- Programme drew talent from 40 universities and 80 companies
- Collaboration underpins M’sia’s goal to build local chip solutions within 5–10 years
The Advanced Semiconductor Academy of Malaysia (ASEM), in collaboration with Arm, has launched the Arm-led On-Demand Training Programme under the Malaysia IC Design Park initiative. The programme kicked off with an inaugural cohort of 400 engineers, marking a significant milestone in Malaysia’s high-tech talent development journey.
In March 2025, Malaysia signed a US$250 million (RM1.05 billion) agreement with Arm, securing ten years of access to its advanced chip design blueprints. According to ASEM, this collaboration forms a central pillar of the country’s ambition to develop homegrown chip solutions within five to ten years, in response to growing global demand for artificial intelligence and data centre technologies.
As part of this initiative, Arm has committed to training 10,000 local talents, equipping them with the expertise to leverage its intellectual property and develop cutting-edge semiconductor solutions.
The Arm On-Demand Training Programme directly supports Malaysia’s vision of building a world-class engineering workforce, aligned with the Malaysia Silicon Vision and the National Semiconductor Strategy. The programme attracted participants from over 40 universities and engineers from more than 80 companies across the semiconductor and tech sectors, reflecting strong national commitment to talent development in advanced chip design.
It also reinforces Arm and ASEM’s shared mission to empower Malaysian engineers with globally relevant skills in integrated circuit design and advanced technologies.
Held from 28 to 30 July 2025, the three-month programme began with a three-day, in-person training session led by Arm experts, focusing on Arm Cortex-A, Cortex-R, and Cortex-M processors, embedded systems, and System-on-Chip development. Participants also gain access to Arm’s comprehensive On-Demand Training platform, featuring modules on Mali GPUs and camera systems, Ethos NPUs, System IP, development tools, and Fast Model, providing a robust foundation for careers in the global semiconductor industry.
A key highlight was the Partnership Signing Ceremony between Arm, ASEM, and 20 Malaysian universities, symbolising a unified commitment to advancing semiconductor education and research. The event was witnessed by dignitaries including Amirudin Shari, menteri besar of Selangor; Liew Chin Tong, deputy minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI); and Ng Sze Han, Selangor State executive councillor for Investment, Trade and Mobility. The programme was praised as a strategic step toward strengthening Malaysia’s role in the global semiconductor value chain.
CK Tseng, president of Arm Asean and Taiwan, and VP of North America Sales, delivered keynote remarks, underscoring the critical role of semiconductors in driving digital transformation and economic growth. He reaffirmed Arm’s commitment to nurturing regional talent and forging long-term partnerships in Malaysia.
“The launch of this programme marks an important first step towards our goal of training 10,000 talents in Malaysia, as we bring Arm’s most comprehensive training resources to empower local talent and accelerate the country’s progress in semiconductor innovation,” he said.
With its launch, ASEM noted that the Arm On-Demand Training Programme has set a new benchmark in Malaysia’s talent development landscape, laying the foundation for a new generation of engineers equipped to drive semiconductor innovation and advance the nation’s digital economy.
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