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Strengthening Malaysia’s Semiconductor Future

CREST is honoured to be part of the X-FAB Sarawak 40K Fab Expansion Launch Ceremony — a MYR 3 billion investment that expands production capacity to 40,000 wafers per month.

This milestone not only creates new high-skilled job opportunities, but also strengthens Sarawak’s position in analog and mixed-signal semiconductor manufacturing, where X-FAB is a global leader.

Targeting applications in EV battery management, medical devices, and industrial automation, this initiative is further supported by the establishment of a 10-acre R&D facility at Samajaya Free Industrial Zone, positioning Sarawak as a hub for semiconductor design, system integration, and prototyping.

Together with strategic collaborations such as the UK CSA Catapult, CREST continues to support Malaysia’s aspiration to be at the forefront of global semiconductor innovation.

#CRESTMalaysia #Semiconductor #Innovation #Sarawak #XFAB #Malaysia ... See MoreSee Less

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CREST’s Dr. Shahrul Yazid Yahaya spoke at the Malaysia Association of Research Managers & Administrators (MyRMA) Symposium 2025 on “Partnership for Success: Strengthening Academia–Industry Collaboration” at the University of Nottingham Malaysia.

He shared how industry views partnerships with academia, highlighting the need for both sides to understand each other and align on shared goals despite different perspectives on R&D.

Dr. Shahrul also presented success stories from CREST’s grant programmes that have brought industry, academia, and government together. While much progress has been made, he emphasized the importance of building even deeper collaborations.

Thank you to MyRMA and the University of Nottingham Malaysia for engaging CREST in this important dialogue.

#CRESTMalaysia #ResearchAndDevelopment #Collaboration ... See MoreSee Less

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CREST and HRD Corp - Human Resource Development Corporation have launched the Engineering Talent for Semiconductor Industry (ETSI) Program under the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS) to power Malaysia’s rise as a global semiconductor hub. Anchored by Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, Malaysia and Kementerian Sumber Manusia, ETSI builds talent across the value chain, equipping students, graduates, and professionals with critical skills in design, R&D, and advanced technologies.

Strengthened by MoUs with the Consortium of Electrical and Electronic of Malaysian Universities (CEE), Collaborative Microelectronic Design Excellence Centre CEDEC Universiti Teknologi MARA - Media Rasmi and PSDC, the program deepens industry–academia collaboration and nurtures a future-ready talent pipeline.

We value the leadership of Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, Malaysia and the collaboration of HRD Corp - Human Resource Development Corporation, the Consortium of Electrical and Electronic of Malaysian Universities (CEE), Collaborative Microelectronic Design Excellence Centre CEDEC Universiti Teknologi MARA - Media Rasmi and PSDC,— whose commitment is shaping world-class talent and securing Malaysia’s place on the global stage.

#CrestMalaysia #Semiconductor #NSS #NationalSemiconductorStrategy #TalentDevelopment #Collaboration #FutureOfWork #SkillsForTomorrow #Innovation ... See MoreSee Less

CREST’s Dr. Shahrul Yazid Yahaya recently joined the Industry/Community Advisory Panel at Universiti Sains Malaysia's School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. During the panel discussion, he highlighted pressing R&D talent challenges in the semiconductor sector locally and globally and the importance of university–industry collaboration in shaping the next generation of innovators.

Thank you, Universiti Sains Malaysia for leading this vital conversation.

#CRESTMalaysia #USMMalaysia #ResearchAndDevelopment #Semiconductor #Collaboration #TalentDevelopment ... See MoreSee Less

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Bridging Academia and Industry for Malaysia’s Future

Yesterday, our CEO Mr. Jaffri Ibrahim had the pleasure of hosting the UTP x CREST Strategic Collaboration Workshop at our Penang office.

The workshop brought together Universiti Teknologi Petronas - Main Page — a proud CREST Core Member since 2017 — and our team for an open, forward-looking discussion on how both organisations can shape impactful programmes together.

From setting the vision in his opening remarks, Mr. Jaffri steered the workshop with a clear focus: identify meaningful areas of collaboration that will create value for talent, research, and industry in Malaysia.

Some key takeaways:
✅ Exploring Talent Development programs and future-proofing skills.
✅ Strengthening Collaborative R&D with shared expertise.
✅ Pinpointing strategic initiatives that can be scaled with structured programmes.

“Malaysia has the right ingredients to be a global player in advanced technologies — but the key is collaboration. By working hand-in-hand with partners like UTP, we are not only building talent, but also shaping the future of innovation and investment for our nation.” — Jaffri Ibrahim, CEO of CREST

This workshop with UTP is just one of many steps in our journey to create an ecosystem where talent thrives, innovation accelerates, and industry investment grows.

