KUCHING: Sarawak is looking into collaborating with a key player in the automotive chip industry to develop local talent in chip design.
The potential collaboration surfaced after a recent meeting between a Sarawak delegation led by Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Roland Sagah and Melexis NV in Tessenderlo, Belgium.
Melexis NV is a global supplier of microelectronic semiconductor solutions and it is estimated that between 18 and 50 chips in every car in the world today are designed and manufactured by the company.
“The meeting was part of the Ministry’s efforts to support Sarawak’s electrical and electronic industry moving towards higher value activities, and therefore creating higher-skilled jobs that can contribute to the economy of Sarawak,” said Sagah in a statement today.
“As a result of the meeting, the Sarawak government and Melexis are set to work towards potential collaborations with Melexis for talent development in chip design in Sarawak,” he added.
Among others, the delegation learnt about Melexis’ activities at its R&D Centre in Tessenderlo, particularly in chip design.
The delegation also visited the Melexis’ anechoic chamber which tests electromagnetic compatibility on chips.
Sagah’s entourage also visited the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (STPHI) in Basel, Switzerland.
He said the Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (SIDC) aims to establish partnerships with STPHI in the area of infectious disease with a focus on disease surveillance, data analytics, molecular diagnostics and therapeutic development.
“As an outcome of the meeting, several project areas of mutual interest were identified for collaboration between SIDC and STPHI, including therapeutic drug screening against helminths and protozoans.
“We also discussed rural health and field point-of-care diagnostic development as well as the real time disease surveillance system in Sarawak.
“The delegation from Sarawak also discussed areas of human capital development in R&D (research and development) and funding sources that are available both in Switzerland and Sarawak,” he said.
Upon arrival at STPHI, Sagah was welcomed by Project Manager of STPHI Dr Jasmina Saric and its Director, Professor Jurg Utzinger.
Also joining him during the visit were his deputy, Datuk Francis Harden Hollis, Permanent Secretary to the ministry Datuk Kameri Affandi and others.
