Witnessing history, UOW Malaysia KDU joins Intel's University Shuttle Program

Recently, the University of Wollongong Malaysia Campus (UOWM) has reached a groundbreaking collaboration with Intel, the world's second-largest semiconductor company, establishing the UOWM-Intel IC Design Excellence Center at UOWM's Batu Kawan campus. This makes UOWM the first university in Southeast Asia to join Intel's University Shuttle Program, marking a historic moment.

Intel's University Shuttle Program also includes other prestigious universities in the United States, such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Michigan State University, and the University of California, Berkeley.

The global semiconductor market was valued at approximately $574 billion in 2022. With the continuous development of artificial intelligence, it is expected to reach around $1 trillion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of about 7%. This highlights the enormous potential and opportunities in the semiconductor industry. Intel's University Shuttle Program aims to collaborate with universities, allowing scholars and students to access Intel's semiconductor chips, thereby accelerating research and development and expanding Intel's future semiconductor talent pool.

The Value of the UOWM-Intel Design Excellence Center

Through this collaboration, Intel provides UOWM and its campus network with advanced Intel i16 Process Design Kits (PDK), which enable optimized design for specific process chips. Additionally, Intel has generously assisted UOWM in acquiring 20 software licenses worth $800 million at a price significantly below market value.

Furthermore, this will provide unique opportunities for students and faculty at UOWM, as well as at UOW campuses in Australia, Dubai, and Hong Kong, to design chips using industry-standard software, which will then be manufactured and tested at Intel's facilities.

UOW's Electrical and Electronic Engineering program is ranked among the top 200 in the 2024 QS World University Rankings by Subject, and its Engineering program is ranked within the top 150 globally in the 2024 THE World University Rankings by Subject. UOW's global campus network is well-equipped to fully leverage the advantages brought by the collaboration with Intel, propelling this research field to new heights.

Based on this collaboration, UOWM has revised its 4-year Electrical and Electronic Engineering degree program to include electronic design units, enabling students to master IC design. Our engineering students will receive internship and job opportunities at Intel and will work with Intel trainers to further provide students with the necessary design skills and technical knowledge guidance.

The establishment of the UOWM-Intel IC Design Excellence Center is not only a significant event for UOWM but also a milestone for the development of the local industry in Penang, Malaysia, meeting the needs of Penang's growing high-tech industry. Therefore, when UOWM and Intel signed the Memorandum of Understanding, Penang Chief Minister YAB Chow Kon Yeow was also present to witness the signing and personally launched the UOWM-Intel IC Design Excellence Center project.