Greentech Accelerator Malaysia Pilots: Real Impact for SMEs

SMEs are the backbone of Malaysia’s economy, making up 97% of all business establishments (Yap, 2023). As sustainability becomes a key indicator of future readiness, ESG aligned businesses are better positioned to attract investment and stay competitive in a changing market. However, many SMEs struggle with knowing where and how to begin. A Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) study found that while SMEs understand the importance of transitioning, they often face uncertainty in taking the first step (Bank Negara Malayisa Annual Report 2023). That’s where the Bank steps in, with programmes like the Green Tech Accelerator (GTA). GTA connects SMEs with green-tech start-ups offering tailored solutions to sustainability challenges, while also building a strong ecosystem of mentorship, partnerships, and access to corporate and SME networks. To date, GTA has received 186 GreenTech applications regionally, with 27 challenge partners submitting 50 challenge statements. Among the many impactful initiatives, we’re excited to highlight two key pilot projects from the GTA Malaysia programme.

Pilot 1: Intlife & HCK Capital Group Berhad

Intlife and HCK Capital Group Berhad Pilot Delivers Real-World Impact

(From left to right, Er Kok Huang, CEO & Co-founder of intlife, Sean Ong, Director for Business Relations Properties Division at HCK Capital, William Heng, Head of FinLab & Ecosystem Partnership, UOB Malaysia, Angel Tan, Programme Manager, FinLab & Ecosystem Partnership, UOB Malaysia.)

In a powerful showcase of how innovation and collaboration can drive sustainability, Intlife, a Malaysian greentech startup, partnered with HCK Capital Group Berhad, a leading property developer, to pilot an AI-powered energy management system at HCK’s Edusentral show units.

In just eight weeks, the pilot delivered up to 26.87% energy savings, reduced 1,800 kWh in monthly electricity usage, and maintained a comfortable indoor temperature of 23.72°C, resulting in RM600 monthly savings, all without disrupting existing operations. The pilot addressed a common challenge in mixed-use office environments: managing energy efficiently amid fluctuating occupancy and continuous equipment usage. Intlife’s solution, enabled by smart sensors, automated controls, and real-time monitoring, proved that non-invasive retrofitting can deliver measurable ESG outcomes while maintaining comfort and operational continuity.

This success was made possible through the UOB FinLab Greentech Accelerator (GTA) programme, which provided Intlife with access to real-world deployment opportunities, strategic partners, and a supportive ecosystem to refine and scale its solution. “UOB FinLab GTA’s platform lets us solve real-world problems with partners, providing a continuous support ecosystem to scale,” said Er Kok Huang, the CEO and Co-founder of Intlife. The collaboration not only validated Intlife’s technology but also demonstrated the programme’s role in empowering greentech startups to innovate, iterate, and deliver impactful solutions to future clients. With plans to expand the deployment across more HCK Capital sites, this pilot sets a new benchmark for sustainable building management in Malaysia.

Pilot 2: Great Cosmo & IvisTech

Driving Smart Manufacturing: Great Cosmo’s Digital Transformation with IvisTech

In today’s fast-paced industrial landscape, staying competitive means embracing innovation. That’s exactly what Great Cosmo did through the GTA Pilot Project, partnering with IvisTech to digitise its factory operations and unlock new levels of efficiency, sustainability, and productivity. The initiative aimed to reduce material waste, optimize energy usage, and boost overall productivity, while staying environmentally conscious.

The pilot kicked off with a shared vision: to empower Great Cosmo with real-time insights and data-driven decision-making. IvisTech deployed smart devices across the factory floor, including digital power meters and gateways, enabling seamless energy monitoring. These devices were connected to the cloud, giving Great Cosmo’s team instant access to operational data via IvisTech’s proprietary software, provided complimentarily for two years.

How it works:

Power meters track electricity usage per machine.
Gateways transmit data to the cloud.
Managers access and analyze insights online to make informed decisions.

Tangible results

The pilot delivered measurable improvements across key metrics:

Outcome Highlights

Material Waste Reduction: Achieved a 2% reduction—though short of the 4–8% target, it still translated into significant cost savings.
Production Capacity: Surpassed expectations with a 9.5% increase, enhancing scalability.
Machine Uptime: Downtime dropped from 45 minutes to just 10 minutes per 48 hours, boosting operational efficiency.

Additional Milestones

IvisTech secured a RM100,000 grant from the Malaysian government (via MIMOS) to expand the initiative.
Plans are underway to install advanced sensors (temperature, motor speed, etc.) for deeper insights.
Reneon contributed by installing AI-powered monitoring sensors across Great Cosmo’s equipment, enabling smarter energy and performance management.

On the left – Ashwin Menon, Co-Founder of IVIS Tech, on the right – Ang Say Meng, Chief Operating Officer at Great Cosmo Industries Sdn Bhd

“This pilot project has been a game-changer for us. The insights we gained through IvisTech’s platform helped us reduce waste, improve output, and make smarter decisions. We’re excited about the next phase and the potential of AI-driven manufacturing.” — Great Cosmo Management Team

Conclusion

The GTA Pilot Project is a shining example of how digital transformation can drive tangible results in manufacturing. With smart tools, real-time data, and AI-powered insights, Great Cosmo is now better equipped to scale sustainably and competitively.