APACE 2026 to strengthen Sarawak’s role in regional aerospace, aviation & space ecosystem
- BT
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KUCHING, 28 January 2026: The Asia Pacific Aerospace Conference and Exhibition (APACE) 2026 was officially launched yesterday by the Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg, marking a significant milestone in strengthening Sarawak’s role as a key player in the regional aerospace, aviation and space ecosystem.
Taking place at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) from January 27 to 29, APACE 2026 is hosted by the Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) Sarawak and organised by Borneo Business Connect Sdn Bhd, bringing together government, industry, academia and technology leaders to drive collaboration, talent development and innovation across the aerospace value chain. It underscores Sarawak’s growing role in developing future-ready aerospace talent aligned with regional and global industry needs.
“Aerospace and new space are ultimately human capital-intensive industries, which is why Sarawak has placed education and talent development at the centre of our aerospace strategy. We have established the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at i-CATS University College and implemented the Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) to widen access to high-value disciplines. We also embarked on 3 new programmes in Aircraft Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) specializing in airframe and avionics,” shared the Sarawak Premier in his launching speech. In line with inspiring a new generation with a science and engineering culture, the Premier also announced that Sarawak is building the Sarawak Science Centre and developing a Borneo Astronomy Centre in Santubong.
“Sarawak is positioning itself as an aerospace and new space education hub, a capability-driven aviation hub and as a contributor to ASEAN’s aerospace future. By working together, ASEAN can emerge as a globally competitive aerospace and new space region,” he added. “To our partners, industry, universities, investors and ASEAN colleagues, we invite you to build with Sarawak – to invest in capabilities, to develop talent and to shape the aerospace and new space economy of this region together.”
The launching ceremony also featured the exchange of 7 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), underscoring strong multi-sector partnerships and international cooperation. They include:
MEITD and Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) This collaboration focuses on strengthening graduate employability and expanding access to social protection through the MYFutureJobs portal. Key initiatives include implementing MYFutureJobs registration for students at state-owned higher education institutions and those sponsored by Yayasan Sarawak, collaborating on green workforce development and integrating talent data to create a unified labour market database for the state.
i-CATS University College and Sarawak Security and Enforcement Unit and Turkish Aerospace Malaysia (TUSAS) This collaboration will support research and development in next-generation aerospace technologies. It will focus on next-generation technology in unmanned systems, aerospace systems engineering and avionics, talent development, applied research and technology localization.
i-CATS University College and H2 Energy Sdn Bhd The proposed collaboration is set to advance Sarawak’s hydrogen strategy into clean aviation, logistics and disaster resilience. It will focus on customizing and deploying hydrogen-powered drones to meet Sarawak’s needs, including rural interior logistics, disaster response and delivery of critical items.
Sarawak Skills and Prima Tech Solutions Sdn Bhd The MoU seeks to establish collaboration in delivering upskilling programmes and customized aviation courses by integrating technical expertise with training facilities and support. It also aims to explore joint knowledge-sharing initiatives and talent development efforts, including industry exposure, internship opportunities and employment pathways.
Sarawak Skills and Borneo Airspace Sdn Bhd This collaboration will see the promoting and delivery of training in Advanced and Urban Air Mobility and autonomous aerial technologies, with EHang Holdings providing technical expertise, equipment and diagnostic tools. It will also support the future establishment of a training facility/learning hub in Sarawak, focused on low-altitude aviation and UAV operations.
Sarawak Information Systems (SAINS) and EarthEye Space Technologies Pte. Ltd. This MoU is set to strengthen Sarawak’s capabilities in space-based remote sensing and Earth observation intelligence. Through this collaboration, SAINS will advance its role in delivering high-value remote sensing solutions, with a focus on Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and optical satellite imagery processing, analytics and data extraction. EarthEye Space will provide a secure scalable satellite imagery processing platform, enabling SAINS and its customers to perform direct, on-demand analysis of SAR and optical data.
Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS) and Tsinghua University and Asia Pacific Professional Development This collaboration encompasses training programmes, research and testbed initiatives across Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Green Mining and Quarrying as well as Launch Vehicle/Aerospace (Design, Assembly and Launch). It also includes the engagement of technical expertise to accelerate the translation of training and research outcomes, the joint delivery of CENTEXS training programmes as a form of technology transfer and the provision of structured study pathways for CENTEXS graduates to progress into Tsinghua University’s award programmes. Through this MoU, Tsinghua University will be able to provide academic and technical support for the programmes, research and testbed initiatives as well as certification for the related programmes.
These strategic collaborations reflect a shared commitment to advancing aerospace capabilities, skills development, technology transfer and sustainable growth in Sarawak and the wider Asia Pacific region.
APACE 2026 is an inaugural event hosted by the Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) and organised by Borneo Business Connect Sdn Bhd, with the support of Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak), the Ministry of Transport Sarawak (MOTS), the Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment Sarawak (MINTRED), the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Sarawak together with the Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA), the Economic Planning Unit Sarawak, InvestSarawak, the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA), the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), the Malaysia Aerospace Industry Association (MAIA), the National Aerospace Industry Corporation (NAICO), and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB).
Also in attendance at the launching of APACE 2026, Deputy Premiers, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Amar Prof. Dr. Sim Kui Hian, Sarawak State Secretary, Datuk Amar Haji Mohamad Abu Bakar bin Marzuki, Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Sarawak, Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn, Minister of Transport Sarawak, Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, Minister in the Premier’s Department, Dato Sri John Sikie ak Tayai, Advisor of Borneo Business Connect Sdn Bhd, General Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Affendi Buang RMAF (Retired).
The exhibition component of APACE 2026, taking place at the Great Hall of BCCK, will be open to the public, offering visitors the opportunity to explore aerospace technologies, innovations and career pathways.
