Foundation
Malaysia currently faces a shortage of over 5,000 IC design engineers, particularly in analog, digital, and System-on-Chip (SoC) roles. This demand is set to rise sharply as global semiconductor players such as Intel, Infineon, and Oppstar expand their design centers in Malaysia. Furthermore, the government’s USD 250 million agreement with Arm Holdings to train 10,000 chip designers underlines the national commitment to grow the local talent pool—creating a timely opportunity for Bumiputera inclusion through targeted programs like this course. IC design is a high-value, high-income profession, with entry-level engineers earning RM4,000–RM6,000 per month, and senior professionals exceeding RM12,000. This course would enable Bumiputera youth to enter innovation-driven roles, contributing to long-term economic mobility and reduced dependency on lower-tier jobs in the E&E sector.
The course supports national workforce policies, including the TVET Transformation Agenda, TalentCorp’s Sectoral Workforce Demand Study, and MyDIGITAL Blueprint, all of which identify semiconductor design as a key growth area. By equipping Bumiputera graduates with in-demand skills, the Custom IC Design course promotes inclusive growth and strengthens Malaysia’s position in the global semiconductor ecosystem.
This Custom IC Design Certification is a 20-day intensive program designed to equip participants with practical skills and theoretical knowledge in analog and digital integrated circuit (IC) design. The course covers the full custom IC design flow—from schematic entry and simulation to layout, verification, and tape-out—using industry-standard EDA tools such as Cadence Virtuoso. Participants will gain hands-on experience in designing amplifiers, comparators, logic gates, and standard cells, with an emphasis on design rule checks (DRC), layout versus schematic (LVS), and parasitic extraction (PEX). The program is tailored for fresh graduates, and early-career engineers seeking to enter Malaysia’s growing semiconductor sector. Upon successful completion, learners will receive a certification validating their readiness for IC design roles in design houses and semiconductor companies. This certification supports national goals for high-skill Bumiputera workforce development in high-value technology sectors.
Custom IC Design Flow
Specification
Define the IC's functionality, performance goals, and system integration needs.
Architecture Design
Plan block diagrams, data paths, and control units for optimal design.
RTL Design
Develop RTL code using Verilog or VHDL to describe the logic behavior.
Functional Verification
Test and simulate the RTL logic to catch bugs and logic errors early.
Synthesis
Transform RTL into a gate-level netlist compatible with a target technology.
Place & Route
Map standard cells onto silicon layout while maintaining timing and power goals.
Static Timing Analysis
Analyze and validate that all paths meet the required timing constraints.
DRC & LVS
Run Design Rule Checks and Layout vs Schematic checks to ensure manufacturability.
Tape-Out
Export GDSII files and prepare the chip for fabrication in foundry.
Custom IC Design
