PUTRAJAYA, Nov 7 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), successfully co-organised the Chemical Industry – Academia Forum, held as a parallel session of the Festival of Idea (FOI) Putrajaya Higher Education Institution – Industry Summit (HEIs) organised by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE). Themed “Catalysing Malaysia’s Chemical Industry towards Innovation and Sustainability,” the forum brought together thought leaders and experts to strengthen the bridge between academia and industry in advancing Malaysia’s chemical sector.
The event, held at Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC), recorded the presence of more than 150 participants from various sectors, including industry leaders, government agencies, academics, and students. The forum served as a dynamic platform for dialogue on how Malaysia’s chemical industry can accelerate innovation, enhance sustainability practices, and align with the nation’s economic transformation agenda.
Prof. ChM. Dr. Mohd Basyaruddin Abdul Rahman, Chair of the International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation under the Auspices of UNESCO (ISTIC-UNESCO) Governing Board and a renowned figure from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), served as the Lead Discussant, guiding the conversation on Malaysia’s chemical industry competitiveness in the era of green and digital transformation.
The panel featured distinguished industry and academia leaders, including Ir. Mohamed Firouz Asnan, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP); Tan Aik Meam, Managing Director of BASF PETRONAS Chemicals Sdn. Bhd.; Dato’ Muhtar Hashim, Executive Director of the Chemical Industries Council of Malaysia (CICM); and Hiroyuki Nishimoto, Managing Director of Kaneka Malaysia.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Basyaruddin highlighted the pivotal moment facing Malaysia’s chemical industry amid global shifts towards decarbonisation, digitalisation, and circular manufacturing. He emphasised that innovation is now the nation’s “new natural resource,” and sustainability must be the guiding principle for industrial resilience and growth. Discussions centred on three key themes: Innovation and Specialty Chemicals, Decarbonisation and Governance, and Global Competitiveness and Circular Growth.
The panelists explored how universities and industries could collaborate to transition Malaysia’s chemical sector from midstream production to high-value specialty chemicals. Panelists reinforced the need for strong policy alignment, sustainable talent development, and technology localisation, especially in areas such as carbon capture, green hydrogen, and biopolymer production.
The forum also called for the creation of a Malaysian Chemical Collaborative Platform (MCCP) to foster integrated research, responsible care, and sustainable industry practices. The session concluded with a collective vision to position Malaysia as a regional hub for sustainable and circular chemical technologies by 2030, supported by coordinated academia–industry consortia and targeted innovation funding.
As a follow-up to the forum’s outcomes, this initiative also represents an important step toward the formation of the Konsortium Kimia Malaysia — a national collaborative platform led by UTM, with participation from UiTM, UMPSA, and other universities, industry players, and government agencies. This consortium aims to serve as a one-stop centre for chemical research, innovation, and talent development, aligning with the National Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030) and the Chemical Industry Roadmap 2030 (CIR 2030). The consortium will strengthen academia–industry linkages, optimise shared resources, and accelerate Malaysia’s transition toward a high-value, low-carbon chemical economy.
Reflecting on the success of the forum, the organisers reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring that higher education institutions serve as key drivers of industrial innovation and sustainability. The event reinforced the growing importance of academia–industry collaboration in realising the goals outlined in the NIMP 2030 and CIR 2030. Through this forum, UTM and its partner institutions demonstrated their leadership in bridging knowledge, policy, and practice, ensuring that Malaysia’s chemical industry not only grows but leads responsibly towards a smarter, cleaner, and more inclusive future.
