KUALA LUMPUR, Jul 30 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) reaffirmed its position as a leading innovation-driven university by showcasing one of its most successful research commercialisation achievements, MIZU Paint™, during the Malaysia–Japan Strategic Partnership: Engineering a Resilient Palestine and Palestine Leadership Conversation, organised by the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), UTM Kuala Lumpur.

The prestigious programme brought together distinguished leaders, policymakers, academics, industry representatives and delegates from Malaysia and Japan to strengthen bilateral collaboration in engineering, innovation and sustainable development while exploring practical solutions to support the resilience and future reconstruction of Palestine. The event served as a strategic platform for knowledge exchange, technological collaboration and the sharing of innovative solutions that contribute to sustainable nation-building.

As part of the exhibition coordinated by the UTM Innovation & Commercialisation Centre (UTM ICC), several UTM spin-off companies were invited to showcase technologies that have successfully progressed beyond the laboratory into commercially viable innovations. Among the highlights was ZetaTech Sdn. Bhd., one of UTM’s successful university spin-off companies, which presented its award-winning MIZU Paint™ technology—a pioneering multifunctional nanotechnology that combines passive cooling with carbon dioxide (CO₂) adsorption to improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support climate resilience.

The showcase embodied UTM’s aspiration of “Innovating Sustainable Solutions,” while reflecting the University’s strategic vision under UTM ASCEND 2030 to become a globally renowned institution that transforms knowledge into impactful solutions for humanity. Through its Research, Development, Innovation, Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship (RDICE) ecosystem, UTM continuously nurtures innovations from fundamental research to industry adoption, ensuring that scientific discoveries create measurable environmental, economic and societal impact.

More importantly, ZetaTech exemplifies the complete RDICE value chain envisioned by both UTM ASCEND 2030 and the Malaysia Higher Education Blueprint (RPTM). Rather than viewing research as the final outcome, RDICE promotes a holistic innovation ecosystem where research generates new knowledge, development validates technologies, innovation creates value, commercialisation brings solutions to the market, and entrepreneurship drives sustainable economic growth. The remarkable journey of MIZU Paint™ demonstrates how UTM research can evolve into a globally competitive deep technology that benefits industry, society and the environment.

Visitors to the exhibition experienced the complete MIZU Paint™ product portfolio, including MIZU Ultracool Shield and MIZU Interior Elegance Luxe, together with the company’s growing collection of awards and recognitions. The centrepiece of the exhibition was the recent Malaysia Book of Records 2026 recognition for producing Malaysia’s First CO₂ Paint, marking a significant milestone in Malaysia’s sustainable materials innovation landscape.

One of the major attractions at the booth was the live CO₂ Demonstration Chamber, where visitors observed the difference in CO₂ concentration between a panel coated with MIZU Paint™ and another coated with a conventional commercial paint (Brand X). The demonstration provided a visual and measurable representation of the paint’s dual-function capability—adsorbing surrounding CO₂ while simultaneously reducing heat absorption. This innovative functionality has the potential to lower indoor temperatures, reduce dependence on air-conditioning systems, decrease energy consumption and contribute towards greenhouse gas emission reduction.

The ZetaTech exhibition booth attracted continuous interest throughout the programme and welcomed numerous distinguished visitors, including UTM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ts. Dr. Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Prof. Ts. Dr. Ali Selamat; Chairman of the UTM Advancement Division, Prof. Dr. Yusof Boon; Undersecretary of the International Relations Division at the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), Datin Noorazah Omar; and Senior Principal Assistant Secretary of the International Relations Division, MOHE,  Hani Halimahtun Othman. Their visits reflected the growing recognition of UTM-developed innovations that support Malaysia’s sustainability, innovation and commercialisation agenda.

The UTM Innovation Gallery features a range of breakthrough technologies, including MIZU Paint™, an innovative dual-function cooling and carbon-capturing coating developed by Zetatech.

During the visit to the exhibition, UTM Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ts. Dr. Mohd Shafry congratulated the ZetaTech team on their outstanding achievement and expressed his pride in witnessing UTM research achieving national recognition through successful commercialisation.

“The success of MIZU Paint™ and its recognition by the Malaysia Book of Records demonstrate the strength of UTM’s innovation ecosystem and our unwavering commitment to Innovating Sustainable Solutions. This achievement reflects the aspirations of UTM ASCEND 2030, where research excellence is translated into impactful innovations that address global challenges, strengthen industry competitiveness and improve the wellbeing of society. We are proud to see UTM researchers leading the way in developing world-class technologies that create meaningful environmental and economic impact.”

Representatives from the MOHE also commended the remarkable journey of the innovation, recognising it as an exemplary model of research translation under the national higher education agenda.

“MIZU Paint™ is an excellent example of how government investment through the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) can generate high-impact outcomes. Originating from fundamental research, the technology has successfully progressed to commercialisation and has now achieved Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 9. This is precisely the outcome envisioned under the Rancangan Pendidikan Tinggi Malaysia (RPTM), where the RDICE ecosystem transforms research discoveries into innovative products, commercial enterprises and technologies that create tangible value for Malaysia’s economy, society and sustainable development.”

