Strategic Partnership Drives AI Talent Development and Applied Innovation to Support Malaysia’s AI Action Plan 2030
KUALA LUMPUR, 9 DECEMBER 2025 – I-Berhad (“I-Berhad” or “the Group”), the master developer of i-City – Malaysia’s No.1 Digital City, today announced that the Group has joined forces with Universiti Teknologi MARA (“UiTM”) to elevate Malaysia’s position as a regional leader in artificial intelligence (“AI”) and robotics. The collaboration will focus on building future-ready talent development, driving AI research and innovation, and embedding experiential learning into one of the country’s most ambitious tech-driven ecosystems.
This partnership supports Malaysia’s vision of becoming an AI-driven nation by 2030, as outlined by the National AI Office, and aligns directly with the government’s AI Action Plan 2026–2030. UiTM, with its vast academic network and research capabilities, will work closely with i-City to embed structured internship programmes, real-time industry projects, and CPD-certified technical workshops within the soon-to-launch AI World Experience Centre, Malaysia’s largest humanoid robotics showcase and AI education hub, located in the heart of i-City.
This collaboration reinforces I-Berhad’s broader strategic shift from a traditional property developer into Malaysia’s first intelligent ecosystem operator. Through structured R&D collaboration with UiTM, joint research initiatives will be embedded across the AI World Experience Centre and i-City’s urban infrastructure—spanning humanoid robotics, AI mobility, smart systems integration, and AI-powered wellness. These innovations will be progressively deployed and commercialised across i-City via Robotics-as-a-Service (“RaaS”), predictive maintenance, and the i-City SuperApp, positioning the township as Malaysia’s first living testbed for real-world urban AI deployment and monetisation.
With its AI-powered towers and AI Wellness Suites to its RaaS integration offerings, I-Berhad has positioned i-City as a living laboratory for real world AI applications. By bringing UiTM into this ecosystem, the collaboration not only enhances the university’s ability to produce industry-aligned graduates but also contributes meaningfully to the nation’s goal of increasing AI’s contribution to GDP which is projected at RM30 billion annually by 2030.
This collaboration extends beyond education as it establishes a dual engine for innovation and monetisation. UiTM’s research capabilities combined with i-City’s AI Tower, AI World Experience Centre can provide new career pathways for the students.
Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong, Chairman of I-Berhad commented, “Through this partnership, we aim to bridge the gap between theory and practice. UiTM students will gain hands-on access to real-world AI and robotics systems within a fully operational smart city. It’s about empowering Malaysia’s next generation to lead the future, not just learn about it.”
Professor Datuk Ts. Dr. Shahrin Sahib @ Sahibuddin, Vice-Chancellor of UiTM, noted, “This collaboration gives our students unparalleled access to the technologies shaping tomorrow’s cities. More than just internships, this is immersion into an AI-driven urban model that is already operational.”
As the AI World Experience Centre prepares to open in December 2025, the i-City and UiTM partnership signals a new era for Malaysia’s digital ecosystem—one where education, industry, and infrastructure come together to co-create value and talent for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
AI World Experience Centre
With the opening set for 18 December 2025, the AI World Experience Centre marks a major step forward in positioning Malaysia as a regional hub for future technology and reflects i-City and UiTM’s shared commitment to advancing AI education.Combining industry innovation with academic excellence, this partnership strengthens and elevates the collaboration between i-City and UiTM to accelerate Malaysia’s AI advancement. Both Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong and Professor Datuk Ts. Dr. Shahrin Sahib @ Sahibuddin share the nation’s aspiration to become an AI-driven economy by 2030, in alignment with the National AI Office and the government’s AI Action Plan 2026–2030.From L–R: Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong 丹斯里林金煌, Chairman of I-Berhad; Professor Datuk Ts. Dr. Shahrin Sahib @ Sahibuddin, Vice-Chancellor of UiTM
