I-Berhad, a Malaysia-based property developer, 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, I-Berhad said in a statement on Tuesday.

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 programs, 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 research and development (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 commercialized 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 monetization.

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 gross domestic product (GDP) which is projected at MYR 30 billion ($7.28 billion) annually by 2030.

This collaboration extends beyond education as it establishes a dual engine for innovation and monetization. UiTM’s research capabilities combined with i-City’s AI Tower, AI World Experience Centre can provide new career pathways for the students.

“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,” said Lim Kim Hong, Chairman of I-Berhad.

Professor Dr. Shahrin Sahib @ Sahibuddin, Vice-Chancellor of UiTM, noted that this collaboration gives their 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,” he added.

As the AI World Experience Center 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, said the statement.

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