SINGAPORE –– Univers, a global leader in AI and IoT technology for energy, today announced the signing of a strategic partnership with the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) to establish Malaysia’s first Net Zero Center of Excellence in Kuching, Sarawak.
The new center will serve as a hub for innovation, bringing together digital intelligence and climate ambition to accelerate Sarawak’s transition toward a low-carbon, tech-enabled economy. Backed by a memorandum of understanding (MOU), the partnership will focus on three core areas:
- Advisory and Enablement: Designing digital strategies and advisory services for businesses and public agencies, drawing on Univers’ global experience in Net Zero and AI technologies.
- R&D and Innovation: Establishing Open Labs, Testbeds, and Living Labs to drive research and co-create new intellectual property tailored to the region’s needs.
- Commercial Deployment: Launching real-world Net Zero projects across key sectors, from energy to hospitality, using AI to unlock smarter, cleaner ways of operating.
“Sustainability is a journey built on data, collaboration, and action,” said Arun Poojari, global vice president, Univers. “We are bringing AI for Energy to the forefront — using intelligent systems to transition to a low-carbon economy and enable emerging regions like Sarawak to leapfrog toward a net-zero future.”
The partnership will explore how digital tools can improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions, and drive operational excellence across Sarawak’s key economic sectors. Additional joint efforts may include skills-building programs and knowledge-sharing initiatives to nurture local talent and ideas.
The agreement also aligns with Sarawak’s broader ambition to build a digitally driven and environmentally sustainable economy as outlined in the Sarawak Digital Economy Blueprint 2030.
“At SDEC, we exist with a designer’s mindset to connect people to opportunities, data to decisions, and innovation to infrastructure. As a state-owned agency entrusted with more than just delivering digital projects, our mandate is to orchestrate a resilient, inclusive, and future-facing digital economy that fits the aspirations of all Sarawakians,” said Dato Ir. Ts. Sudarnoto Osman, chief executive officer of SDEC.
“Sarawak is not dipping its toes into AI. We are using it right now. This collaboration is a significant step towards shaping a future where digital solutions are embedded in the way we design and sustain our built environment,” added Sudarnoto.
