KUALA LUMPUR, June 17 – The Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), was honoured to welcome a courtesy visit from a delegation representing Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), led by Kihara Shinichi, Director General of Carbon Neutrality.
The distinguished delegation included Nakagawa Yuki, Deputy Director; and Sato Akari, Assistant Director both from International Affairs Division, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, METI, together with Kurotani Yosuke (First Secretary, Embassy of Japan). They were warmly received by Associate Professor Dr. Nurulakmar Abu Husain, Dean of MJIIT, along with members of the MJIIT Executive Committee.
This visit served as a follow-up to discussions held on 6 May during the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) delegation meeting, which was officiated by His Excellency Kishida Fumio, Former Prime Minister of Japan. The engagement aligns with ongoing efforts to enhance cooperation under the AZEC initiative, promoting low-carbon development and energy transition across the region.
During the session, Associate Professor Dr. Nurulakmar presented MJIIT’s successful collaborative initiatives with Japanese universities and industries, particularly in areas such as green technology, hydrogen energy, waste-to-energy systems, and sustainable infrastructure—all of which strongly align with AZEC’s core mission.
She also highlighted key research centres and ikohza (research groups) contributing to these areas, including: Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Centre (DPPC), Malaysia–Japan Advanced Research Centre (MJARC), Chemical Energy Conversions & Applications (ChECA), Algal Biomass (Algae) and Metabolic Engineering & Molecular Biology (MemoBio)
As part of the visit, the METI delegation toured the Algae and Biomass Research Laboratory, which focuses on microalgae applications in renewable technologies. The lab plays a crucial role in advancing biofuel development, carbon capture, and circular economy innovations.
The delegation also visited the Euglena–UTM Satellite Lab, a joint initiative with Japan’s Euglena Co., Ltd. This lab is engaged in tropical biomass research with potential applications in biofuels, nutraceuticals, and sustainability solutions. It serves as a prime example of successful Malaysia–Japan research collaboration.
Looking ahead, both MJIIT and METI expressed strong interest in further deepening cooperation in research, innovation, and knowledge exchange. There is a shared hope to co-develop strategic projects that address pressing environmental challenges and contribute to global carbon neutrality goals. MJIIT remains committed to serving as a regional hub for sustainable technology development and as a bridge that strengthens Malaysia and Japan ties for a greener, more resilient future.