MIRI: In line with the Sarawak Digital Economy 2018-2022 blueprint, Curtin Malaysia has signed a three-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Sarawak (Tegas).
The MoU was signed when the SMA-Tegas Digital Innovation Hub (DIH) Miri was launched by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
The hub is located in Miri Times Square at Marina Parkcity Commercial Centre with a Silicon Valley-styled interior to create start-up atmosphere for budding local entrepreneurs. It serves as an inclusive platform to support and empower early-stage start-ups and social enterprises in Sarawak.
The main objectives of the MoU are to promote interest and encourage initiatives in entrepreneurship, technopreneurship, business startups and funding among students and staff at Curtin in collaboration with Sarawakians.
With these initiatives, it is expected that individuals with innovative ideas will be motivated to apply for seed funding from the government for projects related to entrepreneurship, technopreneurship and business startups.
Being one of the largest international global universities in Malaysia, Curtin Malaysia has its own student-led startup club, The Founders Club, whose members have been organising and collaborating several startup events, ideation and incubator programmes and entrepreneur programmes in recent years producing successful startups among students and young local entrepreneurs.
Facilities and benefits in the hub include a co-working space, high speed internet, discussion rooms, knowledge sharing and capacity development programmes as well as access to Sarawak Digital Village Ecosystem Network.
During his keynote speech for the launching, Abang Johari also encourage the local startups to explore and venture into artificial intelligence (AI), big data, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), robotic, and coding, and use it to promote local products and tourist attractions in Miri.
The launching of the hub also coincided with the exchange of memorandum of understanding (MoU) between SMA and Malaysian Technology Development Corporation, Yayasan Pesona together with five new strategic partners, namely Grab, Curtin University Malaysia, pitchIN, FutureLab and CentaCube. These partners support the #InnovateSarawak campaign that focuses on promoting digital innovation and entrepreneurship in Sarawak.
Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan who is a member of the SMA Board of Directors, Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin, who is also the Chair of the Curtin University Malaysia Management Board Committee, State Secretary Datu Jaul Samion, Tegas chairman Datu Len Talif Saleh, and Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) general manager Dr Zaidi Razak were also present during the launching event.
Professor Beena Giridharan, the Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor, Curtin University accepted the Curtin-Tegas MoU on behalf of the university. Ir. Pieter Willem Pottas, Chief Operating Officer, Professor Tuong-Thuy Vu, Dean of Faculty of Engineering and Science, heads of departments, and staff attended as well.
TEGAS collaborates with SMA in operating the DIHs in Kuching, Miri and Bintulu, which serve as inclusive growth platforms for startups and social enterprises in Sarawak. Funded by SMA and managed by Tegas, the DIHs offer access to affordable co-working spaces, incubation and acceleration programmes, as well as access to the Sarawak Digital Village Ecosystem network.
