George Town, 16 August 2026 – Penang is planning a strategic shift from its established strength in semiconductor assembly and testing towards higher-value activities including chip design, system architecture and prototype development. The ambition, set out in the draft Penang State Structure Plan 2040 review, is to become a leading semiconductor design hub in ASEAN by 2040.
The plan calls for stronger research and development, innovation and technology commercialisation so that more intellectual property, engineering capability and income are retained in the state. InvestPenang, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority, the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority, Penang Skills Development Centre, Penang STEM, Perda-Tech and TalentCorp are among the agencies identified to support delivery.
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