KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 24): The federal government is allocating RM25 million to build a semiconductor-driven automation development facility in Batu Kawan, Penang.
The National Automation, Testing and Equipment (ATE) Campus is envisioned to be a complete semiconductor ecosystem covering talent development, technology qualification and co-development of Malaysian-made ATE solutions.
The Economy Ministry announced the project at the KL20@Penang 2026: Silicon Surge event in Penang on Thursday, which is bring together start-ups and related players in the technology sector.
The Penang government will provide 10 acres of land for the campus.
The initiative is under the 13th Malaysia Plan and is in addition to the RM9.25 billion financing framework to implement the New Industrial Master Plan 2030.
“This support connects talent development, chip design, engineering, technology qualification, and commercialisation, so that more Malaysian companies can develop products, own intellectual property, and compete in the global market,” said Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir in a statement
He said the federal government is also providing RM12.3 million for Penang’s STEM Talent Blueprint, which aims to train 100,000 students with the skills needed by high-tech industries by 2030.
“For the period from 2020 to 2025, Penang recorded RM25 billion in approved manufacturing investments in the machinery and equipment sector, representing approximately 40% of Malaysia's total for that segment,” Akmal said.