IBM in Malaysia is working with the national government through the National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA) and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to explore strategic collaboration in advancing the country’s sovereign AI and quantum computing aspirations.
For this, the three parties signed a memorandum of understanding, witnessed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
According to MCMC, the partners are committed to explore the establishment of the National Quantum and Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence (NQAIC) as a national platform to accelerate innovation, strengthen national capabilities and prepare Malaysia for the opportunities and challenges presented by frontier technologies.
The proposed collaboration supports Malaysia’s long-term aspiration to build trusted capabilities in artificial intelligence and quantum technologies that are secure, resilient and aligned with national interests. It also reinforces the country’s commitment to developing a future-ready digital ecosystem that promotes innovation, nurtures local talent, strengthens research and supports sustainable economic growth.
The envisioned NQAIC will serve as a collaborative platform connecting government, academia, industry and strategic partners to facilitate knowledge exchange, capability development, research collaboration and innovation in artificial intelligence and quantum technologies.
The initiative is intended to complement Malaysia’s broader efforts to strengthen digital resilience, technological competitiveness, and responsible adoption of emerging technologies.
To support this shared vision, the MoU outlines three broad areas of collaboration. One is ecosystem development. They will collaborate to explore the establishment of the NQAIC by fostering collaboration across government, academia, industry, and strategic partners.
This includes supporting initiatives that strengthen Malaysia’s innovation ecosystem and encourage responsible development and adoption of artificial intelligence and quantum technologies.
Another area is trusted governance and security.. The collaboration will support the development of trusted, secure, and resilient approaches to artificial intelligence and quantum technologies that are aligned with Malaysia’s national priorities. It also reflects a shared commitment to strengthening digital resilience and promoting responsible governance as these technologies continue to evolve.
A third area is innovation, capability and talent development. The parties will explore opportunities to strengthen national capabilities through knowledge sharing, technical collaboration, research, innovation and talent development, while leveraging global expertise and best practices to support Malaysia’s long-term digital transformation.
The collaboration is guided by the principles of technology neutrality, trusted governance, responsible innovation and openness to strategic partnerships.
