Penang: Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) inked an agreement with AIXTRON SE, a provider of deposition equipment for the semiconductor industry, to build a new greenfield manufacturing facility in Penang at SEMICON Southeast Asia 2026. According to BERNAMA News Agency, AIXTRON SE chief executive officer Dr Felix Grawert stated that the decision to establish a site in Penang reflects the company's long-term confidence in Malaysia as a strategic semiconductor location. Grawert emphasized that this investment will allow AIXTRON to better serve its global customer base, enhance operational flexibility, and support the scaling of advanced semiconductor technologies. AIXTRON plans to construct the facility at Bandar Cassia Technology Park, having secured 8.5 acres for an integrated setup that includes a three-storey office building, state-of-the-art cleanrooms, and dedicated logistics areas. MIDA chief executive officer Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid highlighted that AIXTRON's decisio n underscores Malaysia's capability to host complex segments in the global semiconductor value chain, promising significant high-tech job creation and opportunities for local talent in skilled technical roles. The statement from AIXTRON also mentioned that the facility's design from the ground up allows for extensive customisation and optimisation to efficiently meet the demands of manufacturing their 100 mm, 150 mm, and 200 mm products. The modular design supports flexibility and stepwise expansion aligned with future market demand. The new facility aims to bolster global demand for advanced semiconductor process technologies by increasing production capacity, enhancing supply-chain resilience, and being in closer proximity to customers across the Asia-Pacific region. It will focus on manufacturing and supporting systems for producing next-generation semiconductor devices used in power electronics, advanced communication technologies, optoelectronics, and emerging computing architectures.