Click here to view more photos

PENANG, 1 OCTOBER 2025 – Penang showcased its growing integrated circuit (IC) design capabilities and long-standing ties with Japan during its participation in World EXPO 2025 Osaka, led by the Right Honourable Chief Minister of Penang, Mr. Chow Kon Yeow. Alongside, InvestPenang also carried out business engagements in Tokyo and Kansai to promote Penang’s IC design capabilities, attract strategic partnerships, and advance the objectives of the Penang Silicon Design @5KM+ (PSD@5KM+) initiative.

One of the key highlights at the World EXPO 2025 Osaka was the “Penang, Malaysia Business Seminar” organised by InvestPenang, in collaboration with JETRO at the Malaysia Pavilion on 24 September 2025. With the theme “Penang: Gateway to Southeast Asia’s Innovation Economy,” the seminar introduced Penang’s strengths as a hub for innovation and technology, while showcasing homegrown IC design companies under the PSD@5KM+ initiative. Over 30 Japanese delegates attended the business seminar.

During the seminar, Dato’ Loo Lee Lian, CEO of InvestPenang shared an overview of Penang’s industrial landscape and its offerings to Japanese businesses. Alongside, four Penang-based IC design firms — Oppstar Technology, Silicon X, SkyeChip, and Tenasic Technology — showcased Malaysia’s breadth of semiconductor expertise. 

Collectively, these companies highlighted the unique opportunities for Japanese firms to co-innovate with Malaysia in next-generation chip design, while showcasing the country’s growing ability to move up the semiconductor value chain and compete globally. This enhances Penang’s image as a true global player in the IC design industry.

The Right Honourable Chief Minister of Penang, Mr. Chow Kon Yeow, mentioned in his speech at the seminar, “Japan has always been one of Penang’s closest partners. We hope to open new avenues of collaboration — especially in semiconductor design, digital innovation, and co-development projects — so that Penang and Japan can grow together.”

Complementing the seminar, InvestPenang and Penang’s IC design firms also joined business matching sessions organised by MATRADE to connect with prospective Japanese partners. A networking dinner hosted by InvestPenang brought together the Chief Minister of Penang, Malaysia and Japanese government agencies and associations, Japanese business leaders, and the Penang delegation for meaningful exchanges on future collaboration.

Beyond participating in World EXPO 2025 Osaka, InvestPenang also organised a series of targeted visits and business engagements in Kansai and Tokyo. These included nine visits to Japanese government-related organisation – JETRO Tokyo; and Japanese IC design start-ups and leading corporations in semiconductor industry who are looking to explore collaboration with Penang. These engagements aimed to connect with key stakeholders in Japan’s semiconductor ecosystem and to showcase Penang’s IC design capabilities and investment-readiness, and facilitate strategic collaborations under PSD@5KM+ initiative.

Penang’s participation at World EXPO 2025 Osaka, complemented by its investment mission in Japan, reaffirmed the state’s growing IC design capabilities and its deep economic ties with Japan. By advancing new opportunities in semiconductor design, technology, and co-innovation, Penang aims to strengthen its position as a trusted partner for Japan in Southeast Asia’s dynamic innovation economy.

END

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), 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/.

For media enquiries, please contact:

InvestPenang 
Elaine Cheah / Arief Ferdaus
elaine@investpenang.gov.my / arief@investpenang.gov.my  
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