Penang Spearheads STEM Talent Initiative to Bolster Future-Ready Workforce

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In a strategic move to secure its position as a premier investment destination, the state of Penang has officially launched its comprehensive STEM Talent Blueprint.

Developed by the Penang STEM Working Group, this plan aims to create a robust and future-ready workforce to drive the region’s industrial and technological advancements.

The launch event, presided over by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI) Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, was held at the Tech Dome Penang in Komtar.

The blueprint’s primary goal is to establish a highly skilled and sustainable STEM talent pipeline, aligning with the state’s New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030 and the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS).

“The vision of this blueprint is to establish a highly skilled and sustainable STEM workforce, essential for Penang’s long-term success in an ever-evolving industrial and technological landscape,” Chow said during the event.

It’s mission is centered around the ‘THRIVE’ principles, which focus on collaborative efforts between government agencies to implement policies and frameworks that foster STEM development.

Tengku Zafrul stated that the Penang STEM Talent Blueprint will be incorporated into the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS).

“The Penang STEM Talent Blueprint is an excellent example of the whole-of-nation approach to address the challenges and seize the opportunities in our rapidly evolving industrial landscape,” he said.

The blueprint will be supported by a portion of the RM25 billion allocated to operationalise the semiconductor strategies, underscoring the commitment to making Malaysia a regional manufacturing and services hub.

One of the flagship projects within the blueprint is the Penang Chip Design Academy, part of the ‘Penang Silicon Design @5km+’ initiative, aimed at meeting the growing demand for chip design engineers. The state government has also outlined an ambitious ‘2X strategy,’ which seeks to double various STEM-related targets, including enrolments, university graduates, and the participation of girls in STEM fields.

“We are confident that the Penang STEM Talent Blueprint will contribute significantly to the missions and goals of NIMP 2030 and the NSS, particularly in ensuring a steady supply of technical and engineering talents to support the targets of attracting at least RM500 billion in investments under Phase I of the NSS,” Chow stated.

Tengku Zafrul noted that the Penang STEM Talent Blueprint also supports one of the targets of the NSS, which is to train and nurture 60,000 highly-skilled Malaysian engineers by 2030. He emphasised that STEM education is one of the key enablers for Malaysia’s reindustrialisation strategy, as no country can position itself as a global leader in high-tech industries without a sufficient supply of STEM talent.

The launch ceremony was attended by various dignitaries, including Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying, Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo, InvestPenang CEO Datuk Loo Lee Lian, and Tech Dome Penang CEO Khoo Boo Wooi.