Invited Speakers

Biography:

As a passionate researcher, educator, trainer, consultant, and Professional Engineer of material science and engineering for more than twenty-seven years, Kuan Yew CHEONG is a full Professor at the School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Malaysia. Prof. Cheong served as a Commissioned Senior Scientist at the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (2004, 2006), Adjunct Associate Professor at Multimedia University, Malaysia (2012), Visiting Lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Malaysia (2012), Visiting Professor at National Taiwan University (2018), Visiting Professor at MIMOS Semiconductor Sdn Bhd (2018), Technical Advisor for NTG Innovation Pte. Ltd., Singapore (January – December 2019), affiliated to Innovation Centre for Clean Water and Sustainable Energy (WISE), National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan (November 2018 to October 2021), and Editor of "Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing," Elsevier (2015 – June 2021). Currently, he is a Technical Consultant of failure analysis for MIMOS Semiconductor Sdn Bhd (Malaysia), Visiting Professor at the State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Institute of Novel Semiconductor Materials, Shandong University, China (Jan 2022 – Dec 2023), Editor-in-Chief of "Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing," Elsevier (since July 2021), Editor-in-Chief of "Journal of Minerals and Materials Engineering", USM (since March 2022), Editorial Advisory Board Member of Book Series: "Vacuum and Thin Film Deposition Technologies" (Elsevier) (since 15 April 2024), and Distinguished Lecturer of IEEE Electronic Packaging Society (01 January 2024 – 31 December 2027). He has published more than 245 high impact-factor journals, 6 reputable book chapters, 5 edited books, and 1 granted Malaysian Patent (MY-153033-A), which are aligned to his research direction of solving environmental and energy-related issues through the development of advanced dielectrics for wide bandgap semiconductor devices and of natural organic materials for sustainable electronic devices. His research philosophy was featured in a paid TV documentary, ASTRO AEC ("Stay Hungry Stay Foolish"). As one of the Top 2% for Citation Impact (Applied Physics, Materials) in a Single Year, 2023 by Stanford University, a registered Professional Engineer (Board of Engineers, Malaysia), a "Top Research Scientists Malaysia (TRSM)" (Academy of Sciences Malaysia), and an Accredited and Certified Professional Trainer (HRD Corp., Malaysia), Prof. Cheong has delivered more than 400 technical training courses to various local and multinational industries and resolved many challenging industrial cases related to processing and reliability of electronic materials both wafer and package levels. Currently, Prof. Cheong is a Fellow of The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM), a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical Electronic Engineers (IEEE), a Distinguished Lecturer of the IEEE Electronic Packaging Society (EPS), a Principal Interviewer for Professional Interview of IEM, Senior Evaluation Panel of Engineering Program Accreditation under Engineering Accreditation Council, Malaysia, and Founding Chairman and Advisor of Material Engineering Technical Division under IEM.

Biography:

Kamarul Zaman Abdul Rashid is currently attached to Altera (an Intel Company) as Engineering Director. He is responsible for Altera FPGA High-Level Design Software and Solutions Stack validation, including Intel FPGA AI Suite, Intel Open FPGA Stack, and FPGA OneAPI. His team also delivers world-class FPGA software and toolchain DevOps environments. A technology leader and innovator with 26 years of experience providing full stack software and platform solutions. His expertise ranges from post-silicone to embedded hardware, platform engineering, and software application engineering.

Kamarul is passionate about bridging the gap between software and hardware through abstraction and microservices, focusing on full-stack application developer experience (DX).

Currently holds six software patents, including those with patents pending specializing in developer experience (DX), low-code/no-code with AI, and enabling hardware microservices to accelerate silicone features to application development stack.

Biography :

Dr. Loo, a former Lecturer at Republic Polytechnic, Singapore, will be appointed faculty member at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU) starting in December 2024. He holds a B.E. (1st Class Hons.) and a Ph.D. in Electrical & Electronics Engineering from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, in 2007 and 2012, respectively. Dr Loo's research centers on RF/Analog IC design and CMOS device characterization. He held a postdoctoral position at MIT and collaborated with A*Star Research Institute in the neuromorphic computing program. Dr. Loo has been a Senior Member of IEEE since 2017 and has authored/co-authored more than 25 publications.

DR. YOSHIKI YAMAGUCHI

Professor of Graduate School of Science and Technology, University of Tsukuba

Professor of Research and Education Institute for Semiconductors and Informatics, Kumamoto University

"BEYOND PROGRAMMABILITY: THE FUTURE OF FPGA DEVELOPEMENT IN A MULTIFARIOUS LANDSCAPE"

ABSTRACT:

The rapid evolution of Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) has expanded their role beyond mere programmability, establishing them as critical enablers across a diverse landscape of applications. This keynote, "Beyond Programmability: The Future of FPGA Development in a Multifarious Landscape," will explore the transformative developments in FPGA technology that enable a broader, more versatile scope within the ICT sector.

Initially prized for flexibility, FPGAs have evolved to support specialized architectures that address diverse requirements—from high-performance data centers to energy-efficient edge devices. Today’s FPGAs incorporate features like heterogeneous processing elements, integrated AI and ML capabilities, and dynamic reconfigurability, meeting the varied demands of applications in areas such as autonomous systems, 5G networks, and IoT ecosystems.

