News: Microelectronics
1 May 2025
SMD opens R&D Innovation Hub at CSA Catapult in Newport
A Malaysian semiconductor company has opened a new R&D Innovation Hub in Wales and signalled its intent to work with UK companies on designing next-generation semiconductor chips.
Sarawak Microelectronics Design (SMD) Semiconductor, a wholly owned entity of the Sarawak Government established in September 2022 under State Financial Secretary Incorporation (SFS Inc), will be located at the Compound Semiconductor Applications (CSA) Catapult’s Innovation Centre in Newport, Wales.
The hub was officially opened by the Premier of Sarawak at a special ceremony attended by delegates from the Sarawak, UK and Welsh governments, as well as industry partners.
During the ceremony, SMD Semiconductor and CSA Catapult signed and exchanged a formal agreement to collaborate on developing new compound semiconductor chips for AI and edge devices (such as sensors and cameras, performing data processing at the location of the device instead of sending it to the cloud, making them quicker, more energy eficient, more secure, and enabling real-time data processing, critical for applications in defence, healthcare, surveillance and robotics).
SMD Semiconductor focuses on advanced technology R&D, with an emphasis on chip design and the development of integrated circuit products. It is seeking to expand its capabilities into compound semiconductors and take advantage of the expertise of both CSA Catapult and UK industry.
Established in 2018 by government agency Innovate UK, CSA Catapult is a not-for-profit center of excellence with labs and offices across the UK that specializes in the measurement, characterization, integration and validation of compound semiconductor technology spanning power electronics, advanced packaging, radio frequency and microwave, and photonics applications.
In 2024, CSA Catapult and SMD Semiconductor signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that laid the initial foundation for collaboration in the design, prototyping and manufacturing of next-generation chips.
“Advances in AI computing are already rapidly spreading from data centers to edge devices. However, to unlock the full potential of edge AI will require new and bold approaches to semiconductor devices,” says CSA Catapult’s head Raj Gawera. “We’re delighted to have SMD Semiconductor locate with us at our Innovation Centre in Newport and to kickstart a program of activity that will see us design, develop and innovate technology to enable the next generation of edge AI devices. This formal partnership strengthens ties between the UK, Sarawak and Malaysian governments and is another example of how international partnerships are helping the UK grow its semiconductor industry and create strong, resilient supply chains for the future,” he adds.
“Through our strategic partnerships with CSA Catapult, we are building a collaborative ecosystem that connects Sarawak with some of the most advanced semiconductor innovators in the world,” says SMD Semiconductor’s CEO Shariman Jamil. “The agreement is more than symbolic as they are actionable commitments to co-create breakthrough technologies, accelerate R&D, and open new markets. With the opening of our R&D Innovation Hub in UK, we are positioning ourselves on the world stage in driving future-ready chip design and innovation”
