BY JAMES WONG
KUCHING: The Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development aims to produce 500 semiconductor professionals by 2027 with guaranteed job placements in the state through a talent development programme.
In stating this, Deputy Minister Datuk Francis Harden Holis said the programme is crucial to producing industry-ready talent to support Sarawak’s goal of increasing labour productivity, innovation capacity and higher-skilled jobs.
“This programme is part of Sarawak Microelectronics Design (SMD) Semiconductor’s strategic framework to create high-value employment opportunities for STEM graduates that directs them to the right career path in semiconductors and chip design.
“To achieve the goal, industry proven training modules will be incorporated into Master’s and PhD programmes in microelectronics and semiconductors, along with exchange programmes and research and fabrication of new integrated circuit (IC) systems.
“With such strategy, we can materialise one of the goals of the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 to achieve 30 per cent skilled workforce and adequate local talent,” he said.
He said this in a press conference after chairing the first coordination meeting for Sarawak Digital Economy Transformation: Talent Development in Semiconductors and Chip Design here Tuesday (May 16).
He said that Sarawak has potential to contribute to the growing global demand for semiconductors, chip design and wafer fabrication.
“Talent shortage in the Malaysian semiconductor sector remains a crucial issue despite the rising demand and growth in the industry, and outsourcing can be costly.
“Through this programme, we hope to establish the ecosystem here in Sarawak to contribute to the demand,” he added.
Meanwhile, the programme will focus on IC design, wafer fabrication and wafer testing with collaboration between international industry players, state agencies and universities.
It will be implemented by Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS) and Sarawak Skills, Swinburne, and University Technology Sarawak, facilitated by SMD Semiconductor with its international strategic partners, Synopsys, X-Fab, Xpeqt and Melexis.
Also present were permanent secretary Azmi Bujang, SMDS chief executive officer Shariman Jamil, SRDC general manager Dr Peter Morin, CENTEXS chief executive officer Syeed Mohd Hussein Wan Abdul Rahman, Digital Economy Office (Cscao) chief scientist and chief advisor Prof. Jugdutt (Jack) Singh, Melexis Technologies NV (Belgium) chief executive officer Marc Biron and X-FAB Sarawak Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Lee Boon Chun.
