Iskandar Investment Berhad Ventures (IIBV), a wholly owned subsidiary of Iskandar Investment Berhad (IIB), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with FUTURISE Sdn Bhd, to launch Akademi Kecemerlangan Sukan Dron Negara (AKSADRON) in Drone Robotics Zone Iskandar (DRZ Iskandar) in accordance with the aspirations of the development of Drone Sports Industry in Malaysia. As set out in the MoU, FUTURISE is responsible to develop and operate AKSADRON Iskandar as well as establishing a regulatory lab for drone racing in DRZ Iskandar.
Dato’ Indera Mohd Shahar bin Abdullah, Deputy Finance Minister 1, and Mohd Hairi bin Mad Shah, Chairman of the Johor State Youth, Sports, Entrepreneur Development, Cooperatives, and Human Resources Committee, were present for the signing ceremony at Medini Iskandar during the ‘Future of Drone Sports in Malaysia Forum.’
Dato’ Mohd Shahar said, “I am pleased to witness the collaboration between Iskandar Investment Berhad and FUTURISE to be the driving factor in pushing the nation’s drone industry forward. New technology, automation and digitalisation have been instrumental in employment creation and income generation, building the momentum for the Nation’s economic growth. With the rapid take-up of the e-sports industry, the drone sports industry is moving towards the right track, and the Government is committed to making Malaysia the future hub for this emerging sport.”
“This is further reflected in the Budget 2023 with the theme “Strengthening Recovery and Facilitating Reforms towards Sustainability of Economic Resilience and Wellbeing of Keluarga Malaysia”, the Government aims in driving Malaysia’s economic growth and at the same time, ensure that the nation’s prosperity is inclusive for all Malaysians today, and sustainable for future generations,” he added.
The global drone market revenue was estimated to be worth USD26.3 billion in 2021, a 46% increase from the previous year’s figure of USD18 billion, with a compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.4% projected from 2021 to 2026, well with potential to reach highs of USD43 billion in revenue.
The Drone Sports Industry has the potential to equal or exceed the global drone industry’s current highest market capitalisation which is industrial drones.
The opening of AKSADRON in DRZ Iskandar is part of the Iskandar New Economic & Talent (NEXT) initiative, a public-private partnership programme with the Johor state government to support the state’s digital economy agenda, which aims to accelerate growth toward becoming a Regional and Global Business Hub.
In accordance with today’s technological needs, AKSADRON in DRZ Iskandar will support the development of the nation’s drone industry as well as Industry 4.0. This includes the use of drones in a variety of industries, including logistics, education, manufacturing, agriculture, and, most recently, sports.
“We are proud to be a part of this collaboration with FUTURISE Sdn Bhd. This new initiative is consistent with Khazanah’s long-term strategy in Advancing Malaysia as well as our aim to create a drone and robotics ecosystem in Iskandar Puteri with the vision of spurring growth in technology and talent development for Malaysia and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). In addition, this initiative is a further step up for Johor and Malaysia’s innovation capabilities. It will be important to propel the drone and robotics technologies while reinforcing Malaysia’s position as a high-tech nation by 2030,” Datuk Ir. Khairil Anwar Bin Ahmad, President and Chief Executive Officer of IIB said.
The academy, located within the DRZ Iskandar, includes a racetrack that will host prestigious sports events at the local and international levels. The academy will also pioneer unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) development programmes in order to develop a vibrant pool of Johor talent for this emerging industry.
This initiative is expected to benefit Iskandar Puteri and the entire country through a variety of channels including education, employment, investment, research and development, and, most importantly, the sports industry.
“The collaboration between AKSADRON and IIBV will expand the ecosystem of high-performing drone sports and create the momentum we need to accelerate the rapid development of this sport in the country,” said Rosihan Zain, Chief Executive Officer of Futurise.
“This is a sport where our local youth have the potential to compete internationally, in addition to developing the skills and appreciation towards drone technology. It has been proven that the local drone companies are standing out in the global market, now we are following up with drone sports in the hope of attracting more talents and developing interest, adding to the drone technology ecosystem in Malaysia,” he added.
AKSADRON Iskandar will open its doors to enthusiasts, hobbyists and technopreneurs alike, bolstering the spirit of emerging sports in Johor and the region.
More information on AKSADRON and upcoming events can be found at https://www.futurise.com.my/aksadron
