Supportive semiconductor policy, ecosystem draws French IC design firm, Weeroc to invest US$4.3mil into Malaysian expansion

• Q1 ‘25 operations to be launched at IC Design Park in Selangor
• Investment to be funded from internal funds and new investment round

It is not a billion dollar commitment into Malaysia's growing semiconductor space but in the long run will prove as important as the hardware investments made, since it augments the critical software side of the semiconductor value chain via creating products that generate demand for the chips produced by the semicon fabs. Last Friday, in a boost to the recently announced Malaysia Semiconductor Integrated Circuit Design Park in Selangor, Sidec (Selangor Information Technology & Digital Economy Corporation) signed a Letter of Intent with Weeroc, a French IC design company that spun-off in 2012 from Omega laboratory, a French governmental agency for fundamental research in astrophysics, particle physics and nuclear physics. With a headcount of over 10 people, Weeroc designs and provides analogue and mixed ASICs for industry use.

“Choosing Malaysia to set up a new design centre is in line with our strategy to expand our IC design team for Aerospace products,” said Dr Salleh Ahmad, CTO of Weeroc who also announced that the company would invest US$4.31 million (RM20 million) into its operation in Malaysia with the investment to be, “a mix of funding, including internal funds.” Operations are expected to launch next year.

Salleh started with Weeroc since its launch as a mixed signals engineer and became CTO in 2016 as the company expanded its services beyond its core IC design.

“I am not the founder but am part of the co-founding team,” said Salleh who is Malaysian.

“Choosing Malaysia to set up a new design centre is in line with our strategy to expand our IC design team for Aerospace products,” he explained, adding that the government’s support with the National Semiconductor Strategy and the launching of the IC Design Park in Selangor gave them the encouragement as well.

“We believe that Malaysia could move up in the semiconductor industry value chain and has an untapped potential of IC design talent.”

Yong Kai Ping, CEO of Sidec, said “We are excited to welcome Weeroc to Selangor. This collaboration aligns perfectly with our mission to foster technological advancements and economic growth that will benefit both our community and the global semiconductor industry.”

Sidec will assist in Weeroc's operational launch and provide facilities at the Integrated Circuit Design Park. These facilities will include Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools, intellectual property (IP) services, multi-project wafer (MPW) services, testing tools, talent and industrial training, and office facilities.

"We expect to be able to start a new design company in the first quarter of 2025. Starting a new venture in collaboration with Sidec at the Malaysia Semiconductor IC Design Park, Selangor will allow us to conduct technology transfer, IP development, and transfer know-how of the IC design," said Salleh. "The support from Sidec and the robust ecosystem in Selangor make it an ideal location for our growth."