ARB IOT Group (ARB), a Singaporean tech solutions provider, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) through its subsidiary, ARB IOT Group Sdn Bhd, to establish an AI data center experimental laboratory in Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.

The initiative is in partnership with a startup affiliated with the Institute of Visual Informatics at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (IVI-UKM) and Gajah Kapitalan Sdn Bhd (GKSB).

The new facility, located at IVI-UKM, will focus on AI research, application development, testing, and deployment.

It will feature ARB’s high-performance AI servers, the ARB 222 and ARB 333 series, designed for deep learning and large-scale data processing.

ARB claims that these servers offer improved energy efficiency and scalability, aiming to provide a cost-effective alternative to existing AI computing solutions.

Under the MoU, ARB will oversee the design and architecture of the laboratory, while GKSB will manage operations and explore new AI market segments in Malaysia.

According to the partners, the initiative aligns with the Malaysian government’s push to strengthen AI capabilities and support the growth of AI-driven industries.

ARB IOT CEO Dato’ Sri Liew Kok Leong said the lab will serve as a bridge between academia and industry, accelerating AI innovation and commercialization. It will also be used as a platform to showcase advancements in AI applications.

Muhammad Badrun Almuhaimin Bin Baharon, director of GKSB, stated that the project would pave the way for further AI data center investments in Malaysia, including leasing AI computing power to businesses.

IVI-UKM director Dr. Rabiah Abdul Kadir said the facility will play a crucial role in AI research, focusing on developing more efficient AI models with lower energy consumption.

The UKM startup, affiliated with IVI-UKM, specializes in AI training and analytics integration. IVI-UKM itself is a research institute focused on AI, computer vision, virtual reality, and data analytics.