Recognizing the changing dynamics of the microelectronics industry in Southeast Asia, SEMI today announced the expanded scope of its industry-leading SEMICON regional exposition which will now rotate between Singapore and other locations within Southeast Asia. Building on the twenty-year history of SEMICON Singapore, the expanded event — branded SEMICON Southeast Asia — will have its inaugural event in in Penang, Malaysia in 2015.  The announcement was made during SEMICON Singapore 2014 (www.semiconsingapore.org), which is currently being held from 23-25 April at the Marina Bay Sands.

“While Singapore continues to serve as the hub of the microelectronics industry in Southeast Asia, SEMI recognizes the growth and importance of the industry across the region requires a new vision for serving our members and other customers where they do business,” said Kai Fai Ng, president of SEMI Southeast Asia. “Through the rotation of SEMICON Southeast Asia between Singapore, Malaysia, and the region, we will open new business opportunities for our customers and foster stronger pan-regional engagement in our programs and other events serving the industry. On alternating years, we will continue to support the host regions through high-level executive conferences in Singapore and Malaysia.”

According to Gartner, the Southeast Asia microelectronics manufacturing market accounts for more than 27 percent of the world’s assembly, packaging, and test production and Malaysia alone represents over 10 percent of the global square footage, followed closely by the Philippines, Thailand and Singapore.  According to the SEMI (www.semi.org) World Fab Forecast, Southeast Asia is among the top four regions in terms of growth rate for capacity.  In 2014, approximately $800 million of front end fab spending will occur in Southeast Asia.

The new SEMICON Southeast Asia will continue to focus on the key trends and technologies in semiconductor design and manufacturing, adding emphasis in serving the needs of expanding applications markets in areas including mobile devices and other connected “Internet of Things” (IoT) technologies, many of which require development of specialized materials, packaging, and test technologies, as well as new architectures and processes — technologies addressed by a growing number of companies located across Southeast Asia.  SEMI will continue to maintain its regional headquarters in Singapore.

For more information on SEMICON Singapore 2014, visit: www.semiconsingapore.org.   To learn about SEMICON Southeast Asia 2015 exhibition opportunities, visit www.semiconsea.org.