SEMICONDUCTOR FABRICATION ASSOCIATION OF MALAYSIA & MIMOS LAUNCHES TALENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME 2013

Seven-member group of E&E players join hands with TalentCorp to address needs of industry in effort to move Malaysia up the value chain

BUKIT JALIL, 24 OCTOBER 2013: The Semiconductor Fabrication Association of Malaysia (SFAM) and MIMOS, together with TalentCorp launched the Talent Development Programme 2013 today, in a move to overcome the severe shortage of skilled semiconductor engineers locally.

The programme launch was graced by YB Datuk Haji Ir. Hj Hamim Samuri, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry.

SFAM Chairman Dr Kamarulzaman Mohamed Zin, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Silterra Malaysia Sdn Bhd said there is a pressing need to increase the number of engineers, scientists and technologists to serve this highly competitive global industry, which is in line with the aspiration of the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) in moving up the value chain within the Electrical &Electronics industry.

MITI Deputy Minister Datuk Hamim Samuri signing a plaque signaling the launch of the talent development programme. Looking on L-R are: MIMOS Chief Operating Officer En Abd Aziz Abd Kadir; MOSTI Deputy Secretary-General (Science) Prof Datin Paduka Dr Khatijah Mohamad Yusoff; SFAM Chairman Dr Kamarulzaman Mohamed Zin.

SFAM’s talent development objectives include bridging the gap between academia and the industry and creating more local semiconductor technopreneurs. It is envisioned that an increased pool of higher-tiered skilled workforce in the country will move Malaysia up the value chain and encourages more local start-up companies in high-tech fields.

This will, in turn encourage more foreign investment into the country and set Malaysia up as a cost-effective semiconductor hub with sufficient local resources.

Group photo at the launch: Front row, L-R: MIMOS Senior Director of Nano Semiconductor Technology Centre Wan Azli Wan Ismail; MOSTI Deputy Secretary-General (Science) Prof Datin Paduka Dr Khatijah Mohamad Yusoff; MITI Deputy Minister Datuk Hamim Samuri; SFAM Chairman Dr Kamarulzaman Mohamed Zin; MIMOS Chief Operating Officer En Abd Aziz Abd Kadir; Talentcorp General Manager of Malaysian Diaspora Outreach Ms Sherene Azura Ali.

MIMOS Chief Operating Officer, Abd Aziz Abd Kadir said MIMOS, as the National R&D Centre in ICT having a state-of-the-art Wafer Fabrication plant, is committed to provide talent development, semiconductor shared facilities and services to the E&E industries in Malaysia.

“We are giving back to the community by positioning Government assets to enhance the E&E eco-system by offering them for industry and academia use,” he added.

MIMOS Wafer Fabrication plant includes facilities for IC Design, Failure Analysis, Testing and Reliability Lab and Advanced Skills Lab. MIMOS will be providing training for a specially-designed programme for SFAM members called SFAM Graduates Upskilling Development (GUD). Not just limited to SFAM members, MIMOS’ Advanced Skills Training Centre is also open to E&E based companies, universities and other training organisations.

MIMOS’ experience of over 15 years in Wafer Fabrication, analysis, design and support equipment repair enables it to offer on-the-job high-end training schemes based on industry’s needs. To-date, MIMOS has trained 850 local engineers to become highly-qualified experts. In a nutshell, the economic return from having skilled talents is about RM1.3 billion to RM1.7 billion a year.

“Programmes like this is a shining example of the public and private sectors working together to collectively address their talent requirements by empowering our young Malaysian talent with the right knowledge and skills to further boost their employability within the sector,” said Johan Mahmood Merican, Chief Executive Officer of TalentCorp.

SFAM, founded in 2012 is made up of players in the E&E industry, namely MIMOS, X-Fab, Silterra, ON Semiconductor, Osram, Fuji Electric and Infineon; with a main goal to strengthen the E&E eco-system in Malaysia.

SFAM’s Talent Development Programme 2013 is sponsored by TalentCorp Malaysia.