KUCHING: The Sarawak Government will send three Sarawakians to pursue Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) studies at the University of Bristol, United Kingdom, as an initial step to develop local talent in the semiconductor field.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the initiative aims to support the implementation of Sarawak’s semiconductor industry development roadmap by strengthening internationally recognised research expertise.
He said that at the initial stage, three candidates with either industry experience or a master’s degree would be selected, and they would be bonded to serve the Sarawak Government upon completion of their studies.
“After that, we will send more (for further studies) because semiconductor technology is advancing very rapidly and this effort cannot come to a halt,” he told reporters after the exchange of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) documents between SMD Semiconductor, Yayasan Sarawak and the University of Bristol, United Kingdom, at the Satria Pertiwi Complex here today.
Abang Johari also expressed his appreciation to the University of Bristol for its research collaboration in new technologies formalised through the MoU with SMD Semiconductor and Yayasan Sarawak.
He said Sarawak’s semiconductor development policy has also attracted international attention following his keynote address at a business forum in Indonesia on Tuesday (Feb 3), which was attended by participants from Western and Middle Eastern countries.
“They appeared quite enthusiastic and impressed with Sarawak’s semiconductor policy because it is something new.
“In fact, they expressed interest in working with us to promote new technologies as drivers of the economy,” he added.
Abang Johari said Sarawak had explored chip technology at an early stage when he previously held the portfolio of Minister for Industrial Development, and the state is now in a stronger position to move into its own chip production phase.
“Thank God, we have the financial capacity. Now we are moving further, including towards producing chips,” he said.
He added that the focus is no longer limited to silicon, but is shifting towards new materials such as gallium, which require specialised expertise, including in processing basic materials through to wafer production.
“From basic materials, to processing gallium, then producing wafers, and eventually chips. All of this is carried out in stages,” he explained.
