RM7.5 Million Commitment to Build Perak's Next Generation of STEM and AI Talent

Perak is investing in its future workforce. Up to RM7.5 million has been committed to strengthening talent development in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) across the state.

The commitment comes through a three-year strategic partnership between Digital Perak Corporation Holdings and Spark Capital Development Berhad (SCDB). The documents were exchanged at the Perak Darul Ridzuan State Innovation Convention 2026 at Stadium Indera Mulia, Ipoh, on 6 October 2026. The exchange was witnessed by YB Teh Kok Lim, Chairman of the State Science, Environment and Green Technology Committee.

About RM1 million is projected for the first year to upgrade learning facilities and launch STEM and AI programmes. Digital Perak brings the ecosystem support and physical space, while SCDB contributes its expertise and learning content. Funding is also supported by the state and federal governments, HRD Corp, and industry sponsorship through corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes.

At the heart of the initiative is a new STEM AI Hub at Digital Perak's Innovation & Multimedia Hub (HiM) in Meru Raya. The facility will be upgraded with new equipment and learning spaces so teachers and students can learn through hands-on experience rather than theory alone. HiM will also become the state's reference centre for STEM AI training and certification. Three satellite centres will be set up in the districts to bring the programmes closer to communities across Perak.

The first phase focuses on educators. The STEM AI Digital Educator Pilot Programme will train 100 teachers across four cohorts. The TVET-AI Educator Programme will give TVET instructors five days, or 40 hours, of foundation training. In the long term, the initiative aims to produce 1,000 master trainers and 300 AI-skilled TVET instructors. It will also introduce 30,000 students to STEM and AI through school modules and an annual Perak STEM AI Innovation Challenge.

By equipping the educators who guide the next generation, the initiative aims to strengthen STEM and AI talent from the classroom up. The goal is a generation that does more than understand technology: one that can create, innovate and adapt as it keeps evolving.

This push for talent ties into Digital Perak's wider efforts to put AI to work for the people of Perak. A clear example is the SIHAT AI Smart Health Kiosk, developed with technology partner COEXRT AI and featured at its own booth during the convention. The kiosk was launched on 6 July 2026 at the Perak Techno Trade Centre (PTTC) in Ipoh by Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Saarani Mohamad. It offers free health screening and runs as a six-month pilot project, which is being used to assess its impact on healthcare costs and to identify suitable locations for future kiosks. Following the successful pilot at PTTC, Digital Perak has worked with the Perak State Health Department and COEXRT AI to refine the direction of the initiative. It also hosted a delegation from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to explore expanding the kiosk as a workplace digital health solution. A strong local pool of STEM and AI talent is what will keep homegrown innovations like SIHAT AI growing for years to come.

The ceremony was also attended by Digital Perak Chief Executive Officer Mohamad Suhaimi Mohamad Tahir and SCDB Chief Operating Officer Ts. Mohanraj Kumarason, among others.