1. Collaborative Research in Engineering, Science & Technology (CREST) and the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) have launched the Engineering Talent for Semiconductor Industry (ETSI) Programme, a flagship initiative to strengthen Malaysia’s semiconductor capabilities.
2. The programme, aligned with the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS) and anchored by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) and the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA), aims to develop a holistic talent pipeline spanning students, graduates, the existing workforce and researchers. It seeks to equip participants with critical skills across the semiconductor value chain to boost R&D, innovation and Malaysia’s competitiveness in the global E&E sector.
3. ETSI includes four key programmes: structured internships for students, job-ready training for graduates and the unemployed, reskilling and upskilling of the current workforce and access to CREST’s Semiconductor Centre of Excellence (CoE) for advanced training and R&D. The programme is designed to nurture homegrown engineers, facilitate knowledge transfer and strengthen industry–academia linkages.
4. The launch also saw the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between CREST and four academic partners: the Consortium of Electrical and Electronic Malaysian Universities hosted by Universiti Sains Malaysia (CEE-USM), the Collaborative Microelectronic Design Excellence Centre–USM (CEDEC-USM), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and the Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC). These partners will contribute research expertise, advanced design capabilities and workforce development initiatives.
5. ETSI forms part of Malaysia’s strategy to train 60,000 semiconductor engineers by 2030 under the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP 2030). It is also intended to support the ASEAN Framework for Integrated Semiconductor Supply Chain (AFISS) and strengthen the country’s R&D and knowledge transfer capabilities.
6. Officials highlighted that the semiconductor sector is central to Malaysia’s high-tech economy and that developing a skilled workforce will enable the country to play a leading role in the trillion-dollar global industry.
NEARLY 14,000 ENGINEERS TRAINED UNDER SEMICONDUCTOR SECTOR FOLLOWING NATIONAL STRATEGY LAUNCH
1. MALAYSIA has successfully trained and deployed 13,679 highly skilled engineers into its semiconductor industry since the launch of the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS) in May 2024, the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) disclosed today in response to a parliamentary question.
2. Deputy Minister Liew Chin Tong told the Dewan Rakyat today that the initiative, which identifies talent development as a critical pillar for long-term sustainability and competitiveness in the semiconductor sector, aims to reach a total of 60,000 skilled professionals by 2030 across integrated circuit (IC) design, advanced packaging, wafer fabrication, and research and development.
3. He highlighted that leading public universities, including Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Teknikal Malaysia (UTeM), and Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UNIMAP), are actively collaborating with technical training centres such as MIMOS, Advanced Semiconductor Academy of Malaysia (ASEM) – SIDEC, Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC), Penang Chip Design Academy – InvestPenang, SMD Chip Design Centre and Academy, ADTEC, and KISMEC.
4. A strategic partnership was formalised on 24 July 2025 when CREST (Collaborative Research in Engineering, Science & Technology), an MITI agency, together with the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp), signed a memorandum of understanding to drive talent development under the NSS framework.
5. This collaboration includes the Engineering Talent for Semiconductor Industry (ETSI) programme, targeting the upskilling of 15,000 students, graduates, industry workers, and researchers to strengthen innovation and Malaysia’s global competitiveness.
6. The government has also integrated initiatives such as the MyMAHIR Future Skills Talent Council (FSTC) led by the Ministry of Human Resources through TalentCorp, aligning semiconductor workforce development with industry needs in the Electrical and Electronics sector, Liew said.
7. “Under the 2026 Budget, additional incentives for talent development in semiconductors have been announced. HRD Corp plans to provide three million training opportunities, focusing on high-tech sectors including semiconductors.”
8. Liew explained that the K-Youth programme and Khazanah TVET training will continue to offer work-based training to 11,000 youths without degrees, with an allocation of RM200 million.
9. The Flagship IC Design Programme will train 2,500 globally competitive professionals in integrated circuit design, funded with RM340 million.
10. The Skills Development Fund Corporation (PTPK) will receive RM650 million to support TVET skills training for over 25,000 trainees in high-tech sectors such as semiconductors, while RM5 million has been allocated to train semiconductor instructors at ADTEC Taiping, Perak.
11. “In addition to government-led initiatives, multinational companies engaged in chip design, fabrication, and testing are collaborating closely with public universities to develop industry-aligned curricula, high-tech laboratories, industrial attachments, and applied research programmes focused on next-generation semiconductor technologies,” Liew said.
12. “The approach not only ensures a sustainable pipeline of skilled workers but also enhances Malaysia’s capacity to become a regional hub for globally competitive semiconductor talent,” he added.
Source:
https://www.businesstoday.com.my/2025/08/28/etsi-launch-positions-malaysia-as-regional-semiconductor-hub/
