KUALA LUMPUR: Micron Technology, Inc has announced an investment of RM1mil to strengthen collaboration, research and development (R&D) projects with local universities over the next five years.

In a joint statement by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) and Micron, it said the funding would go towards grants supporting research in the areas of semiconductor materials, smart manufacturing and artificial intelligence which are key to the advancement of tech manufacturing in the country.

“The RM1mil grant funding to local universities by Micron today further reinforces the company’s commitment to using its leadership, influence and resources to create positive change, on top of its relentless efforts in employee wellbeing, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility,” Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said.

MIDA CEO Datuk Arham Abdul Rahman said: “We are encouraged by Micron’s efforts and contribution to build a resilient semiconductor ecosystem that supports Malaysia’s competitiveness as the destination of choice for future investments.”

“For the past 50 years, MIDA has strived to position Malaysia as an international manufacturing hub whose holistic electrical and electronics ecosystem enables front-end and back-end semiconductor production, and this would not have materialised without the active contribution of the corporate sector.

“Besides advancing business growth, their involvement in universities’ academic curriculum development has been catalytic in grooming aspiring young technology innovators and leaders who are fundamental to this industry’s success.

“This partnership between Micron and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) is set to create new growth opportunities and we welcome such collaborations to transpire between other various institutions and companies,” Arham said.

USM is the first university partner to receive funding from Micron.

Meanwhile, Micron Malaysia corporate vice president and country manager Amarjit Singh Sandhu said Malaysia was critical to its global manufacturing footprint, and hoped the funding and knowledge transfer to local universities would strengthen the local semiconductor ecosystem, advance R&D and deepen science, technology and engineering skills in the local talent pool.

-Source from the Star Online