Latest news with #InvestPenang
The Sun
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
3REN secures incentives from InvestPenang to boost IC capabilities
PETALING JAYA: 3REN Bhd, a provider of automation solutions and engineering services, announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Sophic Automation Sdn Bhd, has signed an agreement with Invest-In-Penang Bhd (InvestPenang) to accept an incentive package aimed at strengthening its integrated circuit (IC) design and development capabilities. This agreement solidifies the partnership between the parties, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding in December 2024 to collectively collaborate on the Penang Silicon Design @5km+ (PSD@5km+) initiative. The incentive package awarded to 3REN includes monetary subsidies, grants and payments for facilities and services provided by participating stakeholders, effective until May 2028. The group plans to strategically leverage these incentives to make meaningful contributions to the growth of Malaysia's semiconductor and IC design and development ecosystem, while driving further innovation in the sector. 3REN executive director and CEO Koh Dim Kuan said having worked alongside reputable counterparties and global players in the IC industry, the company is exceptionally proud to solidify its partnership with InvestPenang through PSD@5km+. 'This initiative provides us with valuable opportunities to collaborate with local fabless IC design firms, EDA tool providers and academic institutions, and enhances our access to cutting-edge IC design and development technologies. 'It also connects us with like-minded, visionary organisations in a united effort to position Malaysia at the forefront of the global semiconductor landscape. 'This collaboration further reflects our strong commitment to nurturing future talent, as the Group strategically advances up the semiconductor value chain, building on its solid foundation in automation solutions and engineering services,' he said.
Barnama
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- Barnama
3REN Firms Up Partnership With InvestPenang On Penang Silicon Design @5km+ Initiative
REGION - NORTHERN > NEWS GEORGE TOWN, July 18 (Bernama) -- 3REN Bhd's subsidiary, Sophic Automation Sdn Bhd, has signed an agreement with Invest-In-Penang Bhd (InvestPenang) to accept an incentive package aimed at enhancing its integrated circuit (IC) design and development capabilities, as well as transforming its ideas into IC products. The automation solutions and engineering services provider said in a statement today that the agreement further strengthens the partnership between the two parties, following the memorandum of understanding signed in December 2024 to collaborate on the Penang Silicon Design @5km+ (PSD@5km+) initiative. 'The incentive package granted to 3REN includes monetary subsidies, grants, or payments for facilities and services provided by stakeholders under the agreement for a period of three years until May 2028. bootstrap slideshow 'The group intends to strategically utilise these incentives to contribute to and foster further innovation within Malaysia's semiconductor and IC design and development ecosystem,' it said. Executive director and chief executive officer Koh Dim Kuan said the initiative offers valuable opportunities to collaborate with local fabless IC design firms, electronic design automation tool providers, and academic institutions, while improving access to cutting-edge IC design and development technologies. 'Having worked alongside reputable counterparties and global players in the IC industry, we are exceptionally proud to solidify our partnership with InvestPenang through the PSD@5km+ initiative. 'This collaboration further reflects our strong commitment to nurturing future talent, as the group strategically advances up the semiconductor value chain, building on its solid foundation in automation solutions and engineering services,' he said. On Dec 7 last year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim launched the PSD@5km+ initiative and announced an allocation of RM50 million to support it. The initiative is spearheaded by the Penang government through its agency, InvestPenang, to revolutionise Malaysia's semiconductor industry in line with the National Semiconductor Strategy.
New Straits Times
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
3REN, InvestPenang formalise integrated circuit design collaboration
KUALA LUMPUR: 3REN Bhd, via its unit Sophic Automation Sdn Bhd, has signed an agreement with Invest-In-Penang Bhd (InvestPenang) to receive an incentive package aimed at boosting its integrated circuit (IC) design and development capabilities. The deal follows an earlier memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the two parties in December 2024, under the Penang Silicon Design @5km+ initiative (PSD@5km+). 3REN said the package includes monetary subsidies, grants, and service-related payments from key stakeholders, effective for three years until May 2028. "The company intends to strategically utilise these incentives to collectively play its part and foster further innovation within Malaysia's semiconductor and integrated chip design and development ecosystem," it said in a statement. Executive director and chief executive officer Koh Dim Kuan said the company's partnership with InvestPenang through the PSD@5km+ initiative aligns with its track record of working with reputable counterparties and global players in the IC industry. Koh added it also provides valuable opportunities to collaborate with local fabless IC design firms, electronic design automation tool providers and academic institutions, and enhances its access to cutting-edge IC design and development technologies. "It also connects us with like-minded, visionary organisations in a united effort to position Malaysia at the forefront of the global semiconductor landscape. "This collaboration further reflects our strong commitment to nurturing future talent, as the company strategically advances up the semiconductor value chain, building on its solid foundation in automation solutions and engineering services," he added.
