KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) today hosted the MIDA-GreatAsic Value Chain Programme, highlighting a strategic collaboration between GreatAsic Technology Sdn Bhd and Xenith Technology (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd to strengthen Malaysia’s semiconductor design capabilities.
GreatAsic Technology is a local integrated circuit (IC) design company, while Xenith Technology (Malaysia) is the Malaysian unit of China-based Xenith Technology, an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) System-on-Chip (SoC) solutions and systems company.
According to Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid, Malaysia aims to strengthen its position in the semiconductor industry by fostering innovation, developing talent and advancing technology.
"It (the collaboration) reflects confidence in Malaysian talent, demonstrates the growing capability of our local ecosystem and shows how strategic partnerships can translate national ambition into real business outcomes.
"Just as importantly, it is proof that the initiatives made by the government and industry to strengthen Malaysia's semiconductor ecosystem are beginning to deliver tangible returns,” he said in his speech.
He said geopolitical shifts, supply chain realignments and increasing competition for technology leadership are reshaping the global semiconductor industry, presenting opportunities for Malaysia to expand into higher-value segments of the industry.
"For Malaysia, this transformation presents a significant opportunity. We have already established ourselves as a trusted and capable manufacturing hub in the global semiconductor ecosystem, and that strength gives us a strong foundation.
"But the next step is equally important, which is to build on that foundation and move further up the value chain, from manufacturing technology to where value is created and designed,” said Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim.
GreatAsic founder and chief executive officer Ong Chin Hu said the collaboration goes beyond a commercial undertaking, serving as an opportunity to demonstrate that a Malaysian company, backed by local engineering talent, is capable of delivering complex and mission-critical IC design solutions for the global market.
"Initiatives like this connect national ambition with real commercial projects, allowing local companies and engineers to build capabilities through execution, not only through aspiration,” he said.
Ong said GreatAsic would contribute to the development of a next-generation five-nanometre ADAS SoC for Xenith.
"This chip is being designed for demanding Level 4 autonomous driving applications at the five-nanometre process technology node. The standards for performance, power efficiency, reliability and functional safety are extremely high.
"Success will require discipline, execution, close collaboration and an uncompromising commitment to quality, but the most meaningful outcome will be the capabilities we build in Malaysia,” he said.
The MIDA-GreatAsic Value Chain Programme was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry; the Ministry of Economy; the Malaysian Institute of Microelectronic Systems; the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority; and the Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation.
The programme also featured a fireside chat #BorakBersamaCEOMIDA titled "Developing Malaysia’s Future Semiconductor Workforce”, involving 20 Malaysian engineers recruited by GreatAsic.
The session focused on workforce development and provided insights into the engineers’ involvement in semiconductor design projects. - Bernama
