Chennai, Feb 21 : IIT Madras Global Research Foundation (IITM Global) is moving towards establishing a Centre of Excellence for Applied Artificial Intelligence (CoE-AAI) in Malaysia along with Johor Corporation, the investment and development arm of the State of Johor in that country.
Under the proposal, IITM Global will contribute global expertise and technical guidance in applied artificial intelligence and deep-tech innovation, while Johor Corporation will serve as the strategic anchor there by facilitating ecosystem access, strengthening industry linkages and enabling integration with key state development initiatives.
The proposed collaboration, for which a MoU was signed recently, aims to position Johor as a regional hub for responsible and industry-driven AI innovation, supporting Malaysia’s digital economy ambitions and strengthening cross-border innovation ties between Southeast Asia and India, according to a statement issued by IITMG.
The centre is envisioned as a platform to translate advanced artificial intelligence capabilities into practical industry applications while promoting responsible innovation, talent development and long-term value creation.
Elaborating on the importance of this project, High Commissioner of India to Malaysia B.N. Reddy said, “The signing of this MoU is a testament to growing collaboration between India and Malaysia in digital technologies space, in particular in Artificial Intelligence (AI).
“This MoU is in line with the ongoing deliberations between India and Malaysia under the Malaysia India Digital Council (MIDC), which was operationalized last year (2025) as a Government-to-Government (G-2-G) mechanism with participation of industry on both the sides, to increase cooperation under four distinct pillars i.e. Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), Cyber Security, Digital Talent, and AI.”
Highlighting the potential impact of this AI Centre, Ahmad Yusri Mohamed, Chief Digital Officer of Johor Corporation, Malaysia, said, “As Johor’s state economic development corporation, our role is to catalyze new growth sectors and build globally competitive ecosystems. This collaboration strengthens our ambition to position Johor as a regional leader in responsible and applied AI.”
IITM Global has been conceived as a strategic, sustainable and scalable platform to take IIT Madras’ academic, research and innovation strengths to the global stage.
Under the agreement, IITM Global and Johor Corporation will jointly explore the conceptualisation of a Johor-based Centre of Excellence focused on responsible AI, including fairness, transparency, safety, explainability and AI governance.
The collaboration will also examine opportunities for applied research initiatives in AI and emerging deep technologies, executive education and professional capability-building programmes, faculty and expert exchanges, and startup engagement through technology transfer and commercialisation.
In addition, both partners will work towards developing industry testbeds and pilot use cases in Johor to accelerate the adoption of advanced AI solutions.
Prof. Raghunathan Rengaswamy, Dean (Global Engagement), said, “This partnership reflects the growing depth of cross-border academic and innovation ties. By combining IIT Madras’ research strengths with Johor’s industry ecosystem, we are creating a platform for applied AI collaboration that connects talent, research, and real-world deployment. It is a model for purposeful global engagement built on shared strategic priorities.”
Thirumalai Madhavnarayan, CEO, IITM Global, added, “This MoU reflects our continued commitment to strengthening global innovation partnerships, with Malaysia emerging as a key strategic partner in our global engagement roadmap. The collaboration with Johor Corporation aligns closely with Malaysia’s digital transformation strategy, particularly in advancing applied and responsible Artificial Intelligence. By working together to conceptualise a Centre of Excellence for Applied AI in Johor, we aim to bridge research, industry, and policy by translating cutting-edge AI capabilities into real-world deployment, talent development, and innovation-led economic growth across the region.”
The collaboration is expected to strengthen international cooperation in advanced technologies, enable knowledge exchange and innovation-led growth, and support industry adoption of emerging digital solutions across sectors, further reinforcing technology partnerships between India and Malaysia.
Johor Corporation (JCorp) is the principal investment and development institution of the State of Johor, Malaysia. Established in 1968, JCorp drives economic growth through strategic investments, ecosystem development, and industry partnerships.
