KUCHING: Sarawak is intensifying efforts to position itself as a semiconductor innovation hub, with industry players pushing to strengthen Malaysia’s chip design capabilities through the MYChipStart Sarawak Region Roadshow.
The initiative, organised by Collaborative Research in Engineering, Science and Technology (CREST) in collaboration with SMD Semiconductor, brought together policymakers, industry leaders, engineers, startups and academia to drive participation in the semiconductor design ecosystem, particularly in East Malaysia.
SMD Semiconductor’s Chief Executive Officer, Shariman Jamil, said the industry is facing a widening innovation gap as major multinational companies become increasingly risk-averse.
“A significant gap in innovation has emerged as large companies focus on scaling revenues, leaving less room for risk-taking,” he added.
“We need new players, startups, founders and investors, to drive innovation and develop solutions that benefit society.”
Shariman said MYChipStart serves as a national intervention aimed at nurturing Malaysian chip designers and building globally competitive companies.
The programme is designed to address key structural challenges in the semiconductor sector, including high entry costs, limited access to design tools and silicon, and fragmented development pathways.
It offers end-to-end support covering design enablement, prototyping, validation and commercialisation.
CREST’s programme director for market and industry development, Dr Muslim Mustapa, said the initiative provides a structured pathway for companies to turn ideas into commercially viable integrated circuit (IC) products.
“While Sarawak continues to advance in infrastructure and capabilities, building a sustainable semiconductor ecosystem ultimately comes down to people and execution,” he added.
“We have the talent and ideas, but what we need is a clear pathway to move from concept to market. That is what MYChipStart delivers.”
The roadshow also connected local talent, startups and SMEs with broader industry opportunities, reinforcing Sarawak’s readiness to participate more actively in the global semiconductor value chain.
Industry stakeholders stressed that sustained collaboration among government, academia, and private-sector players will be critical to building a resilient and competitive ecosystem.
MYChipStart, a government-supported initiative running from 2026 to 2030, offers funding of up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs, along with access to advanced design tools, fabrication platforms and technical expertise.
The programme also provides hiring incentives, mentorship, and commercialisation support to help companies bring products to market.
Applications for the first cohort close on April 30.
