At the Advanced Innovation & Manufacturing CXO Forum and Press Conference Penang 2025, Guest-of-Honour YB Jagdeep Singh Deo, Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang, underscored Penang’s growing strength in high-tech manufacturing and the need to develop a future-ready workforce to secure the region’s competitiveness. The forum’s spotlight panel, “Powering ASEAN’s Manufacturing in AI Adoption, Talent Development, and Tech Investment,” brought this vision to life, exploring how AI is driving operational excellence while talent and regional collaboration remain central to long-term growth.
This article recaps the major highlights, from AIM Asia’s mission and ecosystem building efforts, to panel insights on leveraging AI, training future ready workforces, fostering strategic cross-border collaboration, and what’s ahead at AIM Asia Week 2025.
I. Building Asia’s Innovation Ecosystem
Renee Tan, Chairperson of the Advanced Innovation & Manufacturing Asia kicked off with an introduction to the multi-platform ecosystem she’s built over the past eight years, which includes Hashtaqs® and AIM Asia, among others. Each initiative supports scaling businesses, promoting sustainable AI, empowering women, and driving leadership with impact across Asia.
II. Advanced Innovation & Manufacturing (AIM) Asia’s Role and Mission
AIM Asia aims to drive Sustainable Industry 5.0, acting as a bridge between innovation, investment, and regional collaboration. The forum connects advanced manufacturers with tech enablers, investors, and policymakers while embedding diversity and equity in the tech and innovation space.
III. Highlights of Advanced Innovation & Manufacturing (AIM) Initiatives
From KL to Singapore and now Penang, the AIM CXO Networking Forums have created a pan-Asian knowledge-sharing circuit leading up to the 2nd Annual AIM Asia Week, to be held on 11–12 September 2025. The event continues to amplify the voice of Asian manufacturing and tech stakeholders.
IV. Industry Trends & Penang’s Role
Southeast Asia is quickly becoming a major hub for manufacturing, with the industry expected to hit USD 2.3 trillion by 2029. Strategic location, lower costs, and government-backed digitalisation efforts make ASEAN, especially Penang, an ideal innovation hub. With high-tech investments and talent, Penang is poised to be a key player in the global value chain.
Source: Source of Asia. (2025). Manufacturing industry in Southeast Asia 2024‑2025. Source of Asia. Retrieved July 10, 2025, from https://www.sourceofasia.com/manufacturing-industry-in-southeast-asia-2024-2025/
V. What to Expect at Advanced Innovation & Manufacturing (AIM) Asia Week 2025
Asia’s flagship platform for Industry 5.0, championing sustainability, tech integration (AI, robotics, quantum), workforce readiness, commercialization strategies, and capital-building. Designed to foster genuine, actionable connections between innovators and industry leaders in manufacturing’s next wave. This two-day convention will feature discussions on:
Day 1: Future Manufacturing Tech Day
AI, robotics, cybersecurity, capital raising, and startup pitching.- Day 2: Green Innovation & Sustainable Manufacturing Day
Green innovation, global supply chain, new energy, and workforce development.
Click here to see the full program
The event will spotlight a wide range of advanced manufacturing domains, including semiconductors, electronics manufacturing, medical technology (MedTech), pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and more. It is also supported by the Penang State Government, MATRADE, and MDEC, along with a number of other partners.
VI. Remarks from YB Jagdeep
YB Jagdeep, Deputy Chief Minister of Penang, emphasized the region’s strong industrial foundation with 450 MNCs and 7,000 SMEs. He highlighted talent development as the future of Penang’s economy and called for unity in building a “world-class” innovation ecosystem. With passionate remarks, he encouraged all stakeholders to nurture and grow the industry, just like raising the next generation.
Advanced Innovation & Manufacturing CXO Forum Penang
The next part of the event is a panel titled “Powering ASEAN’s manufacturing in AI adoption, talent development, and tech investment.” In this discussion, Panelists shared real-world examples of AI implementation, addressed challenges faced by SMEs, and highlighted the critical role of leadership, education, and ecosystem collaboration in driving sustainable digital transformation across the region.
