HR Ministry, Penang govt in final talks to boost high-tech talent development

Published by Audrey Dermawan • 19/06/2025

HR Ministry is also working with the state government to train or provide training to around 400 fishermen in the southern part of the island, involved in the Penang Silicon Island project, focusing on skills development – NSTP FILE PIC

GEORGE TOWN: The Human Resources Ministry is in the final stages of discussions with the Penang government to formalise a strategic collaboration aimed at expanding talent development within the high-tech and semiconductor sectors.

At the heart of this effort is the Penang Chip Design Academy initiative, a state-backed programme announced earlier by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, designed to strengthen Penang’s position as a regional hub for advanced technology and innovation.

Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong said the aim was to produce more engineers in IR4.0.

“The Penang Chip Design Academy is specifically aimed at advancing the semiconductor sector and high-tech industries in the state of Penang.

“So, it is truly an institution that aims to train young people, our workers, and our human capital in this sector.

“The Penang Chip Design Academy has already been announced by the Chief Minister. What we want to contribute is to add value — to see how we can collaborate with the state government to further stimulate skills training programmes in the state,” he said when met after the launch of the NTW (National Training Week) northern region programme here today.

Present was Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo.

Sim said the ministry was exploring how it could contribute to enhancing skills training programmes under the Penang Chip Design Academy.

“This is not just about producing more talent.

“It is about producing the right talent for the semiconductor and high-tech industries that are critical to Penang’s economic future,” he said.

He said an announcement would be made soon once all the details have been worked out.

The Penang Chip Design Academy is a state initiative led by Chow to bolster Penang’s IC design and digital sectors.

It aims to develop a skilled workforce in integrated circuit (IC) design through upskilling and reskilling programmes.

The academy is part of the Penang STEM Talent Blueprint and is a key component of the state’s plan to establish an IC Design and Digital Park.

Other Initiatives

Meanwhile, Sim also announced his ministry’s collaboration with the NCIA (Northern Corridor Implementation Authority) to provide matching grants to companies that utilise their Human Resource Development (HRD) Corporation grants to implement skills development programmes for their staff.

“So, for example, if a company wants to take up or develop a higher-level course, such as a professional diploma, they can not only use their HRD Corp grant, but NCIA will also provide a matching grant.

“This will increase the total allocation to help companies further enhance the skills of their employees,” he said.

Secondly, Sim said, the ministry was also working with the state government to train or provide training to around 400 fisherfolk in the southern part of the island, involved in the Penang Silicon Island project, focusing on skills development.

He said this included not only technical skills, but also communication skills, entrepreneurship, and, of course, AI, digitalisation, and so on.

“This is so that these fisherfolk and the youth in these families have options to develop themselves in terms of careers and employment opportunities in the future,” he said.