Iskandar Investment subsidiary partners with MTDC to accelerate IR4.0 growth in Johor
- by admin
EdgeProp – 18 June 2021
PETALING JAYA (June 18): IIB Ventures Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Iskandar Investment Bhd (IIB), has collaborated with the Malaysian Technology Development Corp Sdn Bhd (MTDC), as part of its efforts to accelerate the growth of IR4.0 in Johor.
In a media statement on June 17, IIB said the collaboration will be done by transforming Medini Iskandar Malaysia into a digital hub of the southern state.
Both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at a virtual ceremony on Thursday (June 17), which includes the proposed establishment of a Robotics Centre at Medini Iskandar, intended to develop technopreneurs and talents in robotics and emerging technologies.
The MoU was signed by MTDC CEO Datuk Norhalim Yunus and director and managing director of IIB Ventures Zulfiqar Zainuddin. Also present were MTDC chairman Tan Sri Abd Rahman Mamat and IIB President/CEO Datuk Ir. Khairil Anwar Ahmad.
This MoU is part of the Iskandar NEXT – Innovation Hub to develop and implement IR4.0-based technology ecosystems in support of Johor Vision 2030 and the National MyDigital Blueprint.
It outlined the collaborative initiatives to facilitate and support activities in line with MTDC’s Centre of 9 Pillars, aimed at creating a community-in-practice that would be able to offer local companies affordable and impactful Industry 4.0 solutions.
“The signing of the MoU for the establishment of the Robotics Centre of Excellence (CoE) is an exciting development through which we aim to develop 200 technopreneurs in Iskandar Puteri in the next five years. This will be attained through programmes under Iskandar NEXT, namely the Iskandar Innovation Hub and Drone and Robotics Zone (DRZ) Iskandar, among others,” said Khairil.
He added that IIB would also provide companies that are coming on board, access to markets for commercialisation opportunities, advisory services for funding, access to industry mentors, visibility and awareness creation, and relevant regulatory facilitation.
“This collaboration will also boost the immense potential to develop local talents to be i4.0 ready and assist to achieve the digital transformation agenda as part of Iskandar’s main initiative,” said Norhalim.
The collaboration will also enable MTDC to introduce its talent development programmes for SMEs, universities, entrepreneurs and innovators in the southern region. IIB will be the host platform that will facilitate advisory assistance in the southern region.
The Robotics CoE will offer programmes to further support IIB’s DRZ Iskandar initiatives, a regional DRZ to create a drone and robotics eco-system in Iskandar Puteri.
DRZ Iskandar is Malaysia’s first drone and robotics hub established in Dec 2020 and is projected to bring in RM351 million of investments and generate 1,000 high-value jobs by 2025 in the drones and robotics sector.