Sarawak Steps Up Semiconductor Ambitions With MYChipStart Push
KUCHING: With the MYChipStart Sarawak Region Roadshow, a strategic programme aimed at lowering entry barriers for integrated circuit (IC) design, Sarawak is stepping up its efforts to become a leading hub for semiconductor innovation.
The campaign, held through a partnership between SMD Semiconductor and CREST, acts as a national intervention to support regional chip designers and build businesses that can compete on a worldwide scale.
MYChipStart offers complete support from prototyping to market launch by filling key structural gaps like high entry costs and restricted tool access.
Chief Executive Officer of SMD Semiconductor Shariman Jamil emphasised that the programme acts as a national intervention to support regional chip designers and build globally competitive business.
“A significant gap in innovation has emerged as large companies focus on scaling revenues, leaving less room for risk taking.
“As a result, innovation becomes stagnant. Therefore, we need new heroes to innovate new solutions that benefit humankind.
“These heroes are the startups, the founders, the venture capitals, and angel investors. At SMD, we see it as our role to bridge this gap, by creating platforms that expose startups, SMEs, innovation-driven companies, engineers, and the wider community to the vast potential within semiconductor design and innovation,” he said in a statement on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Programme Director at CREST Dr Muslim Mustapa said the implementation of concepts within a sustainable ecosystem is currently the main focus.
“While Sarawak continues to advance in infrastructure and capabilities, building a sustainable semiconductor ecosystem comes down to people and execution.
“We have the ideas and the talent, what we need is a clear pathway to start and to finish. That is what MYChipStart is here to deliver,” he said.
Held from 2026 to 2030, MYChipStart is a government-backed initiative designed to provide structure support throughout the IC development lifecycle, spanning from design readiness to prototype realisation and eventual commercialisation. -UKASnews