We extend our sincere appreciation to our partners at UTP under the leadership of Prof Ir Dr Hilmi Mukhtar for the commitment and collaborative spirit. Exciting times are ahead!

#CRESTMalaysia #UTP #StrategicCollaboration #AcademiaIndustry #TalentDevelopment #Semiconductor #InnovationEcosystem ... See MoreSee Less

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Inaugural ribbon-cutting at AMD’s gleaming new 209,000 sq ft office and engineering lab at GBS by the Sea, Bayan Lepas. CREST CEO Jaffri Ibrahim joined senior executives from AMD, alongside representatives from InvestPenang, Malaysian Investment Development Authority - MIDA, and Penang’s Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow 曹觀友, to celebrate the facility’s launch. The modern workspace and cutting-edge labs—designed to support 1,200+ employees—will bolster Penang’s leadership in next-generation high-performance, adaptive, and AI-driven computing development.

Since its establishment in 2012, CREST has been a key catalyst in fortifying Penang’s E&E (Electrical & Electronics) ecosystem. From its earliest days, CREST united industry players—such as AMD among its founding members—with public universities to drive impactful collaborative R&D. Over the years, CREST and AMD have contributed hand in hand to nurturing talent pipelines, elevating R&D capabilities, and cementing Penang’s status as a global semiconductor and innovation hub.

#CRESTMalaysia #NSS #MalaysiaSemiconductor #EandEIndustry #SemiconHub #AMD ... See MoreSee Less

We're thrilled to announce that CREST is the official ecosystem partner for the upcoming 2nd Annual Advanced Innovation & Manufacturing Asia Week 2025, on 11-12 September that convenes industry leaders, government stakeholders, investors, and technology innovators from across ASEAN, with the purpose of propelling the Advanced Manufacturing sector towards Sustainable Industry 5.0.

✅ HRD Corp - Human Resource Development Corporation Claimable (For Malaysia-Based Companies)
Take advantage of HRD Corp’s support to join AIM Asia Week 2025 as part of your talent development and capability-building initiatives:
✔️ Fully claimable VIP delegate passes under HRD Corp for Malaysian companies
✔️ Showcase & exhibition opportunities available under selected claimable packages
✔️ Access to cutting-edge insights and cross-border collaboration strategies
✔️ Minimal out-of-pocket cost while enhancing your team's readiness for Industry 5.0
✔️ AIM Asia Team will assist with HRD application and documentation end-to-end

✅ Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities
Do you have the cutting-edge solutions to address the challenges in the manufacturing sector? If so, this might be a strategic platform for you to:
✔️ Demonstrate your solutions to a regional audience
✔️ Build visibility and brand credibility
✔️ Engage in cross-border collaboration and market access dialogues
✔️ Position your company at the forefront of industrial transformation

Be part of the movement driving Malaysia’s leadership in Advanced Manufacturing and Sustainable Industry 5.0.

📩 For HRD application and showcase opportunities, contact: AIMASIA@HASHTAQS.COM | +65 9105 1051 (SG) | +6011 1616 3281 (MY)

🔗 For more info: advancedmanufacturingasia.com/

For more updates, follow Advanced Innovation & Manufacturing Asia on social media:
Facebook: Advanced Innovation & Manufacturing Asia
LinkedIn: Advanced Innovation & Manufacturing Asia

#CRESTMalaysia #AIMAsia #advancedmanufacturing #deeptechinnovation #AIMAsiaWeek2025 #AdvancedInnovation #Manufacturing #Innovation #Industry5Point0 #Sustainability #InnovationLeadership #technology #innovation #strategies #futureofmanufacturing #growth #businesstransformation #hrdclaimable #Sustainability #InnovationLeadership #technology #innovation #strategies #futureofmanufacturing #growth #businesstransformation ... See MoreSee Less

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We are honoured that the exchange of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between CREST and HRD Corp - Human Resource Development Corporation was witnessed by YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia; YB Senator Tengku Zafrul, Minister of Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, Malaysia; and YB Steven Sim Chee Keong 沈志强, Minister of Kementerian Sumber Manusia.

This landmark collaboration aims to strengthen Malaysia’s talent pipeline for the high-value Electrical & Electronics (E&E) industry, with a strong emphasis on the fast-growing semiconductor sector. The MoU, exchanged by Mr. Jaffri Ibrahim, Chief Executive Officer of CREST, and Dr. Syed Alwi Mohamed Sultan, Chief Executive of HRD Corp - Human Resource Development Corporation, marks a strategic step forward under the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS).

Anchored by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, Malaysia and the Kementerian Sumber Manusia, this partnership goes beyond a symbolic milestone—it is a catalyst driving Malaysia’s ambition to become a leading global semiconductor hub.