The Star
13-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Nurturing future chip designers in Penang
Academy in Bayan Lepas targets 1,000 graduates in five years THE Penang Chip Design Academy (PCDA) plans to train more than 1,000 graduates and working professionals in integrated circuit (IC) design-related fields over the next five years. Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC) chairman Solomon Lorthu said at present the PCDA lab, located within the centre in Bayan Lepas, can accommodate up to 25 students with four courses offered. 'PSDC is committed to delivering a comprehensive chip design talent cultivation programme with the goal of upskilling and reskilling at least 1,000 fresh graduates and working professionals in IC design-related fields over the next five years. 'We are proud to co-fund this special initiative by providing the space and the setting up of a fully equipped PCDA Lab. 'This lab can accommodate up to 25 participants, is powered by state-of-the-art systems and the leading electronic design automation software, Synopsys. 'As a start, the academy offers four courses – Physical Design, Design Verification, Analog Design and Custom Layout. 'These courses are designed and crafted referencing the syllabus by Synopsys IC Design and Education Programme. 'The duration of these programmes ranges between four to eight weeks,' he said at the opening ceremony of the academy. Solomon said more programmes would be added in due course, with the pilot class on custom layout already underway since June 16 and with an inaugural batch of 14 trainees from various institutions. He said such programmes were designed not just to train but to bridge the gap between academia and industry by equipping people with hands-on experience and job-ready skills. According to Solomon, the initiative marks a major milestone in PSDC's efforts to accelerate the development of the IC design sector in the country. 'The idea behind the PCDA began in early 2024, when InvestPenang, speaking to industry leaders and taking stock of the evolving industry landscape, approached PSDC to establish a dedicated training centre to support the growing needs of the IC design ecosystem. 'Looking ahead, PSDC remains committed to growing the talent pool in IC design and aligning with the vision to be the preferred investment destination and hub for the global semiconductor industry,' he added. Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, present at the ceremony, said PCDA was among three strategic pillars under the Penang Silicon Design @5KM+ initiative through its lead agency, InvestPenang, aligned with the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS). The two other pillars are Penang IC Design & Digital Park located at Bayan Lepas and Silicon Research & Incubation Space at GBS TechSpace. He said the initiative – a collaboration between government, academia and industry – aimed to accelerate the Al revolution and position Malaysia as a leader in providing end-to-end solutions. 'The academy is positioned to reshape the country's future in IC design. 'From artificial intelligence chips and high-speed memory to edge computing technologies, PCDA builds upstream design capabilities essential for global semiconductor leadership. 'The academy reinforces Penang's emergence as a South-East Asian IC design epicentre and affirms Malaysia's readiness to lead next-generation chip innovation on the global stage. He said initiative aims to build a tightly integrated front-end innovation ecosystem. 'The Penang Silicon Design @5KM+ initiative supports Malaysia's broader ambition to become a regional leader in upstream semiconductor capabilities in full alignment with the NSS and the New Industrial Master Plan 2030.' With a complete ecosystem for IC design and pool of talent ready in the industry, Chow said it would help attract more foreign investors to enhance their operations. In response to growing industry demand for next-generation chip innovation, Chow said the academy would also offer advanced upskilling in critical technologies of the semiconductor landscape. He also added that future-tech modules, including Advanced Packaging, AI software and emulation, would 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. Also present at the launch was InvestPenang chief executive officer Datuk Loo Lee Lian and PSDC chief executive officer Dr Hari Narayanan.
The Star
25-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
RM6.7bil investment boost for Penang in first quarter
79% of investments in Penang are directed to the electrical and electronics sector. — Filepic PENANG has recorded RM6.7bil in approved manufacturing investment in the first quarter of the year, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow says. He said the state continued to show resilience and competitiveness as a leading investment destination amid global uncertainties and persistent trade tensions. 'The RM6.7bil secured in approved manufacturing investments represented 22% of Malaysia's total. Penang is the second highest contributor among all states. 'The investments stem from 36 approved manufacturing projects and are expected to create 4,577 new job opportunities, further strengthening Penang's position as an economic powerhouse,' he said during a press conference at Komtar. Of the total investments, Chow said 90%, or RM6.1bil, came from foreign sources. This, he said, reaffirmed Penang's position as a trusted global hub for advanced manufacturing and innovation. He added that the breakdown further reflected the state's industrial strength, with 79% of the investments directed to the electrical and electronics (E&E) sector and 15% to machinery and equipment. Chow says the investments in Penang underscore continued trust from the world's leading technology players. Chow noted that the United States led foreign investments with RM2.4bil, followed by Hong Kong (RM1.3bil) and Taiwan (RM1.1bil). The Padang Kota assemblyman said he remained optimistic about Penang's medium-to-long-term investment prospects, despite the uncertainties caused by US tariffs. 'InvestPenang, the state's investment promotion agency, continues to receive strong interest from global investors, both for new investments and reinvestments in Penang. 'We are currently filtering through these investor enquiries and hope they will yield positive results once due diligence is completed. 'This sustained interest echoes Penang's strong performance in 2024, with Singapore (RM4bil), the United States (RM2.9bil) and Taiwan (RM2.1bil) ranked as Penang's top investing economies,' said Chow. This, he noted, underscored continued trust from the world's leading technology players. He said the upward momentum was the result of Penang's consistent focus on building a resilient, innovation-driven economy. 'Our strategic positioning in the global supply chain is strengthened by the alignment of forward-looking policies, industrial infrastructure and a highly skilled talent pool. 'While we continue to excel in manufacturing, Penang is now advancing into high-value domains such as integrated circuit design, advanced packaging as well as precision equipment manufacturing to support the National Semiconductor Strategy. 'At the same time, we are nurturing emerging sectors, including medical technology and global business services to ensure broader, more sustainable growth,' he said. Chow said Penang remained firmly committed to unlocking new frontiers of economic opportunity. 'Our priorities are clear – to cultivate innovation, empower our workforce and build a resilient ecosystem that welcomes high-impact, transformative investments,' he added.
