Sarawak eyes homegrown chips for space missions

KUCHING, Sept 15: Sarawak has set its sights on developing locally designed and manufactured chips for space technology, including low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, with the potential to support machines for future missions to Mars.

Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the aspiration forms part of the state’s efforts to move from being merely a technology user to becoming a technology owner.

“Our dream today is to have our own chip design created by anak Sarawak, but used by the world,” he said.

Abang Johari said the vision entails using Sarawak-designed chips in a state government satellite targeted for launch into low Earth orbit by 2030.

He also revealed that Sarawak has been developing a chip with the potential to be used in a high-tech machine for a mission to Mars.

“And I can tell you here that we are developing that to be used by a very sophisticated machine that will go to Mars,” he added.

The chip is expected to be designed by local talent and manufactured in Sarawak.

The initiative also involves strengthening the state’s engineering workforce, with Sarawak targeting an increase in the number of engineers from about 40 to around 500.

Abang Johari added that Sarawak had also aimed to develop more local talent into chip designers, innovators, technology owners and technology manufacturers. – TVS