UTM in collaboration with the National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) has received funding from the Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) to establish the Malaysia-Taiwan Innovation Centre for Clean Water and Sustainable Energy (WISE). WISE is aimed at strengthening collaboration between the researchers from UTM and NTHU, through joint research, staff and students exchange, and joint training programmes. NTHU is considered among the best universities in Taiwan, with its campus located in Hsinchu City, Taiwan. NTHU has a very strong research presence in the fields of engineering, and physical and life sciences.

WISE at UTM is represented by the Resource Sustainability Research Alliance (RA), Research Institute for Sustainable Environment (RISE), the Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Water Security (IPASA) and the Environmental Biotechnology Research Group, Faculty of Science. Other than UTM as the main partner, WISE in Malaysia is also represented by Universiti Sains Malaysia and Universiti Malaysia Perlis.

WISE kick off meeting has been held at UTM on 17 January 2019, attended by Prof. Ruey-an Doong from NTHU, with representatives from UTM, USM and UniMAP. The official launching of this Centre will be held in April 2019, following a courtesy and networking visit by UTM representatives to NTHU. Over the initial two-year period of the collaboration, several events have been planned which include visiting professorships, and several joint workshops and seminars on specialised topics.

It is hoped that WISE will catalyse the exchange of expertise on clean water and sustainable energy between Taiwanese and Malaysian institutions for the benefit of both countries.