KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian semiconductor companies are working to turn chip-design capabilities into market-ready products, intellectual property and new markets, as the industry seeks to strengthen the country's position in the global technology supply chain, the Ministry of Economy said on Monday.
This includes collaboration with foreign companies to explore the joint development, prototyping and commercialization of reconfigurable artificial intelligence (AI) chips, combining Malaysian chip architecture with advanced AI algorithms, the ministry said in a statement following the launch of KL20 2026, an initiative to position the country's startup ecosystem in the top 20 globally by 2030.
KL20 reports 5,016 registered startups, including 1,609 added since 2024, with total investment of 51.17 billion ringgit (about 12.5 billion U.S. dollars) and a combined startup valuation of 202.64 billion ringgit.
Kuala Lumpur aims to rank among the world's top 20 startup ecosystems by 2030. To get there, the government is prioritizing gaps in follow-on funding, regulatory approvals, testing, procurement, and market access, with clear responsibilities and measurable milestones. ■
