Malaysia's Plan to Build 60,000 Semiconductor Experts by 2030

Malaysia is actively accelerating efforts to produce 60,000 highly skilled professionals in the semiconductor sector by the year 2030. This ambitious target aligns with the country's National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS) and the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030), positioning Malaysia as a key player in the global semiconductor industry.

Background and Strategic Importance

The semiconductor industry is critical to Malaysia's economic transformation, enabling the country to move up the value chain in high-tech manufacturing. Major multinational corporations such as Nvidia, Intel, and Texas Instruments have made significant investments in Malaysia, expanding production and research capabilities. The government aims to leverage this momentum to develop a local ecosystem of talent and innovation that supports integrated circuit (IC) design, advanced packaging, wafer fabrication, and research and development (R&D).

Progress Toward the 60,000 Skilled Workforce Goal

As of November 2025, approximately 13,679 engineers and technical experts have been trained, certified, and absorbed into various semiconductor industry segments, marking steady progress toward the 2030 goal. Efforts focus on fields including IC design, wafer fabrication, and advanced packaging. The NSS, launched in May 2024, prioritizes skilled talent development as essential for sustaining Malaysia's competitiveness in the semiconductor sector.

Collaboration and Training Initiatives

Malaysia's approach involves close collaboration between multinational semiconductor companies and public universities. Key institutions include Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), the Malaysian Institute of Microelectronic Systems Berhad (MIMOS), and the High Technology Training Centre (ADTEC). These partnerships facilitate curriculum alignment with current industry needs and provide on-the-job training opportunities.

Budget 2026 supports talent development with incentives such as:

• Three million training opportunities in high-tech sectors, including semiconductors, administered by HRD Corp.
• K-Youth and TVET programs from Khazanah, offering on-the-job training to 11,000 youth without degrees in strategic sectors like semiconductors, backed by RM200 million in funding.
• The Flagship IC Design Programme, dedicated to training 2,500 world-class integrated circuit design talents, funded with RM340 million.

Challenges and Opportunities

Despite progress, Malaysia faces challenges such as a persistent shortage of skilled labor, outdated university curricula, and competition for talent from neighboring countries like Singapore, which offers higher wages and more mature semiconductor ecosystems. Additionally, R&D infrastructure and access to advanced design tools remain limited, constraining Malaysia's ability to move fully up the semiconductor value chain.

The recent $250 million agreement with ARM Holdings to access cutting-edge chip design blueprints is a promising development. This deal includes plans to train 10,000 engineers specializing in IC design, aiming to strengthen domestic capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign chip designs.

Vision for the Future

Malaysia's semiconductor ambitions are not only about increasing production capacity but also about redefining its economic identity toward a high-income, innovation-driven economy. The government’s strategic plans focus on inclusive growth, upgrading industrial capabilities, and retaining talent by creating attractive job opportunities and fostering entrepreneurship.

By 2030, the successful development of a 60,000-strong skilled semiconductor workforce will be a cornerstone for Malaysia to emerge as a regional semiconductor hub, driving sustainable economic growth and technological advancement.

Written by Deepak Periyasamy.

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