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Penang, November 13, 2026 – InvestPenang today marked a significant milestone under the Penang ATE Campus, with the onboarding of 17 Technology Collaborators to support the development of its Shared Lab and talent development programmes. The Shared Lab, targeted for launch in the first quarter of 2027 at Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC), will serve as an important enabler in accelerating the co-development, integration and validation of Malaysian ATE solutions within a single, controlled and trusted ecosystem.

Spearheaded by InvestPenang with the strong support of PSDC, the Shared Lab is envisioned as a common facility providing local ATE companies with access to relevant technologies, equipment, software and technical expertise across different stages of ATE development. By bringing together complementary capabilities and resources, the facility aims to help local companies bridge technological gaps, strengthen their product development capabilities and develop solutions that meet actual industry requirements. 

The 17 Technology Collaborators bring together expertise across four key stages of the ATE development process. For Concept and Design Development, the collaborators are Dassault Systèmes, E-Plan, GSH Precision Technology, IME Technology and Projet Technology. Assembly, Integration and Virtual Commissioning will be supported by Beckhoff Automation, Delta Electronics Solutions, Mitsubishi, Rockwell Automation and Siemens. Meanwhile, Reliability and Compliance Certification will be supported by MIMOS, QAV Technologies, SIRIM QAS International, TÜV SÜD Malaysia and UL. Test Equipment Services will be supported by Contacthings and Electro Rent.

Beyond contributing to the Shared Lab’s technical capabilities, the Technology Collaborators will also play an important role in talent development. Through industry engagement, knowledge sharing and exposure to relevant technologies and industry practices, they will help nurture the specialised technical skills and competencies required by the local ATE industry. 

The Chief Minister of Penang, the Right Honourable Mr Chow Kon Yeow, said, “The participation of these 17 Technology Collaborators is an important step towards strengthening the foundations of our local ATE industry. Their expertise and resources will support the development of the Shared Lab, providing local ATE companies with access to the technologies and capabilities needed throughout the product development process. Equally important is their contribution to talent development through knowledge sharing and technical engagement. By strengthening both our industrial capabilities and human capital, we can better position our local companies and workforce to move up the value chain and develop more competitive Malaysian ATE solutions.”

Beyond the onboarding of 17 Technology Collaborators, the event also marked the kick-off of a pilot project with Boston Scientific, representing the 12th MoU established under the Penang ATE Campus to facilitate pilot projects and explore localisation opportunities between multinational corporations (MNCs) and local ATE companies.

The MoU exchanges with Technology Collaborators and Boston Scientific were witnessed by the Right Honourable Mr Chow Kon Yeow, Chief Minister of Penang at the third closed-door collaboration workshop under the Penang ATE Campus. 

Organised by InvestPenang with Association of Malaysian Medical Industries (AMMI) as the supporting partner, the workshop brought together 10 MNCs and local companies from the MedTech sector alongside 16 local ATE companies. It provided a platform for local ATE players to gain deeper insights into industry requirements and for MedTech companies to explore potential localisation and collaboration opportunities.

During the session, MedTech companies including Boston Scientific and Teleflex shared their localisation opportunities, while B. Braun and Dexcom highlighted their past experience working with the local ATE companies. On top of that, local ATE companies, including Bioenergy Projects, Chin Tech EC, MMS, NSW Automation, Sophic Automation, TT Vision Technologies and ViTrox, presented their capabilities to potential industry partners. These engagements are intended to facilitate meaningful industry connections and identify opportunities for local companies to support MNC operations through locally developed ATE solutions.

The MedTech-focused workshop builds on two earlier collaboration workshops held in February and March 2026, which primarily focused on the semiconductor and electrical and electronics (E&E) sectors. The expansion into MedTech reflects the initiative’s broader approach to engaging different manufacturing industries and identifying opportunities for local ATE capabilities to support their evolving requirements. 

To support the development of the Penang ATE Campus, the Federal and Penang State Government have allocated RM25 million funding allocation under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13) and 10 acres of industrial land valued at approximately RM40 million respectively. 

According to Grand View Research, the global automated test equipment market was valued at USD 8.1 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow from USD 8.4 billion in 2026 to USD 12.0 billion by 2033, at a CAGR of 5.2%, with Asia Pacific accounting for more than half of the global market.

Penang is home to more than 30 local ATE companies, at least 10 of which are listed on Bursa Malaysia, with a combined market capitalisation of approximately RM40 billion. The ecosystem is further supported by more than 80 ecosystem partners, including precision engineering companies. 

Reflecting the strength of this sector, the Machinery and Equipment sector has remained among the top three contributors to Penang’s approved manufacturing investments since 2020, recording RM30 billion between 2020 and 1H2026, representing over 40% of Malaysia’s total approved investments in the sector during the same period.

Through the Penang ATE Campus, the State aims to deepen industry collaboration, strengthen local technological capabilities and enhance supply chain resilience. The initiative also supports the National Semiconductor Strategy’s ambition to nurture more Malaysian technology champions by creating structured opportunities for local companies to co-develop, qualify and scale their solutions with global manufacturers, ultimately enabling first-customer deployment in real production environments.

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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), Global Business Services (GBS) Focus Group (promoting and developing digital economy), Penang Silicon Design @5km+ (establishing a unique and interconnected ecosystem for IC design and technology enterprises), and Malaysia ATE Campus in Penang (accelerating the co‑development, qualification, and scaling of Malaysian ATE solutions by enabling first-customer deployment). For more information, please visit https://investpenang.gov.my/ and follow InvestPenang’s social media channels: Facebook; LinkedIn; WhatsApp Channel and TikTok.

About Penang ATE Campus Initiative
The Penang Automation, Test and Equipment (ATE) Campus, spearheaded by InvestPenang, is established as a strategic initiative aimed at positioning the ATE sector and as the next engine for Malaysia’s industrial transformation. It aims to accelerate the co‑development, qualification, and scaling of Malaysian ATE solutions by enabling first-customer deployment through structured collaboration between local companies and global manufacturers, within a trusted and standards-driven ecosystem that reduces deployment risk and supports adoption in real production environments. Aligned with the National Semiconductor Strategy, this initiative represents a transformative collaboration between government, academia and industry to drive technological advancement, deepen local capabilities and enhance supply chain resilience.

For media queries, please contact:
InvestPenang
Elaine Cheah / Nur Aliana Binti Azami
elaine@investpenang.gov.my / aliana@investpenang.gov.my
T: +604 646 8833

Penang ATE Campus Initiative
William Chen
william@investpenang.gov.my 
T: +604-646 8833