Robotics, Autonomous Vehicle Firms Sign Four Collaborations To Set Up, Run Pilots In Selangor
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- Robotics and autonomous vehicle companies have signed four collaborations with the Selangor Information Technology & Digital Economy Corporation (Sidec) to set up and run pilot projects in Selangor.
The collaborations, exchanged at Selangor AI & Semiconductor Summit 2026 (AiSEM@Selangor) on Oct 15, involve Work-E Robotics, eMooVit, Aliran Tenaga and NCT Worldm, Sidec said in a statement.
Sidec said Work-E Robotics plans to set up in Selangor and pilot its humanoid robot, autonomous surveillance and inspection platform, and service robot, while eMooVit will use Selangor as its base for pilot programmes of its Level 4 autonomous vehicle software and build a local team.
Aliran Tenaga will run pilot projects in autonomous mobile robots, collaborative robots and Industry 4.0 solutions, and train local talent, while NCT World plans to make NCT Smart Industrial Park an assembly base for robotics and automation manufacturers, with a robotics exhibition hub on site.
“Under each collaboration, Sidec will support regulatory engagement, funding and adoption, while the partner runs pilots and trains local talent,” it added.
Sidec chief executive officer Yong Kai Ping said every robot and autonomous vehicle on show during the day runs on chips and needs engineers to design, build, and maintain them.
“What we signed today is about making sure more of that work is done in Malaysia, by Malaysians,” he said.
Deputy Finance Minister Liew Chin Tong officially launched the summit, alongside Selangor State Executive Councillor for Investment, Trade and Mobility Ng Sze Han, who is also Sidec chairman.
In his speech, Ng said Selangor is putting RM50 million, alongside Penang and Khazanah at RM50 million each, into a new RM150 million strategic investment fund.
“Some ask whether Selangor and Penang are rivals. My answer, we are teammates. Penang leads in manufacturing, assembly and testing. Selangor leads in front-end IC design and chip innovation.
“Together, under the National Semiconductor Strategy, we will build Malaysian chip companies that compete globally,” he said.
Ng said IC Design Park 1 and IC Design Park 2 now host 20 companies and have already passed the 400-engineer target set for year-end.
“The Ehsan Semiconductor Fund, through Ehsan Kapital, provides the capital. The Advanced Semiconductor Academy of Malaysia (ASEM) provides the talent,” he said.
According to Sidec, it is exploring a third IC Design Park focused on robotics, autonomous systems and the low-altitude economy.
It is also working with Cyberview, Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology and Innovation, Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd and Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation on initiatives including autonomous logistics, drones and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxis.
Sidec also agreed with X-FAB to help IC Design Park companies access tape-out, fabrication and design support services for Made-by-Malaysia chips.
Meanwhile, ASEM signed memoranda of understanding with Monash University Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) and Tashkent Tech University, and exchanged a cooperation intention with Peking University, it said.
It said the cooperation intention is the first step in an initiative that aims to support an initial 50 Malaysian students, and up to 500 over five years, at leading Chinese universities, with ASEM helping graduates find work in Malaysia on their return.
The exhibition floor at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) features 21 robots and autonomous machines from nine companies, including humanoids, robodogs, industrial autonomous mobile robots, robovans and a subscale eVTOL aircraft.
AiSEM@Selangor 2026 runs from Oct 14-17 at KLCC and Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur.
-- BERNAMA