Malaysia targets first ‘made by Malaysia’ chips using Arm Limited technology by 2030, says economy minister

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 21 — The Malaysian government aims to produce its first "Made by Malaysia" chips using Arm Limited technology by 2030, according to Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir. Four companies have already begun designing chips using Arm's technology, with an expected three-year development period following access to the technology.

The timeline may vary based on the technology and market targeted. The government hopes to have the initial chip designs completed by 2028, followed by production and commercialization. The target of 2030 also includes not only the local design of these chips but also their production and use in the semiconductor supply chain, contingent on the companies' ability to secure customers for their products.

The government has offered eight Arm technology-access packages, comprising four Arm Compute Subsystem (CSS) and four Arm Flexible Access (AFA) tokens, to five local companies. This access aims to accelerate integrated circuit design and research and development activities in Malaysia, particularly in areas such as drones and advanced microelectronics.

The initiative also seeks to foster local manufacturing and the development of highly skilled Malaysian engineers. Over 1,530 participants have already undergone Arm On-Demand Training, with the goal of training 10,000 people over four years. The training is intended to create a talent pipeline that could support companies involved in chip design, research, and production.