UTM Nurtures Future Talent with ‘Robotics for All’ at AIRFEST2025

Centre for Corporate Communications | Hakimah Ibnuzaman

JOHOR BAHRU, June 10 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) officially launched the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Festival 2025 (AIRFEST2025) at Senate Hall, Sultan Ibrahim Chancellery Building, UTM Johor Bahru, with a strong emphasis on inclusive education through its groundbreaking Robotics for All (RFA) initiative.

With the theme “Where Minds Meet Momentum,” AIRFEST 2025 aims to drive innovation and foster academic-industry collaboration. Yet among the various highlights, the launch of RFA stood out as a significant milestone, especially in supporting Malaysia’s goal of nurturing digital talent from the ground up.

Robotics for All is an outreach program designed to democratize access to robotics and AI education for students at the school level, particularly in Johor. The initiative equips young learners with essential digital skills, fostering a new generation of tech-savvy Malaysians ready to lead in the digital economy.

During the launching ceremony, Hj. Mohd Kamal Ahmad, Deputy Director (Student Development Section) of the Johor State Education Department (JPNJ), received an in-kind contribution of RM500,000 from UTM, presented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Prof. Dr. Rosli Md Illias and witnessed by the Deputy Minister of Digital Malaysia, YB Datuk Wilson Ugak Anak Kumbong.

Hj. Mohd Kamal Ahmad receives an in-kind contribution worth RM500,000 from UTM, witnessed by Prof. Dr. Rosli Md Illias and YB Datuk Wilson Ugak Anak Kumbong, to support the Robotics for All initiative

Prof. Dr. Rosli Md Illias, in his welcoming speech, described AIRFEST2025 as more than an exhibition. “AIRFEST 2025 celebrates innovation, perseverance, and the practical application of knowledge,” he said. “This festival brings together researchers, industry experts, policymakers, and the community to explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence and robotics. We aim to foster collaboration and inspire the next generation of innovators through exhibitions, talks, forums, competitions, and training sessions,” he added.

Prof. Dr. Rosli Md Illias delivers his welcoming remarks during the opening ceremony of AIRFEST2025, highlighting the university’s role in advancing AI and robotics innovation

In his officiating address, YB Datuk Wilson emphasized the significance of such initiatives. “Through initiatives like this festival, we are nurturing a talent pipeline, encouraging industry-academia collaboration, and accelerating the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across sectors — ensuring that Malaysia remains competitive, adaptive, and future-ready in the global digital economy,” he said, urging students to make the most of the festival and its opportunities.

YB Datuk Wilson Ugak Anak Kumbong officiates AIRFEST2025 with an inspiring speech encouraging UTM students to embrace AI and robotics as strategic tools for national development

AIRFEST2025 also featured the launch of the UTM-HUIBO Digital Intelligence Lab, made possible through a RM2.3 million contribution from China’s Huibo Robotics. The symbolic plaque-signing ceremony was officiated by YB Datuk Wilson and witnessed by key UTM and Huibo delegates.

YB Datuk Wilson Ugak Anak Kumbong, after signing the plaque during the launch of the UTM-HUIBO Digital Intelligence Lab, symbolized the start of a strategic collaboration in robotics innovation

YB Datuk Wilson Ugak Anak Kumbong together with UTM delegates and representatives from HUIBO Robotics, visiting the newly launched UTM-HUIBO Digital Intelligence Lab at P19a, FKE, UTM

Over the next two days, AIRFEST2025 will feature a series of engaging events including exhibitions, industrial talks, AI and robotics forums, training sessions, drone piloting experiences, and the TinkerTech Challenge. Organized by UTM’s Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIRO), the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (FKE), and Huibo Robotics, the festival underscores UTM’s continued leadership in advancing Malaysia’s AI and robotics frontier.

Also present at the event were the Director of CAIRO, Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Mohd Ibrahim Shapiai @ Abd. Razak, and the Program Director of AIRFEST, Ir. Dr. Shafishuhaza Sahlan

As the nation accelerates its journey toward a digitally empowered future, AIRFEST2025 stands as a reflection of UTM’s commitment to shaping Malaysia’s innovation landscape. By bridging academia, industry, and the community, the festival not only celebrates technological breakthroughs but also sows the seeds for sustainable, inclusive, and ethical advancements in the era of artificial intelligence and robotics.