The hub was officially opened by the Premier of Sarawak at a ceremony attended by delegates from the Sarawak, UK and Welsh governments, as well as industry partners.
SMD Semiconductor and the CSA Catapult also signed and exchanged a formal agreement to collaborate on developing new compound semiconductor chips for AI and edge devices – SMD signalled its intention to work with UK companies on designing next-generation semiconductor chips.
Edge devices, such as sensors and cameras, perform data processing at the location of the device instead of sending it to the cloud making them quicker, more energy efficient, more secure, and will enable real-time data processing, which is critical for applications in defence, healthcare, surveillance and robotics.
SMD Semiconductor is a wholly owned entity of the Sarawak Government and was established in September 2022. It focuses on advanced technological research and development, with an emphasis on chip design and the development of integrated circuit products.
SMD Semiconductor said that it was seeking to expand its capabilities into compound semiconductors and take advantage of the expertise of both CSA Catapult and UK industry – the CSA Catapult is the UK’s authority on compound semiconductor applications and commercialisation.
CSA Catapult has labs and offices across the UK and is a centre of excellence with state-of-the-art equipment that specialises in the measurement, characterisation, integration and validation of compound semiconductor technology across four areas: power electronics, advanced packaging, radio frequency (RF) and microwave communications, and photonics.
In 2024, CSA Catapult and SMD Semiconductor signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that laid the initial foundation for collaboration in the design, prototyping and manufacturing of next-generation chips.
Raj Gawera, head of CSA Catapult said, “Advances in AI computing are already rapidly spreading from data centres to Edge devices. However, to unlock the full potential of Edge AI will require new and bold approaches to semiconductor devices. We’re delighted to have SMD Semiconductor locate with us at our Innovation Centre in Newport and to kickstart a programme of activity that will see us design, develop and innovate technology to enable the next generation of Edge AI devices.
“This formal partnership strengthens ties between the UK, Sarawak and Malaysian governments and is another example of how international partnerships are helping the UK grow its semiconductor industry and create strong, resilient supply chains for the future.”
“Through our strategic partnerships with CSA Catapult, we are building a collaborative ecosystem that connects Sarawak with some of the most advanced semiconductor innovators in the world,” said Shariman Jamil, CEO at SMD Semiconductor. “The agreement is more than symbolic as they are actionable commitments to co-create breakthrough technologies, accelerate R&D, and open new markets. With the opening of our R&D Innovation hub in UK, we are positioning ourselves on the world stage in driving future-ready chip design and innovation.”
