MIMOS (Malaysia), HAVELSAN (Türkiye), and TechInsight (Malaysia) formalised their collaboration on 21 May 2025, at LIMA in Langkawi, marking a significant step forward in building a national ecosystem for localised foundational Artificial Intelligence (AI). (Left to Right) Razman Jaafar, Chief Commercial Officer, MIMOS; Dr Saat Shukri Embong, Acting President & Group CEO, MIMOS; Ömer Özkan, Vice President, Information and Communication Technologies, HAVELSAN; Mr Syed Sirajudeen Omer, Managing Director, TechInsight; Şevket Ünal, Vice President, International Business Development and Marketing, HAVELSAN; and Azri Aziz, COO, TechInsight
LANGKAWI, May 22 (Bernama) -- MIMOS Berhad (Malaysia), HAVELSAN (Türkiye), and TechInsight Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia) formalised their collaboration yesterday, 21 May 2025, at LIMA in Langkawi, marking a significant step forward in building a national ecosystem for localised foundational Artificial Intelligence (AI). This agreement follows the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed earlier at the Malaysia-Türkiye Business Forum in February 2025 and reflects both countries’ shared commitment to advancing frontier technologies.
The immediate objective of this tripartite collaboration is the rapid development of a comprehensive national ecosystem with a localised foundational AI. This initiative will strategically integrate infrastructure, AI model development, and market engagement to accelerate the deployment and widespread adoption of AI technologies tailored to Malaysia's unique local needs and context. Clear Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies and plans are a key deliverable within this ambitious timeframe.
Fostering homegrown AI technologies and solutions will see significant benefits for Malaysian enterprises and government sectors, as it will safeguard the national data sovereignty and protect Malaysia's rich multilingual and multicultural heritage. This initiative also aligns with the Nation’s aspiration of becoming a Digital Nation, aligned with the Malaysian MADANI vision, and is supported by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI)'s vision of positioning Malaysia as a leader in frontier technologies, particularly in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Quantum Intelligence.
This approach ensures that AI models are attuned to local contexts, preventing cultural and cognitive biases inherent in foreign technologies, which will provide competitively priced alternative solutions, reducing reliance on international platforms and retaining valuable Ringgit within the Malaysian economy, in line with MOSTI’s National Science, Technology & Innovation Policy (DSTIN) 2021-2030 to drive high-impact technology adoption and foster a knowledge-driven economy.
A ‘sovereign foundational AI model ecosystem’ is crucial for Malaysia to protect its cultural identity from being inadvertently shaped by foreign technologies embedded within widely adopted AI systems. As AI consumption grows across various sectors, the ability to customise and contextualise AI outputs becomes paramount.
"A sovereign AI model is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity. By localising foundational AI models, we ensure that core applications, whether in Digital Government, enterprise resource planning (ERP), or customer-facing platforms, are guided by Malaysian- specific data governance principles. This prevents cultural misinterpretation or bias from foreign-trained models and promotes more contextually accurate and meaningful insights for decision-making," said Dr Saat Shukri Embong, Acting President and Group Chief Executive Officer of MIMOS Berhad. He also emphasised that as AI becomes more embedded in public and private sector systems, the ability to contextualise AI outputs to Malaysia’s societal values, languages, and legal frameworks will be critical in preserving national identity and ensuring public trust. "This is about more than just technology, it’s about national autonomy, digital sovereignty, and cultural preservation in the age of intelligent systems," added Dr Shukri.
This collaboration unites three key players, each contributing essential strengths.
- MIMOS, as the national applied R&D centre, drawing upon its extensive experience in infrastructure development and manpower, will take the lead in establishing and overseeing the sovereign AI infrastructure.
- As the technology provider, HAVELSAN will furnish core AI technologies, encompassing the creation and adaptation of Large Language Models (LLMs) with localised capabilities, while also facilitating crucial technology transfer.
- TechInsight, as the dedicated Go-To-Market (GTM) partner and architect, will lead the strategic validation of high-impact use cases across public and private domains, design commercialisation pathways with systemic scalability in mind, and activate adoption cycles to accelerate AI diffusion at a national scale.
MIMOS plays a key role in developing and managing the sovereign AI infrastructure that underpins this initiative. “With in-house capabilities in cybersecurity, foundational AI models, cloud infrastructure, and a government-secured data centre, MIMOS is well-positioned to support this critical platform,” said Dr. Shukri. He explained that by localising the storage, training, and deployment of large language models (LLMs) within Malaysia, MIMOS helps ensure sensitive data remains protected, in line with national data governance policies. “This is about more than just infrastructure. It is about strengthening our digital independence and protecting the privacy of Malaysians,” he added. As AI adoption grows globally, MIMOS’ role helps ensure Malaysia’s digital progress remains secure, inclusive, and aligned with national interests.
HAVELSAN's expertise in managing highly sensitive defence information for a leading global military power provides unparalleled proficiency in cybersecurity and defence- grade infrastructure. Dr Mehmet Akif Nacar, Chief Executive Officer, HAVELSAN, stated, “At HAVELSAN, we are pleased to contribute to this important initiative with our expertise in secure infrastructure solutions and artificial intelligence technologies. By sharing our experience in developing localised large language models and ensuring data security, we aim to support the establishment of a reliable and sustainable AI infrastructure tailored to Malaysia’s needs. This collaboration offers a productive platform for technology development and knowledge exchange.” Their guidance in establishing the infrastructure requirements is integral in securing the storage and analysis of data within the local sovereign AI platform.
