UB Group Joins KL20@Penang 2026 Dialogue on Scaling Malaysia’s Semiconductor Technology Champions
Penang, September 24, 2026 – UB Group joined leading semiconductor and technology companies at KL20@Penang 2026 – Silicon Surge, contributing industry perspectives on strengthening Malaysia's homegrown technology capabilities and accelerating their growth into globally competitive businesses.
Held at the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre, the event brought together industry leaders, technology innovators, investors and ecosystem stakeholders to explore opportunities for advancing Malaysia's semiconductor industry and expanding its participation in the global value chain.
Representing UB Group, Group CEO Hawke Tan participated in the panel discussion, "Building and Scaling Malaysia's Next Semiconductor Equipment & Technology Champions," alongside Ng Chin Wah of Aemulus, Dato' Ts. Dr. Shanmuganathan Palanisamy of ECTrons, and Koh Dim Kuan of Sophic Automation. The session was moderated by Dato' Seri Lee Kah Choon, Chairman of Northeast Group Berhad.
The discussion addressed how Malaysian technology companies can translate engineering expertise into commercially viable solutions, strengthen customer adoption, scale operational capabilities and expand into international markets.
Strengthening Malaysia's Semiconductor Ecosystem Through the ATE Campus
UB Group's participation aligns with its broader involvement in the Malaysia Automation, Test and Equipment (ATE) Campus in Penang, a strategic initiative spearheaded by InvestPenang to strengthen local industrial technology capabilities and accelerate the development of Malaysian ATE companies.
Officially launched in April 2026, the ATE Campus provides a collaborative platform connecting local technology providers with multinational manufacturers to support technology co-development, qualification, industry adoption and talent development.
During KL20@Penang 2026, the Ministry of Economy also announced an allocation of RM25 million under the 13th Malaysia Plan to support the establishment of the Malaysia ATE Campus, reinforcing the national focus on developing local automation and semiconductor equipment capabilities.
As one of the participating ATE companies, UB Group brings expertise in smart manufacturing, intelligent material handling, automated storage and retrieval systems, robotics and industrial digitalization.
Its capabilities in material flow integration and factory automation are particularly relevant to semiconductor manufacturing environments, where efficient material movement, traceability, space optimization and reliable production operations are increasingly critical.
Through the ATE Campus ecosystem, UB Group is well positioned to contribute to collaborative solution development, technology localization and practical automation deployment, helping bridge the gap between local engineering innovation and the requirements of global manufacturers.
Translating Engineering Capabilities into Global Opportunities
For Malaysian technology companies, achieving global competitiveness requires more than developing advanced solutions. It also depends on industry collaboration, access to customers, engineering talent and the ability to deliver technologies that meet demanding manufacturing requirements.
With over three decades of industrial automation experience, UB Group continues to strengthen its integrated engineering and technology capabilities to support increasingly complex industrial operations.
By combining practical factory-floor experience with automation technologies and digital integration, UB Group aims to contribute to Malaysia's efforts to develop a stronger, more competitive semiconductor equipment and automation ecosystem.
Its involvement in KL20@Penang 2026 and the ATE Campus reflects a shared industry direction: transforming Malaysian engineering strengths into scalable technologies, stronger industrial partnerships and greater opportunities in global markets.
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