The exchange took place in conjunction with the first anniversary of the NSS at the ASEAN Semiconductor Summit 2025.

#CRESTMalaysia #HRDCorp #NSS #MalaysiaSemiconductor #TalentDevelopment #ASEANSemiconductorSummit #MITI #KESUMA #EandEIndustry #SemiconHub ... See MoreSee Less

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It’s a wrap!
CREST successfully organized the R&D Showcase 2025 on 19 June 2025 at our collaborative space in Penang. The event brought together industry leaders, university researchers, and the public to explore cutting-edge innovations in IC design, embedded systems, autonomous vehicles, smart farming,
and more.

Thank you to all collaborators and attendees for making this a success. We're already looking forward to the next one!
#CREST #RNDShowcase #Innovation #Semiconductor #AI #IoT #Collaboration #NIMP2030 #NSS #TechForImpact ... See MoreSee Less

An honour to host Infineon Malaysia for a deep dive into advancing the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS), in alignment with the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030.

Infineon’s RM30.1 billion investment—anchored by the world’s largest 200mm SiC wafer fab in Malaysia—will:

✅ Strengthen Malaysia’s position in the global semiconductor value chain and R&D ecosystem
✅ Drive innovation and accelerate industrial transformation
✅ Create 1,500 high-skilled jobs for Malaysians

This milestone reflects the urgent need for strong collaboration among Industry, Government, and Academia— aligning and synergizing initiatives, especially in building a robust talent pipeline of a high-skilled semiconductor workforce to power Malaysia’s future economy.

Together, we are enabling a resilient, innovative, and high-tech nation.

#crestpenang #Infineonon #NSS #NIMP2030 #research #TalentDevelopment ... See MoreSee Less

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We were honored to host the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) for a meaningful engagement session with our industry partners, CREST members, and collaborators.

The session began with valuable insights from MISA, followed by a dynamic roundtable discussion focused on unlocking new opportunities for capital access and market expansion in the Middle East.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to making the session both insightful and impactful. ... See MoreSee Less

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We had an amazing turnout at our recent Industrial Tech Talk Session, where we explored the global semiconductor design landscape with our distinguished guests from Brazil – Hamilton Mendes, Director of Semiconductors, Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology, Augusto Almeida and Matheus Souza, ChipInventor.

Participants also enjoyed a highly interactive session featuring hands-on demos of electronic design automation (EDA) tools and prototyping, experiencing firsthand how ChipInventor streamlines the journey from concept to chip fabrication.

A big thank you to David Chai, AWS Malaysia, our industry partners and CREST members for making it such an insightful and engaging event. ... See MoreSee Less

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CREST is pleased to host the Closing and Award Ceremony for the Upskilling Grant for Aerospace and Medical Devices Industries, alongside Malaysia Aerospace Industry Association (MAIA) and Association of Malaysian Medical Industries (AMMI) marking the success of a transformative initiative that has strengthened Malaysia’s high-value industries. In collaboration with both organisations, the programme impacted over 3,000 industry professionals and students, equipping them with the expertise needed to drive innovation and competitiveness.

A heartfelt thank you to YBhg. Datuk Hanafi Sakri, Deputy Secretary General (Industry), Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, Malaysia; Naguib Mohd Nor, President of MAIA; Mr Samuel Pooranakaran, Vice Chairman of AMMI; and all distinguished guests for joining us in celebrating this milestone. ... See MoreSee Less

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CREST is honored to host a Dialogue Session with Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and his team today, focusing on driving the growth of the E&E sector and in particular for the SMEs. The discussion emphasized the importance of collaboration in addressing industry challenges, fostering innovation, and accelerating digital transformation.

Others in attendance included Digital Penang, CREST board members, and Dassault Systèmes, alongside key industry stakeholders. By working together, we aim to enhance Malaysia’s competitiveness in the global semiconductor ecosystem and create new opportunities for local businesses. www.buletinmutiara.com/collaboration-key-to-overcoming-industry-challenges-says-chow/

#smedevelopment #crestmy #penang #nsstf #semiconductor ... See MoreSee Less

Dr Sideq Salleh represented CREST at the AMMI Medtech Professional Certification Program Completion Ceremony for the southern region, celebrating 57 participants who completed the programs in Manufacturing Excellence and Quality Assurance.

Funded by the CREST-managed Upskilling Grant for Aerospace and Medical Devices Industries and delivered in collaboration with Association of Malaysian Medical Industries, the program equipped medical device professionals with vital knowledge and skills to advance the industry.

#crestmalaysia #medicaldevices #MedTech #upskilling #talentdevelopment ... See MoreSee Less