Founded by Dr. Grant A. Ellis in 2005, Penang’s MTT/ED/AP chapter was the first IEEE chapter in the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone, Penang, Malaysia.

A plan to start an IEEE SSCS chapter in Penang was started by Mr. Boon Eu Seow in 2006, but delayed due to the insufficiency of SSCS members. Two years later, MTT/ED/AP Chapter Chair Mr. Yut Hoong Chow proposed that the AP unit of MTT/ED/AP be replaced by SSCS to better focus on related industries in the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone. So the group was reorganized officially on 15 May 2008 and renamed the IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society, the IEEE Electron Devices Society and the IEEE Solid-State Circuits Society (MTT/ED/SSC) joint chapter

The Penang  Chapter Mission
The IEEE Penang chapter hopes to support and accelerate the growth of electronic industries in its region by sponsoring and organizing seminars and lectures by subject matter experts. In this regard, IEEE distinguished lecturers have been very supportive, delivering many well-received and well-attended lectures to our group.

Penang - Malaysia’s “Silicon Island”
Located in the north of Malaysia, Penang is one of the world's high-tech manufacturing centers with more than 30 years of electronics industry activity.

                  Map of Penang, courtesy of Penang RF Cluster, http://www.investpenang.gov.my

Penang's Bayan Lepas Free industrial Zone (FIZ) was started in 1972 by YAB Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu, former Chief Minister of Penang. Bayan Lepas FIZ. At the size of 1300 acres, it serves as the country's free trade zone and has been home for over three decades to some of the world's top technology companies, such as Intel, Motorola, Agilent Technologies, Robert Bosch, Osram Optosemiconductor, Seagate, AMD, Hitachi and Clarion.

Today, more than 700 transnational and local companies operate in the industrial parks in Penang, including Penang Biotech Park (also known as Penang Science Park), Perai Free Industrial Park, Perai Industrial Park, Seberang Jaya Industrial Park, Bukit Tengah Industrial Park, Bukit Minyak Industrial Park and Mak Mandin Industrial Park.

The State, whose economy for over three decades has been anchored in its manufacturing sector, is now moving upstream to include R&D and product development. Multinational companies including Motorola, Intel, Avago, Agilent, Altera, Renesas and Spansion have set up significant R&D centres to design MMICs, two-way radios, analog and digital ICs as well as measuring instruments.

Penang’s skilled and knowledgeable workers are strongly supported and incubated by the institutions of higher education in the state, including the University of Science Malaysia, Wawasan Open University at George Town, the Penang Skill Development Center (PSDC) at Bayan Lepas, and the Japan-Malaysia Technical Institute at Bukit Minyak.

The Present and the Past Elected Chapter Officers

2009 (MTT-ED-SSCS joint chapter)

2008 (MTT-ED-SSCS joint chapter)

2007 (MTT-AP-EDS joint chapter)

2005/2006 (MTT-AP-EDS joint chapter)