TANJUNG BUNGAH, PENANG, 29 April 2019 – The current semiconductor and technology industries will drive the implementation of green technology to benefit the environment in tandem with the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) agenda of the Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change (MESTECC).

That was said by the Deputy Minister of MESTECC, Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis when opening the International Conference on Semiconductor Materials and Technology (ISoSeMT 2019), organised by the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Institute of Nano Optoelectronics Research and Technology (INOR), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Penang Branch and Collaborative Research in Engineering, Science & Technology (CREST). 

 

She added that, MESTECC has set aside a Research & Development (R&D) Fund to assist researchers in establishing collaborations with other local as well as international researchers. 
 
“This conference serves as a platform and hub to discuss findings from new research, electronic innovations and semiconductors based on the theme ‘Innovation Towards A Sustainable Tomorrow’ which is close to everyone’s heart, in order to spur the nation’s economic growth through research and the academia in the fields of semiconductor materials and technology and other related topics,” said the Deputy Minister.

Meanwhile, according to the USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr. Asma Ismail, the theme is truly relevant and in-line with the USM APEX Agenda and also parallels the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“USM continues to strive in further strengthening the fields of research and innovation by utilising a different approach in that every research conducted needs to be impactful to society, including the B40 group,” added the Vice-Chancellor.

“Such efforts have yielded results when USM was placed at #49 in the world and #1 in Malaysia in the recent Times Higher Education (THE) University Global Impact Rankings.

“I hope that through the organisation of this inaugural conference, it would lead to discoveries of new research, innovations and ideas that would ensure sustainable achievements in the fields of semiconductor materials and technology which also includes the trade sector,” she further said.

“At the same time, USM through INOR has been directly involved in the GaN on GaN Programme, which is a five-year programme (2015-2020) in technology transfer from the United States of America to Malaysia through collaborative research with the Nobel Laureate winner in Physics in 2014, Professor Dr. Shuji Nakamura from the Solid State Lighting and Energy Electronics Center (SSLEEC), the University of California in Santa Barbara (UCSB),” added the Vice-Chancellor.

ICoSeMT 2019 was organised in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of USM, and is aimed at bringing together academicians, researchers, scientists, industry practitioners and students in sharing their ideas, knowledge and recent findings in the fields of semiconductor materials and technology.

This conference has attracted the participation of international researchers from 12 countries including the United States of America, Japan, France, Australia, Singapore, Korea, Pakistan and Iraq.

In addition, the conference has received unwavering support from the local public and private universities, research institutions such as NanoMalaysia Berhad, SIRIM Berhad and MIMOS, as well as the industry, namely OSRAM Opto Semiconductors (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.

The organisation of ICoSeMT 2019 is timely as the Government is actively taking steps to quicken the development pace in the electric and electronics sector in Malaysia to become one of the leaders in the era of Industry 4.0. This would allow Malaysia to become the pioneer in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Also present were the Advisors of ICoSeMT 2019, USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation, Professor Ir. Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed; Rector of UiTM Penang Branch, Associate Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd Hisbany Mohd Hashim and Deputy President of CREST, Dr. Nor Azmi Alias, together with ICoSeMT 2019 Chairperson, Professor Dr. Zainuriah Hassan and her Deputy, Dr. Rosfariza Radzali.

Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin