VIT Chennai inks MoU on technology training with Malaysian state-owned firm

Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) in Chennai, India, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Penang STEM Sdn. Bhd., a Malaysian state-owned company, to collaborate on professional training, capacity building, and technology cooperation in emerging fields such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cyber Security. The agreement was signed at the AI summit 2026 hosted at VIT Chennai.

Under the MoU, VIT Chennai will design and deliver training programs for employees nominated by the Penang state government. Officials and employees from Penang will visit VIT Chennai for training, while faculty members from VIT Chennai will visit Penang to conduct training sessions for employees there. Y.B. Jagdeep Singh Deo, Deputy Chief Minister of Penang, stated that Penang is the "Silicon Valley of the East" with 450 multinational companies, including India, operating there.

The state is expanding to the mainland and has two major industrial parks. Penang's traditional industry is semiconductor manufacturing, producing 10% of the world's chips.

G.V. Selvam, Vice President of VIT, emphasized that AI is the "magic word" and highlighted that AI will provide a good future rather than taking away jobs. He encouraged students to share their ideas and stressed that age is not a barrier to making a difference.

The sessions under the MoU will focus on quantum computing, cybersecurity, and AI. The summit will showcase the expanding role of AI in government, sports, and the entertainment industry. G. Viswanathan, founder and chancellor of VIT, pointed out that the biggest challenges in scaling up AI are power, renewable energy reliability, coding technologies for data centers, and the need for AI models and algorithms to work together effectively.

Mr. Viswanathan is the vice-president of the Corporate Technology Office at Tata Consultancy Services Limited.