KUCHING: The Sarawak Government plans to establish an aerospace faculty at i-CATS University, according to Premier Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He stated that Sarawak aims to develop human resources capable of managing space-related matters in view of the burgeoning space industry.
“Aerospace is related to big data storage, either through cloud or satellite, which beams data. Big data is stored in the cloud, and as you know, data must be stored in satellites and beamed back to the user for commercial use,” he explained.
“What is needed now is to produce human resources capable of managing space-related matters.
“As such, I have asked i-CATS University to establish a curriculum or syllabus related to aerospace.”
He said this to reporters after delivering his keynote address at the US – Malaysia Clean Tech Forum 2024, themed ‘Shared Pathways to a Clean Economy,’ held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) today.
Abang Johari further elaborated that Sarawak’s strategic location just north of the equator makes it an ideal launching pad for the aerospace industry.
This, he said, will be the new frontier for economic growth and technological advancement for Sarawak.
“Remember, satellite launches need to be near the equator because of the orbit, and we are at the equator, which is our advantage. Therefore, we need trained human resources in the aerospace industry.
“From what I have learned from the US, particularly National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), all the technology we see now often originates from NASA in collaboration with Silicon Valley,” he said.
