UMPSA commercial arm seals international deals in smart facilities, drone innovation
UMPSA Holdings Sdn Bhd (UMPSAH), the commercial arm of Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), has taken a significant step onto the international stage through two strategic global collaborations involving facilities management and drone technologies.
The initiatives mark a milestone for UMPSAH in translating university-based research and innovation into commercially viable solutions, while strengthening Malaysia’s presence in high-tech industries including smart facilities management, Internet of Things (IoT) applications, aerospace and autonomous systems.
In the first collaboration, UMPSAH formalised a partnership with Chulia Middle East Technical Services LLC through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Dubai on Nov 18. Chulia Middle East is a Malaysia-founded international facilities management (FM) company with an established footprint in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The partnership covers a wide spectrum of services, including smart facilities management solutions, Building Information Modelling (BIM), IoT-enabled building systems, project management, cleaning services and specialised technical works such as corrosion removal for chilled-water piping in large HVAC systems.
UMPSA Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Yatimah Alias said the collaboration reflects a shared vision to drive innovation and sustainable growth beyond national borders.
“This MoU represents a mutual commitment to innovation, knowledge exchange and long-term value creation that will benefit Malaysia, the UAE and the wider region,” she said.
Meanwhile, UMPSAH Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer Ts Mohd Fadzil Mohd Idris said the partnership connects UMPSA’s research ecosystem directly with international industry players.
“By working with Chulia Middle East, we are opening new pathways to commercialise local technologies and transform academic research into practical, industry-ready solutions,” he said.
Founded in 1995, Chulia Middle East is a subsidiary of Malaysia-based Chulia Facilities Management Sdn Bhd. The company currently manages more than 500 facilities management contracts, employs over 700 skilled professionals and has completed more than 30 major projects across the UAE.
The collaboration is expected to enable UMPSAH to deliver innovative and high-impact solutions for both public and private sector clients in Malaysia and the Middle East.
In a separate international venture, UMPSAH also signed an MoU with China-based Albatross Tech Pt Co Ltd to establish Pahang’s first Low-Altitude Airspace Technology Incubator and Drone Centre.
The facility will be developed at UMPSA’s 180-acre Agriculture Twin Park in Luit, Maran, and will focus on research, testing, technology transfer and joint innovation in drone systems, autonomous vehicles, robotics and agri-technology applications.
One of the centre’s key objectives is the development of Malaysian-made drones, aimed at strengthening domestic high-tech manufacturing capabilities, reducing reliance on imported systems and positioning Malaysia as an emerging player in the global drone industry.
Ts Mohd Fadzil said the initiative represents a strategic investment in local talent and future-ready technologies.
“This collaboration accelerates the development of Malaysian-made drone solutions while reinforcing Malaysia’s role in the global drone ecosystem and supporting innovation across multiple sectors,” he said.
The drone centre is expected to support applications in smart agriculture, infrastructure inspection, logistics, asset management and commercial drone services.
Together, the two international collaborations highlight UMPSAH’s growing role in bridging academia and industry, while demonstrating that innovation originating from smaller towns such as Gambang can achieve global relevance and impact.
-EDUCATION TVET ASIA