Belgium’s Melexis inks MoU to design made-in-Sarawak integrated chip
27 Jul 2022
The Sarawak state government has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Melexis Technology, a Belgium-based global supplier of micro-electronic semiconductor solutions, paving the way for a collaboration in integrated chips (IC) design for chips made in Sarawak.
The signing of the MoU by the Sarawak Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development and Melexis Technology was held in Tessenderlo, Belgium on Tuesday, witnessed by Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg who is on a week-long working visit to Europe.
According to a statement issued by the Sarawak Premier’s Office today, Melexis Technology has been part of the existing XFab chips foundry at the Samajaya Free Industrial Zone in Sarawak, producing chips for a wide range of applications, including in automobiles.
The scope of the MoU includes cooperation in IC design and semi-conductor talent development in Sarawak as part of the state’s innovation and talent development programme.
In his brief address at the signing ceremony, Abang Johari said climate change and the phasing out of combustion engines in automobiles would see the migration of chips’ designs to conform to the needs of the energy transition market.
He said the collaboration was important and a step in the right direction to enable Sarawak and the world at large to benefit from chip design development that might originate from Sarawak in the future.
“Sarawak is looking forward to this collaboration, not only to benefit both Sarawak and Melexis Technology, but also the world,” he told the audience that included Melexis Technology’s chairperson, Françoise Chombar and the company’s board of directors, Sarawak ministers and deputy ministers.
Abang Johari said talent development is important to nurture a robust research and development (R&D) climate in chip design technology in Sarawak.
He noted that Sarawak — particularly Kuching — is heading towards the development of a hydrogen-powered Autonomous Rapid Transit, and R&D would undoubtedly become the main driver of the new form of public transport.
The MoU signing ceremony was attended by Sarawak Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, Sarawak Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister, Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn and his deputies, Datuk Francis Hardin and Dr Annuar Rapa’ee.
Also present was the Malaysian Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg and European Union Head, Datuk Ahmad Rozian Abd Ghani.
The premier and his delegation also visited Port of Antwerp-Bruges for another MoU signing ceremony on the proposed development of a new port in Kuching.
Source: Bernama
