JOHOR BAHRU, June 25 – In a remarkable achievement for the academic community, two esteemed researchers from the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Assoc Prof Ts Dr Mohamad Zaki Hassan and Assoc Prof Dr Leow Chee Yen, have been awarded the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) staff exchange international project funded by the highly coveted Horizon Europe.
The prestigious grant, known for its stringent selection process and generous funding, aims to foster groundbreaking research and innovation in Europe. The project consists of a consortium of 4 European and 3 Universities from Asia.
Assoc Prof Ts Dr Mohamad Zaki Hassan, a distinguished researcher in the field of additive manufacturing from the Razak Faculty of Technology and Informatics (FTIR), and Assoc Prof Dr Leow Chee Yen, a prominent expert in next-generation wireless communications from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, emerged victorious in a competitive pool of international applicants.
Their success signifies not only their individual excellence but also UTM’s commitment to strengthening its research and academic ecosystem via cutting-edge research and global academic recognition.
The Horizon Europe Grant, a flagship program of the European Union (EU), seeks to promote scientific breakthroughs, technological advancements, and socio-economic progress. It offers substantial funding for researchers and institutions, enabling them to pursue transformative projects that address key societal challenges.
Assoc Prof Ts Dr Mohamad Zaki Hassan’s research proposal focuses on the integrated modern data system, experiments, imaging, machine learning and predictive engineering for additive manufacturing and material developments. Materials advancement will be identified by balancing the printability and structural properties identified in duplex stainless steels, amorphous glass metals, and magnesium. The project will develop practical imaging and processing algorithms for optimum synergy between printability, properties, and performance of final products.
Assoc Prof Dr Leow Chee Yen will embark on a multi-disciplinary project to address the road safety requirement for connected and autonomous vehicles. The project will involve researchers from Malaysia, Europe and China aiming at synergising communication, localisation, sensing and artificial intelligence to develop a secure, reliable, and real-time communication system to ensure the road safety of autonomous driving.
Prof. Dr Rosli Md Illias, UTM’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), is pleased and congratulates the two researchers on their exceptional achievement. He highlighted the significance of their research and its potential to create a lasting impact, not only in academia but also in industries and society at large.
“The success of Assoc Prof Ts Dr Mohamad Zaki Hasan and Assoc Prof Dr Leow Chee Yen in securing the Horizon Europe Grant is a testament to their expertise, dedication, and innovative thinking. It also highlights UTM’s commitment to fostering a strong research ecosystem via our UTM R&I Blueprint 2025 to nurture groundbreaking discoveries and support the pursuit of scholarly excellence and innovating solutions that positively impacts our world,” said Prof. Dr Rosli.
With their passion for discovery, tireless dedication, and the generous support of the Horizon Europe Grant, Assoc Prof Ts Dr Mohamad Zaki Hassan and Assoc Prof Dr Leow Chee Yen are poised to make significant contributions to their respective fields and leave an indelible mark on the national and global scientific landscape.