- Formalised collaborations with TM and PNB to drive AI innovation
- Partnered with MDEC and UTM to bridge the AI skills gap in Malaysia
Cisco, a global leader in networking and security, has formalised three collaborations aimed at driving AI-led innovation in Malaysia during its inaugural AI Day event. The company announced its partnership with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) to launch an AI hackathon designed to bridge the AI skills gap and provide students with valuable hands-on experience. Additionally, it outlined its strategy to empower Malaysian businesses to leverage AI for unlocking new business opportunities.
AI has the potential to deliver a US$115 billion (RM493 billion) boost to Malaysia’s gross domestic product. While it creates new opportunities, it also introduces security risks and threat vectors that must be addressed. At Cisco AI Day, the company detailed its strategy to help Malaysian businesses tackle these challenges by building trusted infrastructure to support and secure AI workloads, as well as integrating AI across its entire portfolio to simplify the customer experience.
Fabian Bigar (pic), secretary general of the Ministry of Digital, Malaysia, delivered a speech at the event on the importance of AI in driving Malaysia’s digital economy. He stated, “The potential for AI to enhance productivity, streamline processes, and unlock new avenues for growth is immense. It offers Malaysia opportunities to strengthen our global competitiveness while ensuring inclusive development for all citizens. By embracing AI, we can tackle pressing challenges, modernise key sectors, and secure long-term prosperity.”
Cisco also signed two collaboration agreements under its Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) programme in Malaysia. CDA is Cisco’s co-investment and co-innovation platform that operates in 50 countries worldwide. With CDA, Cisco aims to promote economic resilience and social inclusion by unlocking the value of digitisation.
The first collaboration with Telekom Malaysia (TM) will focus on helping JDN modernise its digital infrastructure. TM will build a secure, agile network for JDN’s Putrajaya campus, enhancing network performance, reliability, and capacity to support bandwidth-intensive applications, such as AI and machine learning technologies. Cisco will provide AI-powered collaboration tools, including Webex Boards and Cisco Spaces, to facilitate seamless and secure employee workspace experiences. Features like AI-powered 3D maps and real-time insights on room availability and occupancy trends will enable employees to navigate the office efficiently while allowing JDN to optimise its space utilisation.
In collaboration with Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), Cisco will equip PNB’s innovation lab, network operations centre, and open collaboration areas with AI-powered networking, IoT, collaboration, and security technologies as it transitions to a new office. The innovation lab, featuring Cisco’s Webex, Meraki devices, and ThousandEyes, will enable PNB to test and develop sustainable workplace technologies. Cisco ThousandEyes’ AI-driven intelligence in the Network Operations Centre will enhance PNB’s ability to detect, diagnose, and remediate disruptions impacting user experience. Cisco Webex Boards will facilitate inclusive work experiences with AI-enhanced video, audio, and other capabilities. PNB will also leverage Cisco Spaces to create smarter workplaces for its employees.
Cisco has a role to play in every step of the AI revolution,” said Hana Raja (pic), Managing Director for Cisco Malaysia. “Our unique position to combine the power of the network with
industry-leading security, observability, and data enables us to offer visibility and insight across our customers’ entire digital footprint. What we have announced today with partners like TM and PNB demonstrates how our AI innovations can help businesses in Malaysia enhance their operations, improve customer experiences, and drive sustainable growth.”
Additionally, Cisco, MDEC, and UTM announced the launch of an AI hackathon open to all university students from engineering and computer science faculties nationwide. The hackathon will provide a platform for students to develop AI-driven solutions that could transform education, from personalising learning experiences to automating administrative tasks for staff.
The event will begin with training sessions provided by Cisco, the hackathon’s technology partner for networking, security, collaboration, and data centres, which students will use to develop their ideas. They will also receive guidance and coaching through one-on-one mentoring sessions with Cisco solution engineers. A maximum of 20 teams, each consisting of two to five members, will compete in the hackathon.
Moreover, MyDigital Corporation, an agency under the Ministry of Digital that monitors and facilitates the execution of initiatives under the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint (MDEB) and the National 4IR Policy, recognised its collaboration with Cisco as a Technology Immersion Partner for its Executive Digital Leadership (EDL) Programme, following a MoU document exchange between the two parties. EDL aims to equip C-suite executives from the public and private sectors with an understanding of how different technologies work and how to integrate them successfully within their organisations. Cisco will introduce its Internet of Things course under its Cisco Networking Academy curriculum – one of the world’s longest-running skills-to-jobs programmes – into EDL. This course will provide an overview of IoT and demonstrate how it drives digital transformation across multiple industries.
To date, Cisco Networking Academy has equipped over 150,000 learners in Malaysia with in-demand digital skills, including networking, cybersecurity, and data science, in collaboration with 120 higher learning institutions and organisations offering Networking Academy courses. The programme has contributed to a diverse workforce, with 37% of learners being female.