World’s second-richest country brings semiconductor education to primary schools

The Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association (SSIA), industry partners and LEGO Education will pilot a two-year program for about 600 students aged 10 and above as part of the Semiconductor Future Makers Movement, launched Sept. 24 to introduce young people to the industry throughout their education.

Students will use physical models, programmable motors and color sensors to learn coding, computational thinking and age-appropriate artificial intelligence concepts. They will also explore how semiconductor chips enable sensors, robots, smart devices and AI applications.

The initiative comes as Singapore, the world's second-richest country behind Switzerland by GDP per capita in 2025, seeks to strengthen its semiconductor talent pipeline.

Singapore's Minister of State for Trade and Industry Foo Cexiang said at the SSIA Semiconductor Dinner on Sept. 24 that the initiative would help young Singaporeans encounter the semiconductor industry throughout their education, from primary school to university, The Straits Times reported.

The semiconductor industry contributes nearly 6% of Singapore's GDP and supports close to 35,000 jobs in engineering, research and development, manufacturing and design, he said.

A teacher and students in a classroom in Singapore. Photo from National Institute of Education's website

The talent push comes as AI drives demand for more powerful and energy-efficient chips while the global semiconductor industry faces a shortage of skilled workers.

The industry will need more than one million additional skilled workers worldwide by 2030, according to a Deloitte estimate cited by EE Times Asia.

"Building talent does not start at hiring," the association’s executive director Ang Wee Seng, said. "Semiconductors are behind almost everything we use, yet much of the industry remains unseen by young people."

Beyond primary schools, SSIA and the National Youth Council have launched a three-year partnership offering up to 1,000 short-term industry experiences and connecting 300 young people with industry mentors.

Broader activities, including company visits, job shadowing, project challenges and short-term work attachments, are expected to reach more than 4,000 youths over three years.

SSIA and semiconductor company ams-OSRAM are also developing a Semiconductor Future Makers Camp for children and youths aged seven to 16 in 2027. Engineers and mentors will lead hands-on activities involving light, sensing and semiconductor technologies.

The talent initiative also extends to university students across Asia.

SSIA has launched its first Regional Student Talent Exchange, bringing together more than 50 students and educators from Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and India.

Participants come from fields including integrated circuit design, electronics engineering, embedded systems, manufacturing, wearable electronics and computer science.

Ang said bringing students from different countries and technical fields together early would help them build relationships and develop a regional perspective for an industry whose innovation, manufacturing and supply chains span borders.