SHAH ALAM, Sept 17 - The two Malaysia Semiconductor IC Design Parks in Selangor have attracted 20 industry partners since the first one opened in Puchong in August 2024, with the state now preparing to expand the ecosystem into autonomous systems and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The second park launched in Cyberjaya in November 2025.
Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation (SIDEC) chief executive officer Yong Kai Ping said IC Design Park 1 in Puchong and IC Design Park 2 in Cyberjaya have brought together local semiconductor companies and industry players from Taiwan, Japan, France and Australia.
“The next phase of growth will emphasise autonomous systems and UAVs as a defining specialisation for Selangor.
“We are advancing this through a connected Robotic Campus concept that integrates IC Design Park 1 (Puchong), IC Design Park 2 (Cyberjaya) and MRANTI Park,” he told Media Selangor when asked to comment on the plan to launch one IC design park each year over five years.
In 2024, Yong said the state government was planning to launch a park every year until 2028 to leverage the success of its first park in Puchong.
He said the state agency aims to boost the semiconductor industry, particularly in IC design, by hiring and retaining talent to meet a critical global need.
On autonomous vehicles, he said SIDEC is working with partners across passenger transport, cargo and robotaxi applications, including autonomous bus and van operators as well as Grab on robotaxi development.
Yong said the expansion of the IC design parks had been carried out gradually, with each park first anchored by industry partners and a talent pipeline before further development.
The Advanced Semiconductor Academy of Malaysia (ASEM) has trained 850 engineers, with all securing on-the-job training and permanent roles.
The parks also have anchor partnerships with global technology companies, including ARM Holdings, which provides tenant companies with access to its compute subsystems (CSS) and arm flexible access (AFA) tokens.
“Our approach has been deliberate: each park is properly anchored before further expansion,” he said.
For UAVs, Yong explained that companies such as AlphaSwift and Meraque are working on agricultural drones, while TCab Tech was developing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) platforms for tourism and emergency response.
“As the park network expands, autonomous systems and UAVs will form a core differentiation for Selangor’s semiconductor and advanced engineering ecosystem,” he said.
Under the Second Selangor Plan (RS-2), the state aims to become a hub for advanced industries and innovation by 2030, with greater automation, stronger local supply chains and more high-value economic activities.
The plan also seeks to reduce reliance on imports while strengthening local companies and supporting sustainable wage growth.
Among the initiatives under its economic leadership mission are the development of an international-standard semiconductor centre, the Selangor Semiconductor Fund to invest in semiconductor companies, and IC Design Park 2 in Cyberjaya to link Malaysian IC design players with global industry players.