Open & ActiveIncubator / AcceleratorDirect-apply
MTDC — SemiconStart Malaysia (with Silicon Catalyst UK)
Incubator / Accelerator Programme (Grant + In-Kind)
Accelerator offering a cash grant plus in-kind support (foundry access, mentorship, network) for semiconductor deep-tech startups, run with Silicon Catalyst UK.
Open & Active — SemiconStart launched Oct 2025 in partnership with Silicon Catalyst UK (Budget 2026 initiative). Apply at mtdc.com.my/semiconstart. Semiconductor deep-tech focus (IC design, chip design tools, EDA, advanced packaging).
Financial Parameters
- Total pool / mandate
- Programme budget not publicly disclosed; mix of grants, in-kind, matchmaking
- Ticket size
- Non-cash: discounted foundry access, mentorship, network (value est. RM200K–RM1M per company) – Cash grant component: est. RM500K–RM2M per company (TBC)
- Cost of capital
- Grant portion: 0%; any equity: negotiated (MTDC may take convertible note)
- Tenure
- Cohort-based: 12–18 months per cohort
- Shariah-compliant
- Both
Focus Areas
- Value chain segments
- IC Design & Embedded SystemsAdvanced Materials & SubstratesEquipment Manufacturing / Automation
- Use of proceeds
- R&DCommercialisationTalent
- Company stage
- Pre-revenueEarly revenue (Seed–Series A)
Eligibility
- Ownership requirement
- Malaysian-incorporated preferred; ≥51% Malaysian equity preferred; foreign startups with Malaysian subsidiary considered
TRL 4–commercial ready; pre-revenue to early revenue; semiconductor-focused startup
Application
- Application cycle
- Annual cohort; inaugural 2026 cohort — applications open April 2026 via Silicon Catalyst portal
Background
- Example recipients
- Target: 10 best companies in inaugural 2026 cohort; IC design, sensor tech, photonics, MEMS, quantum
- Notes / source
- MTDC + Silicon Catalyst UK. Applications: forms.mtdc.com.my/semiconstart. Source: mtdc.com.my/semiconstart