TechInsight’s foundational expertise in architecting citizen-centric digital ecosystems and orchestrating large-scale public sector transformation positions it as a strategic catalyst in driving Malaysia’s sovereign AI Go-To-Market (GTM) framework. Syed Sirajudeen, Managing Director of TechInsight, stated, “At TechInsight, we view digital sovereignty not merely as a policy objective, but as an innovation imperative. Our mission is to operationalise AI systems that are not only hyper-localised and culturally attuned but also scalable, secure, and economically sustainable. We design GTM strategies with systems-level impact, deploying intelligence that speaks our languages, adapts to our norms, and embeds itself meaningfully across public and private domains.”
TechInsight’s leadership in use case validation ensures that AI applications emerge from real-world governance pain points, enabling rapid iteration, contextual fidelity, and frictionless adoption across critical government services and national development priorities. This collaboration, leveraging MIMOS’ infrastructure mastery and HAVELSAN’s defence-grade AI capabilities, marks a strategic inflexion point in Malaysia’s ascent as a regional powerhouse in sovereign frontier technologies.
Dr. Shukri said, “The progress since the MoU signing reflects the strong commitment of all partners to advancing Malaysia’s sovereign digital future. With a focused six- month action plan and the combined expertise of MIMOS, HAVELSAN, and TechInsight, we are moving purposefully from planning to implementation.” He noted that this collaboration is not just about technological advancement but also about upholding the MADANI values of Sustainability (Kemampanan), Prosperity (Kesejahteraan), Innovation (Daya Cipta), Respect (Hormat), Trust (Keyakinan), and Compassion (Ihsan). “We aim to build AI solutions that are locally grounded, globally competitive, and guided by ethical, inclusive, and secure innovation principles. This partnership supports Malaysia’s ambition to lead in sovereign AI, in a way that reflects our national values and priorities.”
About MIMOS BerhadMIMOS is a strategic agency under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) and a premier innovation centre in Semiconductors, Microelectronics, and ICT technologies, contributing to Malaysia’s socio-economic growth through patentable technology platforms, products, and solutions. Since its inception, MIMOS has filed 2,000 patents in various technology domains and across key socio-economic areas, driving Malaysia’s digital transformation journey into the international arena.
As a centre of research excellence, MIMOS R&D activities currently focus on Semiconductor & Thin Film Research, Advanced Electronics & Embedded Systems, as well as Manufacturing and Smart Nation technologies. MIMOS continuously enhance its collaborations with existing strategic partners, explores new opportunities with potential partners, and develops new technology companies and business- oriented technology venture organisations. MIMOS also maintains its R&D of advanced technology, explores the development of global technopreneurship, and cultivates an attitude of trust, innovation and high performance.
For more information, please visit
www.mimos.my.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Patricia Liew
Manager
Corporate Communication
Email: patricia.liew@mimos.my
Name: Nurazuin Wahab
Assistant Manager Corporate Communication
Email: nurazuin.wahab@mimos.my
Name: Nuramalina Husna
Senior Executive Corporate Communication
Email: nuramalina.nurdin@mimos.my About HAVELSANHAVELSAN is a prominent company under the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation and a premier innovation center in defense, simulation, and IT technologies, contributing to Türkiye’s socio-economic growth through high-tech, software-intensive platforms, products, and solutions. Since its inception in 1982, HAVELSAN has developed expertise in various technology domains and across key socio-economic areas, driving Türkiye’s technological transformation journey into the international arena.
At HAVELSAN, R&D is one of the core areas of focus. The company's activities currently concentrate on Command Control and Defense, Simulation and Training, Information and Communication Technologies, as well as Robotics and Autonomous Systems. HAVELSAN actively strengthens collaborations with partners, seeks new opportunities, and develops technology ventures, while maintaining its commitment to innovation and high performance.
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https://www.havelsan.com/en FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Name: Mr. Talha Onal
Business Development Specialist Malaysia Regional Office
Email: tonal@havelsan.com.tr About TechInsight Sdn. Bhd.TechInsight Sdn. Bhd. is a premier technology solutions provider at the forefront of digital transformation, specialising in GovTech and citizen-centric digital ecosystems. With expertise spanning advanced software development, IT project management, secure data communication, and strategic advisory on emerging technologies, TechInsight empowers government agencies and enterprises to navigate the complexities of digital governance.
Leveraging cutting-edge innovations, the company delivers scalable, high-impact solutions that enhance public service efficiency, fortify digital resilience, and foster inclusive citizen engagement. By driving next-generation advancements in AI and Quantum Intelligence infrastructure, TechInsight remains dedicated to shaping the future of technological excellence.
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www.techinsight.cloud FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Name: Faezul Fitri
Manager Corporate Affairs
Email: faezul@techinsight.cloudSOURCE: MIMOS
--BERNAMA
