Shariman Jamil, Chief Executive Officer of SMD Semiconductor, leads Malaysia’s only state-backed design house dedicated to building a full semiconductor design ecosystem in Sarawak.
SMD Semiconductor develops chip IP, trains design engineers, and builds industry partnerships that lift Sarawak from follower to design partner on the global stage.
*Excerpts from April 2025 interview with Nitin Dahad of EE Times.
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- When Shariman Jamil returned to Sarawak, he carried with him a mission to build a homegrown chip-design ecosystem that would create high-value jobs for local talent. By transforming government ambition into a functioning design house, he gave engineers and entrepreneurs a clear path from vision to reality.
- Shariman received a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Electronics from @\Surrey and Queens Belfast Universities, UK. He studied PhD in Analogue IC Design at TU Graz, Austria, but withdrew to pursue other interests. Shariman attended Elite Management Training at Said Business School, Oxford University, UK.
- Under his leadership, the SMD Chip Design Centre and the SMD Academy emerged as cornerstones of talent development in Sarawak. Graduates are no longer only trained; they are placed into real design roles where their work becomes part of Malaysia’s intellectual property.
- International expansion soon followed. By opening an R&D Innovation Hub at the CSA Catapult in Wales, Shariman connected Sarawak engineers directly to advanced research in compound semiconductors and power conversion, accelerating collaboration and shortening development cycles.
- Innovation sits at the heart of his leadership. Through initiatives like keteq.ai, an AI-enabled power-converter prototype, SMD has positioned itself at the nexus of energy-efficient power management and the rapidly growing edge AI market.
- Shariman often describes his philosophy as the “Silicon Longhouse,” a blend of Silicon Valley’s technical discipline and Sarawak’s communal spirit. That cultural vision has united diaspora talent, earned government trust, and attracted global collaborators.
- Partnerships have become his proof of concept. By working with foundries and research institutions, SMD has moved Sarawak beyond contract manufacturing into the creation of valuable semiconductor IP for global supply chains.
- Career pathways now carry real weight in the region. Training programs and internships developed under SMD are producing designers who not only stay in Sarawak but also contribute to international R&D projects that elevate the state’s global standing.
- His journey – from Silicon Valley engineer to Sarawak CEO – speaks to persistence, patience, and belief in talent as the foundation of competitiveness. Shariman’s message resonates across borders: invest in skills, build global partnerships, and pursue design excellence to claim higher ground in the semiconductor value chain.
**Excerpts from April 2025 interview with Nitin Dahad of EE Times.
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