Abang Johari (third right) and his delegation in a group photo with CSA Catapult officials after signing the initial MoU in April last year. – Photo via Facebook/Sarawakku

KUCHING (April 27): Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg will lead a Sarawak government delegation to visit the CSA Catapult Innovation Centre in Newport, United Kingdom on April 29.

The visit serves as an effort to strengthen collaboration in semiconductor development between the UK and Sarawak, said the Premier’s Office in a statement today.

During the visit, the Sarawak government, through SMD Semiconductor Sdn Bhd, will exchange partnership agreements with CSA Catapult, Silicon Catalyst and 5G3i Ltd of the UK.

CSA Catapult is the UK’s authority on compound semiconductor applications and commercialisation, while Silicon Catalyst is a key semiconductor incubator. 5G3i Ltd, meanwhile, is a leading circuit-level artificial intelligence solutions provider in the UK.

The Sarawak government will also present the Sarawak Semiconductor Roadmap 2030 to the UK semiconductor industry players during the same ceremony.

This will be done via a briefing by SMD Semiconductor chairman Dato Sri Wanlizozman Wan Omar, who is also the state Financial Secretary.

There will also be a hardware demonstration and soft launch of SMD’s new AI-powered converter prototype – a ground-breaking intelligent power management and control system with potential applications in the energy domain, transportation, industrial and mission-critical control systems in the fields of aerospace, healthcare and defence.

The visit to the facility will be capped off with a networking luncheon with representatives from the English, Scottish and Northern Irish governments to strengthen relationship between the UK and Sarawak, particularly in the advancement of compound semiconductor.

For the record, Sarawak’s SMD Semi-conductor signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with CSA Catapult in April last year to pave the way for close collaboration between Sarawak and UK semiconductor ecosystems.

On April 30, Abang Johari will continue his working visit to the UK with a call on the Cambridge University Press and Assessment, a non-school institution of the University of Cambridge that offers a wide range of products and services focused on education, learning, research and qualifying assessments.

The assessment services include the administration of a range of assessments, particularly qualifications for schools and higher education and other standardised tests relevant to the implementation of assessment tests for schools in Sarawak.

On May 1, the premier will lead a delegation to the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) for a roundtable discussion on sustainability, followed by an MoU exchange between LSE and Sarawak government.

He will also meet with officials of the International Hydropower Association and Global Renewable Alliances to enhance collaboration between the world body and Sarawak as a prominent hydropower provider in Asean.

On May 2, Abang Johari will deliver a keynote address at a gathering of industry players and captains of industries to promote collaboration and investment in sustainable and renewable industries in Sarawak.

On May 3, he will meet Sarawak students in the UK, where he will speak on the various development initiatives in Sarawak and field questions from students in a Lan Berambeh gathering, organised by the Sarawak students’ association in the UK.

On May 4, the premier and his delegation will fly to Toulouse, France for a working tour of Airbus headquarters before proceeding to Abu Dhabi for a meeting with the Abu Dhabi port authority and a tour of the port and also tour of the Zayed International Airport.

The delegation comprises Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, Minister for Utility and Telecommunication Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi, State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Francis Hardin Hollis, Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni and Deputy Minister for Utility and Telecommunication Dato Ibrahim Baki.