tunku state assemblyman and DAP Selangor public policy bureau chief ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
