SEMICON Southeast Asia 2026 to Convene Leaders in Malaysia for Semiconductor Growth

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SEMICON Southeast Asia (SEMICON SEA) 2026, the region’s premier platform for the global semiconductor and electronics manufacturing supply chain, will return to the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur from 5 to 7 May. Registration is open.

The event underscores the region’s growing strategic importance in the global semiconductor ecosystem, as Southeast Asia continues to strengthen its role across advanced manufacturing and supply chain resilience. In Malaysia, the event, held in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), reflects the country’s continued push to strengthen its position in the global semiconductor ecosystem.

SEMICON SEA 2026 will be themed Transform Tomorrow and will focus on accelerating next-generation technologies while addressing current structural challenges. It is expected to bring together more than 20,000 innovators, policymakers, and technology experts, fostering collaboration across the international semiconductor value chain, and provide the latest insights on artificial intelligence, smart manufacturing, sustainability, workforce development, advanced packaging, supplier sourcing, and more.

The global semiconductor industry is expected to reach USD1 Trillion in annual sales in 2026, a historic milestone fuelled by an intensifying AI infrastructure boom. Market analysts note that Southeast Asia has emerged as a significant driver of global semiconductor growth, having outperformed the broader industry over the past few years, supported by sustained expansion in manufacturing capacity, assembly, testing and packaging, as well as its increasing integration into global semiconductor supply chains.

“The semiconductor industry is entering a new era where progress will be defined by effective collaboration across the entire ecosystem,” said Ajit Manocha, President and CEO, SEMI. “SEMICON Southeast Asia reflects this changing landscape through its programs focused on closing gaps between innovation and execution – from design all the way to manufacturing. SEMI looks forward to hosting this year’s event in Malaysia, a semiconductor industry powerhouse with decades of proven success.”

“SEMICON Southeast Asia is a catalyst for driving collaboration and innovation across the semiconductor ecosystem, bringing together leaders, visionaries, and experts to address the industry’s most pressing challenges and seize emerging opportunities,” said Linda Tan, President, SEMI Southeast Asia. “As advanced technologies reshape manufacturing, SEMICON Southeast Asia empowers stakeholders to connect, exchange knowledge, and shape the future of the industry.”

Closer to home, Malaysia’s semiconductor industry is entering its next phase of growth from a position of strength. The electrical and electronics (E&E) sector secured RM28.5 billion in approved investments in 2025, reaffirming its role as a cornerstone of Malaysia’s manufacturing economy and a trusted node in the global technology supply chain. SEMICON Southeast Asia 2026 arrives at a moment when Malaysia is moving beyond its established strengths in assembly and test into higher-value activities, including design, advanced packaging, and innovation-driven manufacturing.

“The semiconductor industry is at an inflection point, and Malaysia intends to be at the center of what comes next,” said Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid, Chief Executive Officer of MIDA. “Under the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030, Malaysia is not simply maintaining its position in the global semiconductor supply chain. We are deliberately reshaping it. Our investment fundamentals are strong. The RM28.5 billion secured by the E&E sector in 2025 is proof that global confidence in Malaysia has not wavered. We continue to build its robust ecosystem to match that confidence, through supply chain integration, local capability development, and the kind of high-value partnerships that platforms like SEMICON Southeast Asia are uniquely placed to catalyze. MIDA’s role here is not as a bystander. We are an active builder of his industry’s next chapter in Malaysia, and we are here to build it together.”

SEMICON SEA 2026 Focus Areas

AI and Intelligent Manufacturing: Dedicated AI forums and the new Intelligent Manufacturing Showcase developments in advanced manufacturing capabilities across the semiconductor ecosystem, including smart manufacturing, automation, digitalisation, and sustainability. This also supports talent development by exposing engineers and students to real‑world AI applications and future‑ready manufacturing roles.

Sustainability: Three days of dedicated sustainability discussions and a new Sustainability Pavilion focusing on energy, emissions, and efficiency, underscoring the semiconductor industry’s growing need to address global energy pressures while advancing a more sustainable growth pathway.

Talent Development: Workforce development in action through TECH Zoomers Bootcamp, TalentCONNECT, mentoring sessions, curated tours and career-focused programs, aligned with Malaysia’s National Semiconductor Strategy, which aims to train and upskill 60,000 highly skilled engineers by 2030. SEMICON Southeast Asia 2026 serves as a key platform to support this ambition by strengthening industry exposure, talent pipelines and skills development across the semiconductor ecosystem.

Advanced Packaging & Heterogeneous Integration: One and a half days of expert-led discussions on advanced packaging and heterogeneous integration, underscoring their importance in enabling next-generation semiconductor innovation and accelerating the industry’s move toward higher value creation across the value chain.

Suppliers Sourcing Programme: Targeted business matching featuring five leading global buyer companies engaging in pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings with suppliers to explore sourcing opportunities and new partnerships, serving as a strategic platform to deepen ecosystem linkages across the region.

MIDA Initiatives at SEMICON SEA 2026

At SEMICON SEA 2026, MIDA is running three program tracks that go beyond conversation to drive tangible outcomes for Malaysia’s semiconductor ecosystem:

The Supply Chain Integration & Capability Enhancement Forum brings together global semiconductor companies, Malaysian suppliers, and ecosystem stakeholders to share insights on industry trends, supplier expectations, and capability development. It aims to strengthen Malaysia’s supply chain ecosystem and support its advancement into higher-value segments of the semiconductor value chain.

The Digital Twin & Smart Manufacturing Seminar is aimed at Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the semiconductor and mobility supply chains, focusing on the practical adoption of digital twin technology and smart manufacturing. The goal is direct: raise the capabilities of local suppliers so they can meet the standards and requirements of global manufacturers operating in Malaysia.

The Handshake@SEMICON convenes senior decision-makers from leading global semiconductor and technology companies into direct, structured engagements. MIDA facilitates these engagements with a clear intent: to move from interest to investment, and from introduction to partnership.

Through SEMI’s TECH Zoomers programme at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), MIDA will facilitate and contribute to a panel discussion on workforce development trends and job outlook in the semiconductor sector, to equip students and early talent with industry-relevant insights and strengthen Malaysia’s future semiconductor workforce.

SEMICON SEA is further strengthened by the support of leading partners and industry sponsors.

Diamond Sponsors: GlobalFoundries, Lam Research, Micron, Sandisk Corporation, Tokyo Electron Limited

Platinum Sponsors: Applied Materials, Global TechSolutions, Schneider Electric, SGS, Soitec, STATS ChipPAC

Gold Sponsors: Advantest, ASE, ECOWorld, Henkel, IAQ, KLA, Kulicke & Soffa, Siemens, Singtest, STMicroelectronics