JAKARTA, Apr 4 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Universitas Negeri Jakarta (UNJ) commemorated a significant milestone in their collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Document Exchange Ceremony held at the Latief Auditorium, Universitas Negeri Jakarta. The event highlighted the progress and tangible outcomes of this long-standing strategic partnership, reflecting a shared vision in advancing academic excellence and impactful research collaboration at the international level.

Held in conjunction with the UTM–UNJ Joint Research Symposium and supported by Malaysian industry partners, the programme showcased a strong commitment to advancing scientific research, innovation, and academic collaboration within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. A major highlight of the event was the celebration of 100 joint scientific publications, reflecting years of dedicated collaboration, intellectual synergy, and sustained engagement between researchers from both institutions. In line with the University’s leadership direction, UTM Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ts. Dr Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim emphasised that this milestone represents not only academic achievement but also a shared commitment to producing research that benefits society and contributes to sustainable development.

Beyond celebrating academic achievements, the programme also served as a strategic platform to strengthen academia–industry linkages, particularly in translating research outputs into practical and scalable solutions. The involvement of industry partners underscores the importance of collaborative ecosystems in ensuring that research outcomes are relevant, impactful, and aligned with current societal and industrial needs.

The event was officiated at the university level, signifying strong institutional support towards advancing international collaboration, research excellence, and innovation-driven initiatives. This further reflects UTM’s ongoing efforts to expand its global network and reinforce its role as a key player in regional and international research collaborations.

The ceremony was attended by distinguished representatives, including the Rector of UNJ, Prof. Dr. Komarudin, M.Si., represented by the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Alumni Prof. Ifan Iskandar; members of the UTM Board of Directors, Prof. Emeritus Dato’ Ir. Ts. Dr. Zainal Mohamad, Head of UTM Pagoh Campus, Prof. Dr. Ida Idayu Muhamad, and Director of the Innovation Centre in Agritechnology for Advanced Bioprocessing (ICA), Prof. Dr. Hesham Ali El-Enshasy, together with the Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science (FMIPA) UNJ, Dr. Hadi Nasbey, S.Pd., M.Si., as well as FMIPA UNJ, the organising committee, industry partners, and participants, whose collective contributions ensured the success of the programme.

In addition, the Industrial Microbiology Joint Laboratory was officially launched, marking a significant step forward in bridging the gap between academic research and industrial application. The laboratory is not only a collaboration between UTM and UNJ, but also involves strong industry participation, including Sateera Sdn. Bhd., which contributed through the sponsorship of key laboratory equipment. This tripartite collaboration between academia and industry is expected to accelerate technological development in biotechnology, foster knowledge exchange, and enhance the commercialisation potential of research outcomes.

The laboratory is envisioned as a centre of excellence that supports collaborative research, innovation, publication, and talent development, including opportunities for postgraduate training, joint supervision, and international mobility programmes. In further support of this impactful collaboration, the Vice Chancellor also announced that UTM will sponsor one (1) scholarship to support a student jointly from UTM and UNJ, reinforcing the University’s commitment to nurturing future talent through international academic partnerships.

This collaboration reflects a growing partnership that continues to generate impactful research outcomes, strengthen industry engagement, and contribute to sustainable development at both regional and global levels. Moving forward, UTM and UNJ remain committed to further expanding this strategic alliance through high-impact research, innovation-driven initiatives, and meaningful knowledge exchange that benefits the wider community.