The development of MIZU Paint™ began with a Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) award of RM161,768 from the Ministry of Higher Education. Through UTM’s RDICE ecosystem and continuous collaboration between academia and industry, this initial public investment has evolved into a commercially viable TRL 9 technology with a value that extends far beyond its original research funding. Today, MIZU Paint™ is not only an award-winning innovation but also a commercial ESG solution with the potential to generate economic returns, create high-skilled employment, reduce carbon emissions, and strengthen Malaysia’s competitiveness in sustainable materials and climate technologies.

The remarkable success story behind MIZU Paint™ is led by Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Rozzeta Dolah, Founder and Managing Director of ZetaTech Sdn. Bhd. and an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). Dr. Rozzeta represents a new generation of Malaysian academic entrepreneurs who exemplify the aspirations of UTM ASCEND 2030, integrating excellence in teaching, research, innovation, commercialisation and entrepreneurship to deliver sustainable solutions with global impact trailblazing academic entrepreneur, she has dedicated her career to advancing nanotechnology, renewable energy and sustainable materials while championing the translation of university research into industry-ready solutions with global relevance.

Her entrepreneurial journey exemplifies the strength of UTM’s innovation ecosystem. What began as research funded under the FRGS evolved through years of scientific discovery, technology validation, intellectual property development, multidisciplinary collaboration and industry engagement before culminating in a commercially successful TRL 9 technology. Today, ZetaTech has emerged as a leading ESG solution enabler, delivering innovative nanotechnology that empowers organisations to improve resource efficiency, reduce energy consumption, lower greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate their decarbonisation journey. Through flagship innovations such as its Smart Dual-Function Additive for Cooling and Carbon Capture Applications and the MIZU Paint™ product range, the company provides practical, scalable and measurable solutions that support climate adaptation, ESG reporting and the transition towards a low-carbon economy.

Reflecting on the achievement, Dr. Rozzeta shared, “Every breakthrough begins with a bold research question, but its true value lies in creating meaningful impact for society. MIZU Paint™ is the culmination of years of perseverance, from fundamental research and laboratory validation to commercialisation and market adoption. This recognition is not merely an achievement for ZetaTech, but a testament to UTM’s commitment to Innovating Sustainable Solutions.”

“It demonstrates the strength of UTM’s RDICE ecosystem in transforming research into technologies that address climate change, improve energy efficiency and create sustainable value for communities, industry and the nation. We hope this journey inspires more researchers to embrace entrepreneurship and translate their discoveries into innovations that benefit Malaysia and the world.”

The successful participation of ZetaTech at the Malaysia–Japan Strategic Partnership programme reinforces UTM’s position as a leading innovation-driven university whose research creates value beyond academic excellence. Through UTM ASCEND 2030, the University continues to strengthen its RDICE ecosystem by empowering researchers to transform discoveries into globally competitive technologies, high-impact enterprises and sustainable solutions.

The journey of MIZU Paint™, from an FRGS grant of RM161,768 to a TRL 9, Malaysia Book of Records-recognised innovation and commercially successful technology, epitomises UTM’s commitment to “Innovating Sustainable Solutions.” It demonstrates how strategic investment in research, supported by UTM ASCEND 2030 and the RDICE ecosystem, can transform scientific discoveries into technologies that create lasting value for industry, society and the environment.

The commercial maturity of MIZU Paint™ is further demonstrated through its portfolio of nationally recognised certifications and industry endorsements, reflecting the successful translation of university research into a market-ready innovation. To date, the technology has successfully obtained the NanoVerify Certification, Malaysian Science, Technology and Innovation (MySTI) Recognition by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), the SIRIM Eco Label ECO019:2019, inclusion in the Public Works Department (JKR) Approved Materials List (JMAL), and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) SustainBuild (SB) Mark – Carbon Footprint category. These independent recognitions validate the product’s innovation, environmental performance, quality and compliance with industry requirements.

Collectively, these achievements strengthen confidence among government agencies, industry partners, developers and end-users that MIZU Paint™ is not merely an award-winning university innovation, but a commercially proven Malaysian technology capable of competing alongside established paint brands. Coupled with its unique dual-function capability of passive cooling and CO₂ adsorption, MIZU Paint™ exemplifies how home-grown deep technology can deliver practical, measurable and sustainable solutions for the built environment while supporting Malaysia’s decarbonisation agenda.

More importantly, the success of MIZU Paint™ showcases Malaysia’s growing capability to develop world-class deep technologies that address global sustainability challenges. While the Malaysia Book of Records recognises this national milestone, the innovation’s true significance lies in its potential to position Malaysian research, innovation and sustainable technology on the international stage through real-world impact, commercial success and meaningful contributions towards global decarbonisation efforts.