The Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii) says that the government is planning to establish a robotics hub by the end of the year, Bernama reports. The hub will promote the development of robotics from both a hardware and software viewpoint, starting with interface development, according to MARii CEO Datuk Madani Sahari.

Speaking on the sidelines of the inaugural edition of Robotex, a robotics and automation trade fair designed for market players and industry stakeholders, he said that the top priority for the hub will be in to expedite the development of software for robotics applications, specific to local needs.

“That is the area we need to have proper capabilities in Malaysia, so that all industrial applications of robotics and automation can be done internally and customised according to Malaysia’s specific needs for the industry players,“ he explained.

Madani said the robotic hub can be used by local entrepreneurs and users to gain better insight about the topic and to explore its possibilities. He added that companies in robotics can use the facility for their own internal development before they go into mass production.

“Users who may not have time to go abroad to understand how robotics applications can help their processes can come to the centre and discuss with us, so that they can have a good view of how robotics can be applied in specific processes. If they decide to choose a particular brand, then it will be very specific and customised to their specific needs,“ he said.

He said that the location of the hub had not been finalised. “There are now two locations (that we are considering). One is in Cyberjaya and the other in Bukit Beruntung, and each has a cost advantage. An area can be more expensive than another but the masses of skills and talent are also important and need to be considered in finalising where we are going to set up our robotic hub,“ he said.