Strategic national hub to train 1,000 IC design engineers in AI architecture, advanced packaging, and high-speed memory technologies

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PENANG, 10 JULY 2025 – The Penang State Government today unveiled the Penang Chip Design Academy (PCDA), a cornerstone initiative positioned to reshape Malaysia’s future in integrated circuit (IC) design. From AI chips and high-speed memory to edge computing technologies, PCDA builds upstream design capabilities essential for global semiconductor leadership. With a mission to train 1,000 IC design engineers, the academy reinforces Penang’s emergence as a Southeast Asian IC design epicentre — and affirms Malaysia’s readiness to lead next-generation chip innovation on the global stage.

PCDA is one of three strategic pillars under the Penang Silicon Design @5KM+ initiative, led by InvestPenang to build a tightly integrated front-end innovation ecosystem. The initiative supports Malaysia’s broader ambition to become a regional leader in upstream semiconductor capabilities — in full alignment with the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS) and the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030).

Spearheaded in partnership with the Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC), PCDA is built on a strong government–industry–academia collaboration model. Its training programmes are designed by industry, for industry, and focus on four core IC design disciplines: Physical Design, Design Verification, Custom Layout, and Analog Design. The courses target both fresh graduates and existing engineers, offering a suite of intensive 4- to 9-week IC Design Mastery Courses. These are delivered by seasoned experts with more than two decades of hands-on experience in global semiconductor companies, ensuring real-world relevance and immediate applicability in high-impact roles. The first cohort began training on 16 June 2025.

In response to growing industry demand for next-generation chip innovation, the academy will also offer advanced upskilling in critical technologies shaping tomorrow’s semiconductor landscape. Its training modules cover high-speed interconnects such as Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) and Compute Express Link (CXL), as well as key memory technologies including Double Data Rate (DDR) and High Bandwidth Memory (HBM). Additional future-tech modules — including Advanced Packaging, AI software, and emulation — will equip engineers to navigate complex design cycles, optimise system-level performance, and contribute to the development of Malaysia’s own chip architectures for global markets.

“The opening of the Penang Chip Design Academy is a strategic leap forward in Malaysia’s semiconductor ambition. It sends a strong signal to global investors that Penang is not only home to world-class manufacturing, but is fast becoming a hub for front-end IC design innovation — powered by a highly skilled, AI-ready local talent pool. This is how we begin realising our vision of ‘Made-by-Malaysia’ chips — designed, developed, and driven by Penang talent for the world,” said YAB Tuan Chow Kon Yeow, Chief Minister of Penang, who officiated the launch.

Looking ahead, PCDA is poised to power the next phase of Penang’s semiconductor leadership by producing a robust, AI-ready talent pipeline. This will directly support the growth of IC design companies and catalyse Malaysia’s ambition to become a global player in high-value chip development — from design to deployment.

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About InvestPenang
InvestPenang is the Penang State Government’s principal agency for the promotion of investment. Its objectives are to develop and sustain Penang’s economy by enhancing and continuously supporting business activities in the State through foreign and local investments, including spawning viable new growth centers. To realise its objectives, InvestPenang also runs initiatives like the SMART Penang Center (providing assistance to SMEs), Penang CAT Center (for talent attraction and retention), and Global Business Services (GBS) Focus Group (promoting and developing digital economy) and Penang Silicon Design @5km+ (establishing a unique and interconnected ecosystem for IC design and technology enterprises). For more information, please visit https://investpenang.gov.my/ and follow InvestPenang’s social media channels: Facebook; LinkedIn; WhatsApp Channel and TikTok.

About “Penang Silicon Design @5km+” Initiative
The “Penang Silicon Design @5km+” initiative was launched by Penang State Government, through its lead agency, InvestPenang. Aligning with National Semiconductor Strategy, this initiative is a transformative collaboration between government, academia and industry, aims to drive innovation, accelerate the AI revolution and position Malaysia as a leading global force to provide a complete and end-to-end solution. The “Penang Silicon Design @5km+” initiative consists of three key components: (1) Penang IC Design & Digital Park @Bayan Lepas; (2) Penang Chip Design Academy @PSDC; and (3) Silicon Research & Incubation Space @GBS TechSpace. For more information, please visit https://investpenang.gov.my/.

About Penang Skills Development Centre
The PSDC (Penang Skills Development Centre) was established in 1989 and is the first tripartite, industry-led skills training and education centre in Malaysia. Since its inception, the PSDC has grown phenomenally to become the premier learning institution in the country, dedicated to meet the immediate human resource needs of the business community and to support and strengthen business requirements. It has attained both national and international recognition as a truly successful example of shared learning and a model institution for human resource development to be emulated within and beyond Malaysia.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Elaine Cheah / Arief Ferdaus
elaine@investpenang.gov.my / arief@investpenang.gov.my
InvestPenang
T: +604-646 8833

“Penang Silicon Design @5km+” Initiative
Tun Qurratul Ain / Ong Mee Choo
ain@investpenang.gov.my / meechoo@investpenang.gov.my
T: +604-646 8833

Penang Skills Development Centre
Rajasegar Govindasamy
rajasegar@psdc.org.my
T: +6019-456 7182