UMP progresses industry collaboration to explore high-impact technology

KUANTAN, 21 July 2022 – Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) is realigning the empowerment of research, industrial innovation and commercialisation to enhance more dynamic and proactive research capabilities and capacities.

It was implemented through the governance of grants and funding offerings and high-impact new grants with specific objectives to generate new ideas, focus on the country’s current strategic issues, face challenges and adapt Digital Transformation through the Industrial Revolution 4.0.

This effort saw the transformation of the UMP research agenda, industry innovation and commercialisation were strengthened in line with the UMP Strategic Plan 2021–2025 implemented through Strategic Objective 2: Innovation with Industry Collaboration and Strategic Objective 3: High Impact Technology Exploration.

According to the Vice-Chancellor of UMP, Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserrie Zainuddin, UMP provides training to the industry using the UMP expertise and technology.

“In addition to technical training, collaboration with industry will be established to enhance the technical capabilities of the industry, exploiting the expertise and technology of UMP academics.

“Now, UMP has achieved its target of increasing the number of technical training with the industry as well as industry-operated operations compared to the previous year.

“The same goes for the collaboration of upgrading industrial technical capabilities

“Twenty Product Development Grants (PDU Grant) have been approved to create functional prototypes or products by combining the expertise of in-house researchers and existing components in the market,” he said at the 21st Cendekia Bitara Award Ceremony.

Also present were the Chairman of the UMP Board of Directors, Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Dr. Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & International), Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd Rosli Hainin, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation), Professor Ts. Dr. Kamal Zuhairi Zamli and UMP’s top management.

According to Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserrie, UMP received RM1.5 million funds from industry and private companies, an increase of 77 per cent compared to RM360 thousand in 2020.

“This high increase demonstrates the trust and confidence of the industry and private sector in the university to collaborate.

“A total of RM746,500.00 was raised in 2021 under the Matching Grant as the university commitment to promoting close ties and collaborative sharing of research projects with the industry.

“UMP aims for more commercialisation of technical products and services through the establishment of entrepreneurial companies of academic staff that build and market products made by UMP (technopreneurs) as well as offering expert services to the industry,” he said.

To date, five spin-off companies have been established through the commercialisation of UMP technology or products.

UMP also takes the need to systematically protect its intellectual property seriously based on the existing legal framework in the interests of university researchers.

The Commercialisation Office was able to commercialise intellectual property through the outright sales of two patents to Eastern Unity Technology Sdn. Bhd. (EUT) through the technology sale agreement signed on 11 February 2021 involving a sales value of RM1.3 million for both patents.

Last year, four new products, namely Biofeedback, Pre-Pecto, BioRoot Tongkat Ali Capsule, and Iszuani Hongo, were successfully commercialised.

UMP’s ability to improve quality scientific publications also showed encouraging performance.

Based on Elsevier’s source, Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI), UMP leads other technical universities with a score of 1.16.

The number of citations above the global average of 16 per cent is a proud achievement and shows that UMP is committed to maintaining the quality of achievement every year.

It is even more proud that 12 UMP lecturers are listed among the top two per cent of scientists in the world in various fields and disciplines based on data from Stanford University based in the United States of America.  

The 21st Cendekia Bitara Award Ceremony saw 221 academic staff recipients who had elevated UMP’s name in research, writing and teaching celebrated at Zenith Hotel, Kuantan.

The programme, themed Pillars of the New Dawn, was officiated by Chini State Assemblyman, Tuan Mohd Sharim Md. Zain, representing the Menteri Besar of Pahang.

In his opening speech, he congratulated all the researchers who received the award for contributing excellence to the university and the country.

“Research and development (R&D) plays an important role in the long-term success of a university which in turn translates to its economic growth.

“The government also promotes growth strategies and R&D activities that generate knowledge and economic value.

“It is vital for the well-being of the country to remain competitive in the world economy,” he said.

By: Nor Salwana Mohammad Idris and Mimi Rabita Abdul Wahit, Corporate Communications Division, Chancellery Department 
 

Translation by: Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, Engineering College/Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology