South Korean AI chip startup Rebellions is accelerating its global expansion with a new partnership in Malaysia’s Sarawak state on the island of Borneo, marking the company’s official entry into the ASEAN market. The move underscores growing demand for advanced AI computing across Southeast Asia and positions Rebellions to serve regional customers closer to where the next wave of digital infrastructure is being built.
Rebellions has signed a memorandum of understanding with SMD Semiconductor, an IC design company in Sarawak, to collaborate on AI chip design and development. The agreement outlines joint semiconductor development, support for the Sarawak state government’s data center initiatives, and coordinated marketing activities aimed at expanding adoption of next-generation AI hardware.
For Sarawak, the collaboration aligns with its push to scale data center capacity and attract high-tech investment. By working together on chip design and ecosystem building, both parties aim to accelerate time-to-market for AI solutions while laying the groundwork for a stronger local semiconductor value chain. The partnership could also help nurture engineering talent and create new opportunities for suppliers, integrators, and cloud providers across the region.
As ASEAN enterprises, public agencies, and startups race to deploy AI at scale, demand for efficient, purpose-built accelerators is set to grow. Rebellions’ entry into Sarawak through co-development and data center collaboration positions the startup to address these needs with hardware optimized for AI workloads, supported by local partners who understand the market landscape.
Key areas to watch include early design milestones from the joint development program, updates on data center integration and pilot deployments, and the expansion of regional go-to-market efforts. Together, Rebellions and SMD Semiconductor aim to catalyze an AI hardware ecosystem in Borneo that can serve broader Southeast Asian demand.
