Kuala lumpur: The Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) is on a mission to identify the top 10 semiconductor companies to participate in the inaugural year of the SemiconStart Malaysia programme, announced group chief executive officer Mohammad Hazani Hassan. He emphasized that the programme is currently in its pilot phase, limiting the number of companies that can be onboarded.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, MTDC aims to advance three to five of these companies to secure funding, acquire customers, and engage in networking opportunities. Mohammad Hazani highlighted the goal of fostering a product-focused Malaysian company that leverages local technology and talent while collaborating with international firms. The initiative is not seeking service companies but rather those that are product-oriented, contributing to the broader semiconductor ecosystem.

MTDC is selecting companies across various stages of technology readiness, from level 4 to level 9, with the expectation that they will develop market-ready products within a year. The pre-launch of SemiconStart Malaysia, officiated by Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Mohammad Yusof Apdal, marks the beginning of this ambitious programme.

Implemented by MTDC in collaboration with Silicon Catalyst UK, the programme offers a 260-day incubation track. Participants will access grants up to RM1 million per company, industry mentorship, advanced design tools, and global investor networks. Companies will be assessed technically and commercially by Silicon Catalyst teams from the UK and US.

The focus areas include strategic segments identified under the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS), such as integrated circuit design, sensor technologies, photonics, micro-electro-mechanical systems, quantum technologies, and advanced semiconductor materials.

In the Budget 2026 announcement, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim declared that Khazanah Nasional Bhd and the Retirement Fund (Incorporated) (KWAP) will invest RM550 million to enhance partnerships between local and multinational firms in the semiconductor sector. Additionally, Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Bhd will provide RM500 million in loans to support high-value-added activities like research and development, particularly for local companies in the electrical and electronics ecosystem.