KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia PropTech Association (MPA) and Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) that will benefit the advancement of technology solutions for Malaysian technology start-ups in the property and construction sector.
MPA president Daniele Gambero and chief innovation and enterprise officer Prof Vinesh Thiruchelvam signed the agreement during the MPA Annual General Meeting (AGM) dinner here, granting APU a royalty-free, non-transferable, non-exclusive licence to use MPA’s Foreground Intellectual Property for non-commercial purposes such as teaching and research on joint industry research projects.
The event was also attended by more than 80 proptech companies and officials from the Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology and Innovation (Mranti), Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), and Small and Medium Enterprise Corporation Malaysia (SME Corp).
MPA will facilitate industry study visits for APU undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as mutual visits by staff members, as appropriate, to improve learning experiences, professional development and curriculum development.
In addition, more than 80 proptech companies will receive support through matching, mentoring, connections, and onboarding.
The collaboration’s ultimate goal is to prepare future-ready digital talents who can now work on real-world projects arising from a sector that is rapidly digitally transforming.
Highlights of this MoA include the APU Sandbox team will also have an opportunity to learn from the MPA member start-ups in venture building areas.
“In today’s fast-changing world, the ability to adapt is a prerequisite for success, and MPA members are eager to collaborate with APU to open students’ minds to it and prepare them for the future. Every aspect and layer of our work, learn, and play lives is infiltrated by technology,” said Gambero.
“MPA will always be ready to arrange sharing sessions and case study analysis to provide the academic side with real-world insight into pain points, problem statements, and actual needs. We look forward to a long-term constructive collaboration for the benefit of students, academics, and the built environment.”
Meanwhile, Vinesh said the MoA will allow APU to partner with Malaysian tech startups to infuse emerging technologies into the property and construction sector while allowing our talents to engage directly with the industry.
“Future market stability will be ensured by technologies that have the potential to either improve or transform, preserve and tailor improvement functional values within the sector.
“Given the size of the market and development potential, as well as Malaysia’s exciting tech scene, this partnership has the credibility to provide incredible opportunities, particularly in the property and construction sector.” – The Vibes, June 9, 2022
