SEMI and SSIA Launch the Electronics Young Talent Outreach Program

Students encouraged to upload a “Future of Electronics” video by March 31 to win S$8,000

SINGAPORE – March 8, 2012 – To grow the future talent pool for the electronics industry, SEMI, Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association (SSIA) and EDB today jointly announced a Young Talent Outreach Program in the form of a YouTube Video Competition. The competition officially started from March 1 and the deadline is March 31. The first prize winner will receive S$8,000 in cash. The Award Ceremony will be held at Marina Bay Sands during SEMICON Singapore 2012—an ideal platform for connecting the global and local electronics companies to the students.

The Young Talent Outreach Program was developed by SEMI and SSIA to excite students about developments in the electronics industry. The YouTube Video Competition is the inaugural program and employs a creative approach to reach out to students from the junior colleges, ITEs, polytechnics and universities. Students have to produce a video using the theme of “Impact of Electronics Innovations on Future Lifestyle, Quality of Life and Development” and upload it to a YouTube channel by March 31, 2012.

“Continued innovations, especially by the younger generations, will ensure that the electronics industry evolves and stays ahead of the competition,” said Russell Tham, President, Applied Materials South East Asia. “The video competition will allow students to appreciate the importance of electronics in our lives,” he added.

Ulf Schneider, managing director of Lantiq Asia Pacific and the president of SSIA, emphasized that “Engineers in the electronics industry need to be highly curious about future developments. They need to be interested in shaping innovations of all kinds. They should strive to continuously look for new solutions which make the world a better place. Through this competition, we would like to understand what makes young talent in Singapore upbeat about future innovation. Furthermore, we would like to share their message with others in the community to enable the development of a generation of tech-savvy and inspired talent in Singapore.”

“We believe education and outreach efforts are necessary to help students make the critical connection between classroom learning and the real world. The SEMI Singapore Regional Advisory Board (RAB) is committed to continue sharing with students about the importance of the electronics industry. Through this learning journey we hope that students will develop a better understanding about the role of electronics and be inspired towards careers in Engineering,” said Tham, who is head of SEMI Singapore RAB workforce development. SEMI has reached thousands of students and teachers in the U.S., Asia, Europe and the Middle East, with its innovative workforce development program, SEMI High Tech U, which is an industry-driven math and science-based career exploration program for high school-age students and teachers.

“SSIA is chartered to utilize the close collaboration we have with industry partners, schools and universities, research institutes, as well as partners from the public sector to develop an eco-system that successfully attracts and develops talent for the electronics industry in Singapore,” Schneider added.

EDB has also been working closely with industry to offer sponsorships and training opportunities to attract and develop students for the electronics sector. The electronics industry is a major contributor to Singapore’s GDP – in 2011, it contributed to 6.1% of GDP. Of the S$13.7 billion fixed asset investment (FAI) Singapore received in 2011, electronics was the largest contributor, accounting for almost 54%. The significance of the electronics industry and its continued transformation towards higher value added activities present exciting career options in manufacturing, research and management. “Singapore remains an attractive location for competitive manufacturing, research and headquarters activities. The significant presence of these activities generates a diversity of jobs, which we hope to attract young talent to take up,” said Chong Joon Woon, Director of the Electronics Cluster, Singapore Economic Development Board.