Bangladesh pitches 'Silicon River' vision in Malaysia to tap global chip market

Bangladesh has intensified its push to enter the global semiconductor value chain, as the Bangladesh Semiconductor Industry Association (BSIA) kicks off a three-day international roadshow in Penang, Malaysia, on 11 November.

Branded as "Silicon River," the roadshow aims to position Bangladesh before Malaysia's advanced semiconductor industry by showcasing the country's growing pool of chip-design startups, testing firms, and university talent.

Industry insiders describe it as Bangladesh's most coordinated effort yet to present itself as a cost-competitive, high-skill hub for semiconductor design, AI-driven chip engineering, and outsourced testing services.

Malaysia, home to global players such as ASE, Infineon, and Silterra, is widely regarded as Asia's most mature packaging and testing hub. 

Association leaders said Malaysia's advanced manufacturing and R&D collaborations make it an ideal partner for Bangladesh's emerging design-focused ecosystem.

"Malaysia is a natural starting point," said M A Jabbar, president of the association. "They have decades of experience in packaging and testing; we bring design talent, cost competitiveness and an innovation mindset. The "Silicon River" initiative is about connecting these strengths and building Bangladesh's confidence as a global innovation partner."

High-level delegates from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority, Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association, Invest Penang, Deloitte, Rapid Manufacturing, TF-AMD, Aemulus, Inari, Infinecs, and several major Malaysian firms are expected to attend. 

Special guests include the Deputy Chief Minister of Penang, YB En Jagdeep Singh Deo, and Bangladesh High Commissioner Manjurul Karim Khan Chowdhury.

The BSIA delegation features some of Bangladesh's most advanced semiconductor companies, representing capabilities that were virtually nonexistent a decade ago. 

Participating firms include ULAKSEMI and Neural Semiconductor, specializing in analog, RF, and photonics design, Prime Silicon, focusing on advanced digital implementation and foundry-ready execution, Siliconova Limited, known for AI-driven design automation and OSAT-related collaboration, iTest Bangladesh, offering semiconductor testing and reliability services, Cactus Materials, a pioneer in SiC power devices and III-V photonics

Together, these companies highlight the depth, diversity, and growing sophistication of Bangladesh's semiconductor ecosystem.

Momentum in the ecosystem

Bangladesh's semiconductor industry, though still nascent, is expanding rapidly. More than a dozen chip-design startups have emerged in the past five years, many founded by engineers returning from the US, Europe, and Malaysia. Leading universities, including BUET, CUET, KUET, IUT, and BRAC University, have established dedicated Very-Large-Scale Integration labs and research groups. 

BSIA has also signed cooperation agreements with international associations and universities in the US, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Europe.

Purdue University professor Muhammad Mustafa Hussain said Bangladesh's progress is attracting growing global attention. "The roadshow continues the Silicon River vision of connecting academia, industry, and the global diaspora. By linking vision with opportunity, talent with technology, it signals a new era for Bangladesh," he said.

The roadshow is expected to yield tangible outcomes, including B2B and B2G partnerships for joint chip design and OSAT projects, a dedicated Bangladesh–Malaysia Semiconductor Collaboration Track, and frameworks for training and IP-sharing between universities and industry. 

Discussions will also explore bilateral Centres of Excellence, joint ventures in chip testing, packaging, and semiconductor supply-chain expansion.