This lecture will further delve into the specific architectural innovations, such as embedded FPGA (eFPGA) and System-on-Chip (SoC) integrations, that empower FPGAs to adapt dynamically to application needs. FPGAs are anticipated to play an increasingly pivotal role in future ICT infrastructures, advancing through hybrid architectures, improved scalability, and enhanced security protocols. This keynote will outline these advancements, presenting a roadmap of the possibilities for FPGAs as essential drivers of next-generation technology.

Biography:

Dr. Yoshiki Yamaguchi is a Professor at the Graduate School of Science and Technology, University of Tsukuba, specializing in Reconfigurable Architecture and Applications. He is also a Collaborative Fellow at the Center for Computational Sciences. Dr. Yamaguchi joined the University of Tsukuba as an Assistant Professor in 2005 and has been a Professor since 2024. Before his current role, he was a researcher at the Genomic Sciences Center, RIKEN Yokohama Institute. From 2000 to 2003, he was a JSPS Research Fellow (DC1) at the Institute of Engineering Mechanics and Systems, University of Tsukuba. Dr. Yamaguchi received his Bachelor of Engineering in 1998, Master of Engineering in 2000, and Doctor of Engineering in 2003, all from the University of Tsukuba. His research focuses on reconfigurable architecture, systems, and applications bridging electronic devices and information and communication services. His work is broadly classified into three categories: developing novel architectures for highly efficient computing systems, constructing high-performance computing systems, and implementing and analyzing large-scale target applications. Dr. Yamaguchi has published over 200 domestic technical reports and over 100 international articles in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings. He actively contributes to the scientific community by supporting conferences such as FPL, FPT, HEART, ARC, ASAP, A-SSCC, MCSoC, HiCOMB, and CANDAR.

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IR. DR. ARJUNA MARZUKI

Wawasan Open University/SpaceIn Sdn. Bhd

"CMOS COLOR SENSOR: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE"

ABSTRACT:

CMOS color sensors have evolved from simple color detection devices to sophisticated sensors in various applications. Initially limited by low sensitivity and noise issues, advancements in photodiodes, circuit design, and spectral filtering (color filter) techniques have significantly improved their performance. Today, CMOS color sensors are widely used in fields such as industrial automation, medical diagnostics, and environmental monitoring, where accurate color detection is crucial. Future innovations focus on enhancing spectral resolution, advanced circuit design, and integration with algorithms (digital circuit), enabling more precise color analysis and expanding their use in complex, real-time applications.

Biography:

Arjuna Marzuki holds a B.Eng (Hons) from the University of Sheffield, an MSc from Universiti Sains Malaysia, and a Ph.D. from Universiti Malaysia Perlis. He began his career at Hewlett-Packard as an R&D engineer in RF and RFIC design, later joining IC Microsystems and Agilent Technologies, where he led analog design teams. Arjuna has over 27 years of experience in industry and academia, including roles as an associate professor and senate member at Wawasan Open University. He is a chartered engineer, a Fellow of IET, and an active member of IEEE, with over 100 publications and a US patent.

PROF. DR. ANIS NURASHIKIN NORDIN

International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)

"RELIABILITY AND BIOCOMPATIBILITY STUDIES OF WEARABLE STRAIN SENSORS"

ABSTRACT:

Wearable sensors can provide real-time and continuous monitoring of health-related bio signals without being invasive or causing pain to the user. Recently, wearable devices have become popular due to their ability to provide personalized and real- time data for proactive healthcare management and wellness monitoring. Skin-like strain sensors, due to their flexibility, biocompatibility, durability and adaptability are ideal for healthcare applications such as telerehabilitation. One such application of wearables for rehabilitation is by incorporating the strain sensors for hand gesture detection. Several skin-like sensors are placed on a glove and are used for remote monitoring, assessment, and personalized rehabilitation. When worn by the patients, these sensors enable therapists to assess motor skills, range of motion, and coordination of the user. This talk will illustrate methods to measure and evaluate the sensitivity, reliability and biocompatibility of strain sensors. Performance evaluation methods, including washability, sensitivity, linearity, bending test, test till failure, stretchability, durability, response and recovery time, and biocompatibility, are discussed to ensure the reliability and safety of strain sensors. Technologies used for readout circuits and data collection will also be described. Wireless sensor readout methods coupled with internet-of-things (IOT) systems were used to read and transfer data wirelessly and for data analysis to enable motion monitoring and accurate assessment of the patient.

Biography:

Professor Dr. Anis Nurashikin Nordin is a Microelectronics engineer and researcher at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She obtained her B. Eng. In Computer Engineering from IIUM and both her MSc and Doctor of Science in Microelectronics and VLSI from The George Washington University, Washington DC in 2003 and 2008 respectively. She has been teaching courses in Electronics Engineering at IIUM since 2003. She has extensive international collaborative networks and has served as an invited researcher for Linkoping University, Sweden, City College of New York, USA, Griffith University, Australia and University of Twente, Holland. Her area of specialization is in the field of Micro-electro-mechanical Systems (MEMS). She has received both international and local grants to fund her research. Her current research is in the field of biosensors among them a dengue sensor, impedance sensor for drug screening and strain sensor for hand gestures. Her other devices include micro-resonators, micro-sensors, energy harvesters and supercapacitors. Her innovations have been well received and have been awarded gold and silver medals in both international and local exhibitions such as IENA in Nuremberg, British Invention Show in London. She currently holds two US-patents. She has received several awards in recent years namely the Leaders in Innovation Fellowship by the Royal Academy of Engineering, United Kingdom and the Top Research Scientist Malaysia in 2020