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As the global Covid-19 crisis forced millions of us to stay at home, communications technology kept us connected – and companies with slick digital connectivity reigned. now, as we prepare for a post-pandemic world, Malaysian technology developer Cyberview has been quietly working to revitalise Cyberjaya and strengthen its propositions.
Nestled 20 minutes from the bustling centre of Kuala Lumpur, a 7,000-acre smart city is nurturing the future of Malaysia’s tech scene. Cyberjaya has come a long way since it was built in 1997. What began as an IT hub has grown into a global technology hub, housing over 140,000 people – the highest concentration of technology companies within Malaysia.
The city is divided into four parts: northern Cyberjaya is earmarked as a global business district, while an educational and community development hub sits in the west, commercial and retail business takes place in the downtown area. Now, these are joined by an innovation district in the south. The design and locations of these districts is intentional: “It wasn't really an art, but rather more scientific,” explains John Low, co-managing partner of Roland Berger for Southeast Asia. “Each district operates as a mini-ecosystem. As part of our new masterplan, we are developing the south into an innovation focal point. It features smart mobility, smart healthcare and digital creative clusters. Each of these clusters are designed with the future in mind. For example, we’ll be exploring aerial mobility, medical robotics and advanced visual effects.”
To date, there have been numerous tech solutions tested in Cyberjaya. This forms the crux of what sets Cyberjaya apart from the rest: it’s a real-life playground for technology companies. “It’s a self-sustainable city,” Low explains, pointing to the hospitals, universities, malls and schools. “We envisioned Cyberjaya as a ‘green living lab’ where new technology could be piloted in a real-life environment while promoting sustainability.” There’s already much in the works. For instance, 7km of an existing public road is now designated by Malaysia’s Ministry of Transport as a testing route for autonomous vehicles. First up to test their driverless vehicles in an urban environment is eMooVit. The company, which was founded in 2016, is developing driverless software solutions which turn certain vehicles autonomous. These will be used, for example, within theme parks, residential estates, offices, hotels and resorts, as well as for logistic transportation. Aerodyne, a drone solutions service provider, is also headquartered in Cyberjaya, while Korea’s keyless vehicle-sharing developer SOCAR piloted in Cyberjaya as its first location in the Southeast Asia region.
And as other vibrant tech companies – spanning services such as AI, robotics, the Internet of Things and data – look to set up base in Cyberjaya, they’ll be settling into a solid history of startup development. Over the years, 400 startups have grown within its ecosystem, some of which graduated from the Cyberview Living Lab Accelerator programme, which was launched in 2013. “This accelerator provides startups with a collaborative environment via a co-working space, mentoring, networking and fundraising opportunities, to help them focus their efforts on value creation,” explains Najib Ibrahim, the managing director of Cyberview, the company spearheading Cyberjaya’s masterplan. The programme has since helped 85 startups to generate more than RM276 million ($56.8m) in total revenue and created more than 709 jobs. “Some of our participants have achieved success not just in Malaysia, but have successfully expanded across the Southeast Asia region,” Ibrahim added.
Not only have companies been able to test their innovations in real-life settings within the Cyberjaya community, but they’ve done so within a country that has proven itself on the international stage. A recent Standard Chartered’s Borderless Business study ranked it as the second most-favourable country in the region for European and US companies, while its Information and Communications Technology sector accumulated RM289 billion ($68.2bn) in gross domestic product (GDP) for 2019, signalling strong growth potential.
Ibrahim argues that innovation is no longer a luxury: it’s a necessity. “The pandemic has brought forth a new wave of change to the industry, opening newer arenas for market forces,” he said. “Cyberjaya will be among the first few locations by the end of 2021 where the 5G network will be deployed.”
But despite this energetic tech scene, you’d be wrong to compare Cyberjaya to Silicon Valley. “No two markets are the same,” Ibrahim argues. “And Malaysia has a lot to offer. Despite the on-going pandemic, we attracted RM64.2bn ($15.1bn) in foreign investment in 2020.” The pandemic brought challenges to the implementation of the masterplan. But Cyberview is encouraged by Malaysia’s rapid vaccination rate with the number of those fully vaccinated as of October 2021 being more than 95 per cent of the Malaysian adult population. “More economic activities are now being opened up and, with government support, we can move ahead in full force again,” he explains. The project is anticipated to attract 1,200 companies, contribute RM250 bn ($58.9bn) to the country’s GDP and create 87,000 job opportunities by the year 2045. Beyond the numbers, though, Cyberview is fostering the vision of the future; a smart, interconnected city that allows true innovation to flourish in a world that’s findings its feet again.
Discover more at cyberview.com.my
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
