Silicon X Achieves Key Milestone With Power-on Of Malaysia’s First FPGA Chip

GEORGE TOWN, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- Silicon X Sdn Bhd, a homegrown integrated circuit (IC) design company, has achieved a major milestone in Malaysia’s semiconductor industry with the successful power-on of its proprietary Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) chip, marking a significant step forward in the nation’s high-tech ambitions.

Its managing director, Ng Meng Wah, said the power-on marks the beginning of the chip’s ready-testing phase as the company moves towards mass production, targeted for the first half of 2026.

“This is a major milestone for us. Our chip is now being tested and perfected before mass production.

"We are also currently in advanced discussions with several potential customers from Japan, China, and Malaysia, and will make the necessary announcements once agreements are finalised," he told a press conference here, today. 

Ng said the typical life cycle of an FPGA chip is about eight years, and Silicon X plans to continue developing subsequent chip generations to sustain growth. 

The first chip is expected to generate between RM200 million and RM300 million in revenue over the next eight years, with applications for Silicon X’s FPGA chip including automotive systems and LED billboard displays, and other sectors. 

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Silicon X, one of the incubatees under the Penang Silicon Design @5KM+ (PSD@5KM+) initiative, is also the first FPGA product company in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.

Also present at the press conference was Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and InvestPenang chief executive officer Datuk Loo Lee Lian. 

Chow said Silicon X's achievement reinforces Penang’s reputation as a leading semiconductor hub, in line with efforts to develop a “Made by Malaysia” chip ecosystem that enhances the nation’s role in the global semiconductor value chain.

“Penang is proud to host innovators like Silicon X, who are helping to realise our aspiration to create the first generation of ‘Made by Malaysia’ chips – designed, developed, and driven here in Penang," he added. 

Established in 2024, Silicon X focuses on developing intelligent systems that support artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation. Its FPGA technology aims to reduce reliance on imported solutions and strengthen Malaysia’s semiconductor ecosystem.

Meanwhile, Chow also announced that the PSD@5KM+ initiative is welcoming its second batch of incubatees, comprising two local IC design companies, into the Silicon Research & Incubation Space @GBS TechSpace.

He said the two new incubatees, Channel Microsystems and Tenasic Technology, would receive similar support as the inaugural batch, including access to subsidies to support operating expenses such as rental, utilities, multi-project wafer services, testing, and talent development. 

To date, over RM5 million has been awarded to the first batch of recipients, demonstrating strong early momentum and the government’s commitment to nurturing Malaysia’s IC design sector.

The addition of these two companies brings the total number of local IC design firms at PSD@5KM+ to seven, underscoring substantial progress toward the National Semiconductor Strategy target of establishing at least ten Malaysian companies specialising in IC design. 

-- BERNAMA