On September 24, the Graduate School of Business and Entrepreneurship organized a roundtable discussion with professors and experts from leading educational institutions in Malaysia and the Republic of Korea specializing in training engineers in electronics, programming, and design for the semiconductor industry, as well as representatives from industrial enterprises, research and educational institutions, and relevant ministries and departments.

The event participants highlighted the prospects for the development of the semiconductor industry in Uzbekistan, the importance of research in this field, global market trends, and the importance of studying international experience in developing the sector. 

During the roundtable, participants discussed priority areas for the development of the semiconductor industry in the country, including primary tasks being implemented in the industry, the establishment of practical cooperation between the industry and research and educational institutions, and the successful application of international best practices. 

A Malaysian expert’s presentation shared information about the country’s experience in developing the industry by entering the semiconductor supply chain and outsourcing assembly and testing services, the current state of industry development, skilled labor shortage, and measures taken to address them, the adoption of a National Semiconductor Strategy for further industry development, and measures to support the industry by the government. 

The information presented by the Korean expert, regarding the country’s focus on training engineers in electronics, programming, and design initially and the development of microchip and memory processor production based solely on the country’s scientific capacity, as well as current challenges in developing South Korea’s semiconductor industry and the measures taken to address them, drew the attention of the roundtable participants. 

At the roundtable, discussions focused on the potential directions of the Uzeltechsanoat Association in the semiconductor sector of Uzbekistan, the establishment and phased development of an economic zone and a technology park, the power semiconductors area of the Institute of Ion-Plasma and Laser Technologies, the international cooperation of the Institute of Semiconductor Physics and Microelectronics, as well as the proposals of the Graduate School of Business and Entrepreneurship on localizing semiconductor components in the production of LEDs, LED lamps and screens, and drones.

The roundtable participants showed interest in the local development of elements such as molybdenum, zinc, and germanium. 

Following the roundtable discussion, participants agreed to develop proposals for the production of semiconductor products based on promising research projects, study the possibility of localizing semiconductor components, and, together with the Uzeltechsanoat Association, establish cooperation between manufacturers and research institutes, develop joint proposals for training personnel for the semiconductor industry and its development, and others.

Nasiba Ziyodullayeva, UzA