Credit: CCI France Malaysia
How has your company contributed to Malaysia’s economy, local talent, or local ecosystem?
What began as a vision to redefine aerial drone technology in Southeast Asia has grown into a meaningful contribution to Malaysia’s aerospace ecosystem. Founded in Malaysia with strong technological foundations from both Malaysia and France, Pen Aviation has achieved several pioneering milestones on Malaysian soil, including the first PEN UAS flight in 2021 and becoming the first company in Southeast Asia to certify drones above 25kg.
The company continues to strengthen Malaysia’s aerospace supply chain through local manufacturing, workforce development, and academic collaborations with institutions such as UniKL MIAT. Pen Aviation has also played an active role alongside the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia in supporting the development of Malaysia’s rules and regulations of UAS.
How has your company supported sustainable or community-focused efforts locally?
Pen Aviation’s design team is at the forefront of sustainable materials research for aerospace supply chains. A key area of focus is the exploration of recycled carbon fibre (RCF) as a viable alternative to virgin carbon fibre, which carries a significant manufacturing carbon burden. Alongside this, we are investigating biocomposite materials derived from locally sourced natural fibres, including Kenaf, a fast-growing plant crop cultivated in Malaysia. This initiative not only supports greener manufacturing practices but also creates potential value for local agricultural supply chains, anchoring our sustainability agenda within the Malaysian economy.
Under its Higgs Powertrain brand, PEN Group is commercialising a proprietary multi-fuel engine that represents a meaningful step toward cleaner aviation and mobility. The engine is engineered to operate on low-pressure hydrogen, either as a standalone fuel or blended with conventional fuels, enabling operators to begin their transition to green energy without requiring an overnight infrastructure overhaul. In multi-fuel mode, the engine delivers up to 15% improvement in fuel efficiency, translating to immediate and measurable emissions reductions.
In what ways has CCIFM supported your business development or expansion in Malaysia and/or France?
Pen Aviation’s relationship with CCIFM has been one of genuine value and mutual growth, serving as a meaningful bridge between our Franco-Malaysian identity and the broader bilateral business community. The Business Mission 2025 stood out as a particularly impactful engagement, opening doors to new conversations and reinforcing Pen Aviation’s profile within the regional business community. Most notably, being named the winner of the Entrepreneur of the Year at the CCIFM Excellence Awards was a defining moment for our team, validating not only the innovation and resilience behind what we have built, but also the significance of doing so at the intersection of French expertise and Malaysian ambition.