Mathematics is more than a discipline. It is the engine of many innovations and a language of problem-solving across the globe. UTM Centre for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (UTM-CIAM) is driving this forward through a dynamic collaboration with the Institute of Mathematics for Industry (IMI), Kyushu University. Both institutions are spearheading a vigorous Asia–Pacific effort, building bridges between governments, academia, industries, and society. This partnership not only strengthens Malaysia–Japan ties but also advances global cooperation in research, talent development, and innovation. The collaboration is jointly led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Arifah Bahar, Director of UTM-CIAM, and Prof. Fumikazu Sato, Leader of the Division of Strategic Liaison, IMI, Kyushu University, Ito Campus.
The core of this collaboration is the Quadruple Helix model, which connects governments, academia, industries, and society in parallel across both countries. This balanced integration was clearly demonstrated through a series of activities led by UTM-CIAM and IMI, spanning staff mobility, academic exchanges through a joint symposium, and bilateral industry visits held recently between mid August to end of September 2025.
Staff mobility marked the academia-to-academia link within the Quadruple Helix. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shariffah Suhaila Syed Jamaludin, UTM-CIAM Fellow (also an academic staff at the Department of Mathematical Sciences, Faculty of Science, UTM), completed a one-month attachment at Kyushu University. In parallel, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Atsushi Tero from IMI also undertook a one-month attachment at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). This reciprocal staff exchange program, supported by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), has already initiated new joint projects between the two institutions.
Industry engagement added the academia–industry–society dimension of the Quadruple Helix. Malaysian delegates visited NEC Corporation in Tokyo and International Research Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS), Tohoku University. During the NEC session, a series of technical presentations was given by representatives from NEC Laboratories, including Christopher White (Head of NEC Laboratories America), who provided a strategic overview of NEC America’s R&D priorities, and Haifeng Chen (NEC America) on Data Science and System Security, Martin Min (NEC America) on Multimodal Structured AI, Ken Hanazawa (NEC, Japan) on Data Science Laboratories and Yasser Mohammad (NEC, Japan) presented on Automated Negotiation. The discussion emphasized the integration of mathematics, statistics, and artificial intelligence (AI), which highlighted several promising opportunities for collaboration. In addition, a series of presentations related to the fields of disaster risk reduction was also held at IRIDes, featuring Prof Dr. Shinichi Kuriyama (Director of IRIDeS), Prof. Dr. Shuji Moriguchi, Prof. Dr. Daisuke Komori, and Prof. Dr. Kozo Nagami.
In turn, Japanese delegates visited the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) in Malaysia, where discussions focused on sustainable development and island innovation. Beyond knowledge exchange, these visits also explored potential pathways for student internship opportunities, ensuring that future talent can directly benefit from the collaboration between academia and industry.
Another significant layer of collaboration within the Quadruple Helix was the Malaysia–Japan Symposium on Mathematical & Statistical Modelling, held on 26 August 2025 at Kyushu University with a live telecast to UTM Johor Bahru. The symposium featured welcoming remarks by Prof. Kenji Kajiwara, Director of IMI and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Arifah Bahar, Director of UTM-CIAM, together with addresses from His Excellency the Ambassador of Malaysia to Japan, H.E. Shahril Effendi Abd Ghany; Takashi Toyota, Director, International Science and Technology Policy Division, Science and Technology Policy Bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT); Sotaro Ito, Deputy Director-General, Sakura Science Program Headquarters, JST; and Ms. Yumiko Hata, Director, Asia and Pacific Division, Trade Policy Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), reflecting strong government support.
The symposium featured presentations from both industry and academia. From the industrial sector, speakers included Dr. Haifeng Chen from NEC Laboratories America, United States of America (USA); Dr. Hideaki Yokomizo from WILLER Inc., Japan; and Dr. Nurul Farahin Mohammad from INSULET, Malaysia.
Academic and research perspective were shared by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Atsuko Tero and PhD candidate Haruka Suga from IMI, Kyushu University; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shariffah Suhaila Syed Jamaludin, Dr. Zaiton Mat Isa and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zaitul Marlizawati Zainuddin from UTM.
The symposium concluded with closing reflections by Prof. Fumikazu Sato, Leader of the Division of Strategic Liaison, IMI, Kyushu University, and Prof. (Retired) Dr. Zainal Abdul Aziz, Director of MYHIMS Solutions PLT, Malaysia, who highlighted the growing role of mathematics as a unifying platform for transnational collaboration. The event received financial support from the IMI Joint Research Program and UTM.
This collaboration between UTM-CIAM and IMI, Kyushu University, is not new. Their connection began through the establishment of Asia–Pacific Consortium of Mathematics for Industry (APCMfI) in 2014, a regional platform linking universities, industries, and research institutions. In 2023, UTM-CIAM further reinforced ties with IMI by featuring a flagship APCMfI event i.e. the Forum on Mathematics for Industry (FMfI), as part of the International Symposium on Industrial and Applied Mathematics (ISMI) organised by UTM. Since then, the collaboration has expanded into multi-level activities and exchanges.
This multi-layered cooperation reflects UTM’s global aspiration to foster impactful international alliances. By advancing the Quadruple Helix model, which unites government, academia, industry, and society, UTM and Kyushu University are demonstrating how mathematics can serve as a bridge of innovation across borders in the Asia–Pacific region.
Prepared by: Norhaiza Ahmad, Arifah Bahar, Shariffah Suhaila Syed Jamaludin
