Malaysia's IC design firm Oppstar has entered into two MoUs with Inventec to collaborate on next-generation AI chips and form a joint venture (JV), according to documents filed with Bursa Malaysia.
The agreements outline that Oppstar and its wholly owned subsidiary, AIRIS Labs, will provide IC design expertise, engineering support, and technical assistance, while Inventec will contribute system integration capabilities and manage market-related activities. Inventec's subsidiary AsicAI will lead chip architecture development, support NPU intellectual property (IP), and integrate specialized knowledge.
A second MoU between AIRIS Labs and AsicAI sets the groundwork to establish a joint venture company. Both parties aim to complete due diligence and internal reviews within 90 days to finalize the JV agreement.
The collaboration aligns with the Malaysian government's recent US$250 million, 10-year technology licensing agreement with Singapore-based silicon IP firm Arm Holdings. This deal aims to advance the country's IC design sector, and Oppstar and Inventec plan to explore leveraging relevant resources and government incentive programs as part of their partnership.
Oppstar, founded in 2014 and headquartered in Penang, employs over 200 staff with a core team boasting more than 30 years of experience in IC design and packaging. Several key members have prior experience at Intel Corporation. The partnership with Inventec signals a strategic move to strengthen Malaysia's position in the AI chip market through combined technology and market expertise.
Article translated by Jingyue Hsiao and edited by Jack Wu
