MIRI: Sarawak’s efforts to cultivate a future-ready semiconductor workforce took a major leap forward as SMD Semiconductor successfully concluded the IC Design Make-A-Thon 2025 at Curtin University Malaysia here, marking a high-impact stop in a state-wide talent development tour.
The three-day event, which drew 114 registrations from universities and secondary schools across Miri Division, culminated in a real-world design challenge – prototyping a heart rate monitor system using industry-standard tools and components.
Forty students, evenly split between secondary school and university levels, were selected and grouped into ten mixed teams, encouraging cross-level collaboration.
Over the course of the challenge, they gained hands-on experience in circuit design, prototyping, and the use of key instruments such as oscilloscopes, soldering tools, and function generators.
Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development II, Datuk Francis Harden Hollis, said programmes like IC Design Make-A-Thon reveal what becomes possible when we invest early in talent development.
“They offer more than technical exposure; they build confidence, creativity, and the mindset to solve real-world problems,” he said.
A unique strength of the programme lies in the direct involvement of SMD Semiconductor engineers, who served both as mentors and judges.
Their technical coaching during the sessions and feedback on final prototypes gave students a rare window into current industry practices.
Chief Executive Officer of SMD Semiconductor, Shariman Jamil, said by embedding real industry challenges into learning experiences, the students are given early exposure to what the future of electronics design demands.
“This is how we build not just skills, but industry-ready innovators who will drive Sarawak’s role in the global semiconductor space,” said Shariman.
The top teams are as follows: Champion – Team SainsRian (RM5,000); First Runner-Up – Team 8Feet (RM3,000); Second Runner-Up – Team D.A.D.S (RM1,500); and People’s Choice Award – Team SANDS (RM800).
Running concurrently with the Make-A-Thon was STEM Trailblazers 2025, Sarawak’s largest STEM and robotics showcase.
SMD’s exhibition booth provided interactive demos and hands-on activities to engage students from primary to tertiary levels, highlighting the career potential in the semiconductor industry.
The IC Design Make-A-Thon series continues with upcoming editions in Sibu (July 24-26) and Kuching (August 21-23), as SMD extends its commitment to bringing industry-relevant learning to classrooms across Sarawak.