Moderated by Renee Tan, Chairperson of AIM Asia, the panel featured:
- Leonard Tan, Director, Product Operations Engineering, Client BIOS RTS Development, Dell Technologies
- Chong Seng Lim, Director, Ecosystem Development, Digital Penang
- Clement Pang, IT Director, Micron Technology
- Parameswaran Ayahoo, Director, Industry Services, MIMOS Berhad
- Gary Leong, Senior Director, ViTrox
Together, they discussed how AI is reshaping manufacturing operations and strengthening the region’s global competitiveness.
The key highlights discussed in this panel include:
1. AI Is Not Magic, It’s a Tool for Empowerment
Leonard, a technology leader with a bold entrepreneurial mindset, emphasized that while AI democratizes knowledge, true impact only emerges when teams gain hands-on experience. He stressed the importance of empowering junior staff with real projects and giving them a “sandbox” to test and fail safely. He summarizes that AI provides knowledge, but it’s experience that leads to understanding.
2. Making AI Accessible with No-Code Tools
Clement echoed Leonard’s views, highlighting how AI is transforming factory floors. Rather than relying solely on IT teams, manufacturing personnel are now using no-code tools like CoPilot to solve their own challenges. Clement also reinforced that AI should augment, not replace, human roles, and that simplifying AI tools is key to broader adoption.
3. Security First: Guardrails in the GenAI Era
With greater AI use comes the need for robust data security frameworks. Clement detailed Micron’s stringent controls: public GenAI tools like ChatGPT are blocked, and all AI tools must pass through an Architectural Review Board. Leonard and Gary agreed, with both highlighting their internal models and frameworks that define what kind of data can or cannot be shared with AI platforms.
4. SMEs: The Sleeping Giant of AI Adoption
Despite their potential, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in ASEAN remain slow to embrace AI. Chong Seng emphasized that AI adoption must begin with basic digitalization. “Without digital infrastructure, AI cannot thrive,” he warned. He outlined a two-step approach: digitizing operations and building connected systems, only then can AI solutions bring measurable value.
Parameswaran also weighed in on the untapped potential of SMEs in ASEAN. Despite available government grants and AI platforms, many SMEs are still hesitant, often due to mindset, legacy processes, or lack of trust.
5. Talent Is the Real Engine of Innovation
Talent development emerged as a recurring theme. Leonard’s team thrives on peer-led learning and real-world challenges, while Gary encouraged leaders to lead by example. Parameswaran highlighted MIMOS’s collaboration with agencies to develop future-ready AI talent, and Clement shared how Micron runs summer camps and co-develops curricula with local universities to shape the next generation of engineers.
6. Collaboration Is the Catalyst
The speakers unanimously agreed that ecosystem collaboration across government, industry, and academia is essential. From partnerships with local universities to training initiatives, the audience was reminded that nowadays, no company can go it alone, ecosystems must work together.
HASHTAQS Brings AIM Asia CXO Forum Penang 2025 to a Close
The panel closed with a collective call to action: adopt AI with purpose, invest in people, and break silos through collaboration. The future of AI in ASEAN manufacturing is promising, but success lies not in technology alone, but in mindset, leadership, and community. AI adoption requires more than just cutting-edge tools, it demands vision, experimentation, and an ecosystem that grows together. With the right mindset and support, ASEAN has the potential to lead not only in manufacturing excellence but also in human-centered, responsible AI innovation. The message from all five panelists was resounding: start small, experiment boldly, and lead with purpose.
The Time to Act is Now
The insights shared at the AIM Asia CXO Networking Forum Penang 2025 laid a powerful foundation for the future of AI-driven manufacturing in ASEAN. But this is just the beginning.
Do you offer innovative solutions to tackle manufacturing challenges?
If yes, this could be the ideal platform to:
✔️ Showcase your technologies to a regional audience
✔️ Strengthen your brand visibility and credibility
✔️ Forge cross-border partnerships and market access discussions
✔️ Position your company as a leader in industrial transformation
Join us at Advanced Innovation & Manufacturing (AIM) Asia Week 2025 and be a part of the movement advancing Malaysia’s role in Advanced Manufacturing and Sustainable Industry 5.0.
Contact us to enquire about sponsorship and exhibition opportunities now at:
📞 +65 8868 1418 (SG) or +60 11 1616 3281 (MY)
AIM Asia Week is HRD claimable, register now at: www.advancedmanufacturingasia.com