đź“ť Summary
The University of Tokyo’s Distinguished Professor, Prof. Dr. Kenji Tanaka, delivered a lecture on “Re-Envisioning Social-Technical Systems for Global Sustainability” at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), highlighting research, digital platforms, and interdisciplinary collaboration to address global environmental challenges. The lecture showcased examples of technological innovation and societal adoption, including peer-to-peer energy trading and vehicle-to-grid integration. The event aimed to promote knowledge exchange and collaboration on sustainability research and innovation across Asia and beyond.
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 – The Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), hosted The University of Tokyo Distinguished Lecture under the Malaysia-Japan Linkages (MJL)–ASEAN Global Nexus Expert Series: Innovation Ecosystems at Dewan Seminar, Menara Razak, UTM Kuala Lumpur.
The event featured a Distinguished Professor at UTM, Prof. Dr. Kenji Tanaka from The University of Tokyo (UTokyo), Japan, who delivered a keynote titled “Re-Envisioning Social-Technical Systems for Global Sustainability”. He highlighted how research, digital platforms and interdisciplinary collaboration can address complex global environmental challenges.
The lecture was attended by the Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia, Shikata Noriyuki; UTM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Prof. Ts. Dr. Ali Selamat; MJIIT Dean, Assoc. Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Nurulakmar Abu Husain; Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Malaysia Office, Ueda Daisuke; MJIIT UTM Prof. Dr. Kanao Fukuda; and The University of Tokyo Prof. Dr. Amy Poh Ai Ling.
In her welcoming address, MJIIT Dean, Assoc. Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Nurulakmar Abu Husain said MJIIT remained a bridge for research collaboration between Malaysia, Japan and the wider Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, supporting initiatives aligned with UTM’s ASCEND 2030 strategic objectives.
During the keynote, Prof. Dr. Tanaka presented examples connecting technological innovation with societal adoption. These included peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading using Internet of Things (IoT) devices and blockchain smart contracts, as demonstrated in UTokyo’s Urawa-Misono Project.
He also highlighted Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) integration, including electricity systems developed with industry partners such as Toyota to test P2P trading involving distributed energy sources, solar panels and electric vehicles. Other examples included Science Planet+, an open academic mapping initiative that brings together biological, social and economic research, and WASSHA, a lab-based startup using digital grid clouds and mobile payments to provide lighting and power to off-grid communities in Africa. WASSHA was reported to have reached more than 10 million people.
The lecture builds on the Malaysia-Japan Venture Collaboration (MJVC) 2024, hosted by The University of Tokyo, where MJIIT and UTokyo established initiatives for joint research, student immersion and technology transfer between Malaysian and Japanese innovation hubs.
Building on that collaboration, MJIIT continues to strengthen its role in sustainable development, talent development and technological advancement. The event concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session involving researchers, postgraduate students and industry representatives, both in person and through Facebook Live.
The MJL–ASEAN Global Nexus Expert Series aims to promote knowledge exchange and collaboration on sustainability research and innovation across Asia and beyond.
For more information on upcoming lectures and international research collaborations, visit the Malaysia-Japan Linkage Office (MJL) or MJIIT official channels.
