May 20, 2025 — SEMICON Southeast Asia 2025 officially opened today at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore, marking a significant milestone in its 30-year journey as Southeast Asia’s premier semiconductor industry event. Day one was a resounding success, drawing over 18,000 attendees including top executives, engineers, policymakers, and media from across the globe.
Day 1 Highlights: Strategic Dialogues and Meaningful Connections
The energizing day began with a morning networking breakfast, followed by a grand opening ceremony graced by notable dignitaries and semiconductor leaders, including:
● Guest of Honour: Dr. Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry, Singapore
● Ajit Manocha, President & CEO of SEMI
● Dr. Tien Wu, CEO of ASE Group
The CEO Summit was the marquee event of the day, bringing together C-suite executives from Applied Materials, GlobalFoundries, Infineon, SanDisk, Soitec, and ASE. Discussions centered on global supply chain diversification, AI chip innovation, sustainable manufacturing, and workforce transformation.
Meanwhile, the Semiconductor HR Forum provided a platform for thought leaders to address critical talent development challenges and opportunities, signaling the industry's growing focus on long-term sustainability.
Across the exhibition floor, new business partnerships were formed and innovative product showcases kept the momentum high throughout the day.
Industry Focus: AI, Chiplet Architectures, and Resilient Supply Chains
The Market & Industry Outlook Forum featured insights from BCG, McKinsey, and SEMI Taiwan. Key topics included the rise of custom AI chips for data centers, quantum computing breakthroughs, and the critical need for diversified supply chains in an uncertain global landscape.
New forums added this year—AI Chip Design, AI Manufacturing, and Advanced Packaging & Heterogeneous Integration—highlighted end-to-end innovation across the semiconductor value chain. Discussions covered next-gen packaging technologies, chiplet integration, and silicon photonics applications in cloud and communications.
Global Announcements and Industry Movements
Several major announcements were made by key players:
● Siconnex made its debut at SEMICON SEA, showcasing cutting-edge wet etch and photoresist strip solutions for photonics applications.
● Kaynes Semicon announced the opening of its first overseas chip design center in Muscat, Oman, as part of its global expansion plan.
● Malaysia’s Prime Minister reaffirmed plans to develop domestic GPU production capabilities and position the country as a hub for AI and semiconductor manufacturing.
Sustainability and Talent at the Core
SEMI’s Global Climate Summit (GCS) and Supplier Sustainability Workshop emphasized industry commitments to reducing emissions, enabling green energy transitions, and promoting transparent practices.Initiatives like SEMI TECH Zoomers University Camp, Chip-on-Wheels Mobile Lab, and TalentCONNECT continue to build the next-generation workforce, highlighting the industry’s proactive stance on education and recruitment.
Southeast Asia on the Rise: A Strategic Semiconductor Hub
Amid global realignments in manufacturing and technology, Southeast Asia is rapidly emerging as a key semiconductor hub. Countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam are expanding wafer fabs, packaging and test facilities, and R&D centers. According to Statista, the region's semiconductor market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.42% from 2025 to 2029.
SEMICON SEA 2025 not only celebrates three decades of industry evolution in the region, but also sets the stage for deeper international collaboration and sustained innovation.
Futuretech Components: Partnering for the Next Leap in Semiconductor Innovation
As a trusted distributor of high-quality electronic components, Futuretech Components is closely following the key trends and technological signals emerging from SEMICON Southeast Asia 2025. We are committed to providing our clients with authorized sourcing channels and cutting-edge product solutions that support innovation in AI, advanced packaging, and sustainable manufacturing.
The collaborative spirit and regional momentum showcased at this year’s event further reinforce our strategic vision for growth in the Asia-Pacific semiconductor ecosystem.
