Holovis, a leading experience designer, has committed to bringing its Extended Reality (XR) technology to Malaysia and Southeast Asia as part of a new collaboration.
The company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Azimuth International, a Malaysian technology company, in line with Malaysia’s IR4.0 transformation initiative.
Known for its immersive and multi-sensory solutions within the education and entertainment industries, Holovis was named Company of the Year at Installation Magazine’s AV Technology Awards in 2020. The firm has developed a range of industry-leading IPs, working with clients including Jaguar Land Rover and Merlin Entertainments.
Next-gen technology
As part of the agreement, Azimuth International will set up a local joint venture company with Holovis (Azimuth Holovis), designed to satisfy the fast-growing demand for XR technology and content in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.
“Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), as the lead digital economy agency for Malaysia, lauds the partnership between both companies, which will bring to the table essential next-gen technology which will power the growth of our tech ecosystem and industry,” says MDEC CEO Mahadhir Aziz.
“The UK has been a long-standing and important trade partner for Malaysia and we welcome further effective collaborations to positively transform and accelerate the growth of our digital economy, in line with the aspirations of Malaysia Digital which seeks to establish an innovative digital nation.”
Jobs and opportunities
Holovis has also been working with Warwick Manufacturing Group’s Centre of Excellence as a primary technology partner. As an academic department at the University of Warwick, the group is a leading global role model for successful academic-industry collaborations. Working across the public and private sectors, the collaboration helps drive innovation in STEM subjects including science, technology and engineering.
Stuart Hetherington, Holovis CEO says the firm is proud to announce its new strategic partnership with Azimuth:
“Malaysia and the wider ASEAN region present significant opportunities in the Immersive Technology space across Holovis’ key sectors, specifically Experiential, Simulation, Training and Visualisation.”
“Partnering with Azimuth and working with MDEC provides a catalyst for Holovis to accelerate our growth strategy in the region and support the wider collaboration between our two countries in knowledge and skills transfer, and in helping bring next-gen technologies and solutions to Malaysia, as well as our planned innovation centres of excellence, these will in turn help create significant new jobs and opportunities in each region.”
Prepare for growth
As part of its five-year plan, Holovis will commit to a Transfer of Knowledge and Transfer of Technology with the local workforce and will be fully transitioned by 2026. This move is designed to help make Malaysia a hub and resource for XR content creation and digital engineering talent.
Future prospects will be nurtured and developed by Amuse, a specialist in entertainment XR owned by Azimuth Holovis, and the Azimuth Holovis Centre of Excellence, which will be a hub for XR content and applications.
More than RM80 million will be invested by Azimuth Holovis to build the ecosystem, with a projected income of USD1 million per annum for the local workforce by year five. There are further plans to locally develop AI and robotics capabilities, utilising the XR technologies.
Holovis says that the XR market shows great potential, with an accelerated increase in US dollars from $31 billion in 2021 to $300 billion by 2024.
Earlier this year, Holovis announced the appointment of George Walker as its vice president of creative development.
