Keysight and Universiti Sains Malaysia Partner to Strengthen Semiconductor Talent Pipeline

PENANG, Malaysia, August 27, 2025 – Keysight Technologies has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) to boost semiconductor and photonics education, a move aimed at addressing Malaysia’s critical engineering talent shortage.

The collaboration formalises USM’s adoption of Keysight’s Semiconductor Basic Design and Measurement Lab, a hands-on, application-driven platform that equips students with design, simulation and measurement skills aligned with industry practices. The initiative is expected to help bridge the gap between academic theory and workplace demands, enabling graduates to enter high-impact roles with confidence.

Aligning Education with Industry Needs

The agreement underscores USM’s leadership in the Consortium E&E (CEE), which connects Malaysian universities with industry partners to strengthen electrical and electronics (E&E) education. The partnership also sets the stage for co-developing extended lab content and future deployment of Keysight’s Semiconductor Advanced Measurement Lab, providing students with access to the latest instrumentation and industry-grade workflows.

Professor Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed, Vice-Chancellor of USM, said the collaboration aligns with Malaysia’s National Semiconductor Strategy, which targets the development of 60,000 engineers.
“Achieving this requires joint efforts from industry and academia; to upskill and reskill the current workforce, enhance our curriculum and run talent-building programs for our graduates,” he said. “Partnering with industry leaders like Keysight adds to our efforts in preparing the next generation of engineers to complete the Electronic & Electrical ecosystem.”

Boosting Penang’s Silicon Ambitions

The initiative complements USM’s involvement in the Penang Silicon Design @5km+ programme, which aims to foster a robust IC design and artificial intelligence ecosystem within close proximity to the Bayan Lepas industrial hub. This strategic focus seeks to consolidate Penang’s position as a semiconductor and electronics powerhouse.

Keysight Vice President and General Manager of General Electronics Measurement, Han Sing, said the partnership reflects the company’s commitment to building a future-ready workforce.
“By integrating hands-on lab experiences into university programmes, we’re helping bridge the gap between academic theory and industry practice,” he said. “With our collaboration with USM, we are building a scalable model for academic-industry collaboration that can have regional impact.”

Spotlight on Photonics

As part of the partnership, Keysight will conduct a seminar on photonics and introduce the Photonics Integrated Circuit (PICS) Lab at USM. The lab will expose students to silicon photonics, an enabling technology for innovations in high-speed data centres, quantum computing and artificial intelligence.

Han added that with the introduction of these modules, students will gain practical competencies and confidence, making them ready to contribute to Malaysia’s and the wider region’s rapidly evolving semiconductor landscape.