KUCHING: The Sarawak Microelectronics Design (SMD) Semiconductor has just launched its flagship Inaugural SMD Integrated Circuits (IC) Design Competition 2025 at SMD Academy, Kota Samarahan recently.
In its press release, SMD said the initiative marked a significant milestone in Sarawak’s mission to cultivate homegrown talent in the integrated circuit (IC) design, and position the region as an emerging force in the global semiconductor industry.
“This competition reflects our belief in the intelligence within; the untapped potential of Sarawak’s youth and their ability to shape the future of technology.
“We are proud to work alongside our foundry partner X-Fab Sarawak for the chip fabrication, and generous support of MEITD in empowering the next generation of IC designers,” SMD said.
Throughout the competition, SMD added that teams would progress through multiple evaluation phases, focusing on key criteria such as design methodology, performance, layout quality, and testing outcomes.
“The competition officially kicked off with a five-day intensive bootcamp, bringing together eight selected university teams from Curtin University Malaysia, University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), University of Technology Sibu (UTS), and Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus.
“Over the next 14 months, these teams will be challenged to design, fabricate (tape-out) and test IC that meets rigorous performance standards while advancing energy efficiency, a key requirement in today’s evolving tech landscape.
“Organised by SMD Semiconductor with the support from the Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development, the competition serves not only as a platform for applied learning but also as a strategic initiative aligned with Post-COVID19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 to develop a skilled, innovation-driven workforce,” SMD added.
The event also aims to inspire innovation and foster strong collaboration among team members.
Top-performing teams will receive awards at the end of the competition in June 2026, reinforcing the growing pipeline of local talent for Sarawak’s semiconductor ecosystem.
For more information and updates, visit https://smdsemiconductor.com/icdc25.
