Malaysia’s leading expert in deep-sea robotics in China has recently made a bold move Professor Mohd Rizal Arshad left his homeland to continue his research in one of the world’s fastest growing scientific and industrial environments.
His relocation is not just about geography it’s a statement about where the future of marine research, robotics, and innovation is heading. Professor Rizal has always believed that the future is in the ocean.
His vision goes beyond traditional marine studies he sees the ocean as a limitless source of food, clean drinking water, renewable energy from waves, and untapped mineral resources. To harness this potential, robotic systems are essential.
In Malaysia, Rizal established himself as a pioneer in underwater robotics, but the infrastructure, resources, and ecosystem were limited. Moving to China was not about abandoning Malaysia but about finding the environment where his ideas could be rapidly tested, built, and applied.
China, with its enormous coastline, thriving shipping industry, renewable energy projects, and increasing exploration of deep-sea resources, provides exactly that environment.
Why China? A Hub for Robotics and Marine Technology
Several key factors explain why Rizal chose to relocate, In China, the journey from academic research to industrial application is much faster. Universities work directly with companies to test and implement new technologies, meaning breakthroughs are not stuck in laboratories they are deployed in the real world.
Access to manufacturing components, specialized parts, and prototyping facilities makes it easier for scientists like Rizal to design and build underwater robots. Instead of waiting months to import equipment, he can find suppliers locally within days.
China is investing heavily in deep-sea exploration, ocean conservation, and offshore renewable energy projects. For an ocean robotics scientist, this translates into abundant opportunities to apply his expertise.
A good example of why Rizal’s move makes sense is China’s leadership in offshore wind power. The country already operates the largest number of wind turbines at sea, and maintaining them requires underwater inspection and repair.
This is where deep-sea robots come in autonomous machines can dive, check structural integrity, and even conduct minor repairs without risking human divers. Rizal’s prototypes are expected to play a direct role in enhancing efficiency and safety in this booming sector.
Port Management and Maritime Trade
China also runs the world’s busiest container ports, such as Shanghai and Ningbo. Ports need constant underwater monitoring to ensure smooth operations. Sediment buildup, structural wear, and underwater hazards must be detected quickly.
Deploying underwater robots can drastically reduce costs and improve safety. Rizal’s relocation allows him to collaborate with port authorities and shipping companies that need real time robotic solutions for maritime challenges. International robotics experts often highlight three main reasons why researchers are drawn to China.
China’s ability to scale up prototypes into mass produced systems is unmatched. A robot designed in a lab can be produced, tested, and deployed within months.
China’s massive talent pool in artificial intelligence allows robotics researchers to build smarter, autonomous systems that can navigate complex marine environments.
With ongoing projects in energy, shipping, and resource exploration, China provides direct industry demand for underwater robotics meaning scientists’ work has immediate impact.
Rizal’s Personal Vision and Experience
For Professor Rizal, the move was not only professional but also deeply personal. In interviews, he often speaks about his passion for building functional machines that can solve humanity’s greatest challenges.
He recalls the frustration of working in environments where access to materials and funding slowed innovation. In China, those bottlenecks are minimized. When I imagine a prototype today, he has said, “I can begin building it tomorrow.”
This shift from vision to action is what excites him the most. He is no longer limited to theoretical papers he can now see his designs tested in real waters.
The Brain Drain Question
Rizal’s move also sparks discussion about the challenges Malaysia faces in retaining top scientists. While Malaysia has strong universities and talented researchers, the ecosystem for robotics and deep-sea exploration is still developing.
Limited industrial partnerships mean fewer opportunities for rapid testing of prototypes. Funding constraints often restrict large scale marine research projects. Infrastructure gaps slow down the process of turning ideas into working technology.
Malaysia risks losing more talent unless stronger research industry links and funding mechanisms are created. However, Rizal’s position in China could still benefit Malaysia if collaborative projects and student exchanges are encouraged.
The story of Rizal’s relocation is part of a larger global trend the migration of scientists to ecosystems where innovation thrives. Just as Silicon Valley became a magnet for computer scientists, China is emerging as a magnet for roboticists especially those working in applied fields like marine robotics.
This raises important questions for smaller nations: Should they try to compete by building their own ecosystems, or should they embrace cross border collaboration and benefit from the global flow of knowledge?
For Malaysia, supporting collaborations with Rizal in China may be more beneficial than trying to replicate China’s massive ecosystem at home.
The Promise of Deep-Sea Robotics in China
Looking ahead, Rizal envisions a future where fleets of underwater robots patrol the seas monitoring ecosystems, harvesting energy, detecting pollution, and securing vital resources. His current projects include designing prototypes that can, Inspect underwater pipelines and cables
Monitor coral reefs and marine biodiversity, Support offshore energy generation, Explore mineral deposits on the ocean floor. These projects are not futuristic dreams they are near term possibilities made real by China’s resources, industry partnerships, and manufacturing strengths.
Professor Mohd Rizal Arshad’s journey from Malaysia to China reflects the pull of ecosystems where ideas can rapidly become reality.
His work in deep-sea robotics in China represents more than personal ambition it highlights the growing importance of the ocean in humanity’s future.
China’s unmatched scale, infrastructure, and demand for marine technology make it a natural home for innovators like Rizal.
For Malaysia, his move is both a loss and an opportunity a loss of talent locally, but also a chance to build global collaborations.
As Rizal himself believes, the ocean holds the key to our future. And today, that future is being shaped in the labs, ports, and waters of China.