KUALA LUMPUR, 9 December 2025 — I-Berhad, the master developer of i-City, Malaysia’s No. 1 Digital City, has entered into a landmark partnership with Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) to build Malaysia’s next-generation AI talent pipeline and transform the Shah Alam tech township into the country’s largest real-world AI deployment hub.
The collaboration directly supports Malaysia’s AI Action Plan 2026–2030 and the National AI Office’s ambition to position the country among the region’s AI frontrunners by 2030.
Building Malaysia’s Largest Industry-Academic AI Pipeline
Under the partnership, UiTM will integrate structured internship placements, industry-led projects, and CPD-certified technical workshops into i-City’s upcoming AI World Experience Centre, Malaysia’s largest humanoid robotics showcase and the country’s most ambitious applied AI education hub.
Located in the heart of i-City’s tech district, the centre will serve as a real-time learning ground for students to work directly with humanoid robots, AI mobility systems, AI-driven infrastructure and next-generation smart-city applications.
“With UiTM’s scale and research strength, this partnership creates a national pipeline where AI talent is not only trained, but deployed,” the partners announced.
i-City’s Evolution Into Malaysia’s First ‘Intelligent Ecosystem Operator’
For I-Berhad, the collaboration is part of a broader strategic shift from a conventional property developer to Malaysia’s first intelligent ecosystem operator, a role that embeds AI across the urban environment.
The partnership will operationalise joint R&D initiatives within:
- The AI World Experience Centre
- i-City’s humanoid robotics programmes
- Smart mobility infrastructure
- AI-powered wellness applications
- Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) platforms
- Predictive maintenance for buildings and utilities
- The i-City SuperApp, which unifies urban services under one AI-enabled interface
These technologies will be progressively commercialised across the township, positioning i-City as Malaysia’s first living testbed for real-world AI monetisation.
Driving Malaysia’s National AI Agenda and GDP Contribution
The partnership supports Malaysia’s aspiration to increase AI’s contribution to GDP to RM30 billion annually by 2030, enabling the country to shift towards high-value, high-skill economic activities.
By merging academic research with industry deployment, UiTM and i-City aim to develop Malaysia’s largest continuous funnel for AI-ready graduates, from research stages all the way to real-world implementation within a functioning smart city.
UiTM researchers will also gain access to commercial-scale AI infrastructure, enabling prototype development, pilot studies, and technology validation in a real urban environment.
Industry Leaders Welcome a New Era of Applied AI in Malaysia
Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong, Chairman of I-Berhad, said the collaboration closes the longstanding gap between theoretical learning and real-world AI systems:
“UiTM students will gain hands-on access to operational AI and robotics systems inside a fully functioning smart city. This partnership isn’t about learning the future, it’s about building it.”
Professor Datuk Ts. Dr. Shahrin Sahib @ Sahibuddin, Vice-Chancellor of UiTM, echoed this, noting that AI immersion is now a national requirement:
“Our students are stepping into an AI-driven urban model that already exists. This is more than internship access, it’s real-world industry immersion at national scale.”
A New Era for Malaysia’s Digital Ecosystem
As the AI World Experience Centre prepares for its December 2025 opening, the partnership between i-City and UiTM marks a pivotal moment for Malaysia’s digital economy.
It is one of the clearest examples to date of how education, industry and infrastructure can converge to support Malaysia’s digital transformation, and create the AI leaders who will drive the Fourth Industrial Revolution across the region.
