SIBU — In a significant milestone for Sarawak’s semiconductor talent development, SMD Semiconductor has officially handed over the implementation of the Semiconductor Mastery Program to the Sarawak Centre of Technical Excellence (CENTEXS).
The transfer was formalised during the SMD IC Design Make-A-Thon 2025 held at the University of Technology Sarawak (UTS), witnessed by Sarawak Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Datuk Dr. Annuar Rapaee.
SMD CEO Shariman Jamil described the handover as a strategic move to strengthen Sarawak’s technology ecosystem. “This assignment is not just a transfer of responsibility, but a long-term commitment to ensuring continuous, high-quality human capital development in the semiconductor industry,” he stated.
Initially focused on Analog IC Design, the Semiconductor Mastery Program will now be expanded by CENTEXS to include Digital IC Design and IC Test Solutions—two critical areas aligned with Sarawak’s semiconductor direction plan.
Although CENTEXS will lead the program’s implementation, SMD will remain an exclusive training provider to uphold technical standards and support the expansion to more participants.
CENTEXS Chief Executive Officer Dato Syeed Mohd Hussien Wan Abd Rahman expressed gratitude for the trust placed in the institution, viewing it as recognition of its role in empowering Sarawak’s next generation. “This move reinforces our synergy with SMD in strengthening the electrical and electronic (E&E) sector while driving innovation in line with industry needs,” he said.
Both CENTEXS and SMD reaffirmed that the initiative aligns with their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals, contributing to a sustainable talent pipeline for the global semiconductor industry and supporting Sarawak’s broader development agenda.
This collaboration marks a new chapter in Sarawak’s journey towards becoming a regional hub for semiconductor innovation and talent cultivation.
