JOHOR BAHRU, 26 August 2015 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) received a visit by Her Excellency (H.E.) Ambassador Maria Isabel Rendon, the Ambassador of Argentina to Malaysia.
The visit is a landmark event for both Malaysia and UTM, paving the way for the signing of a G to G MOU between Malaysia and Argentina in Science and Technology, spearheaded by MOSTI on the Malaysia side.
Ambassador Rendon was met by the UTM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Ir. Dr. Wahid Bin Omar, together with representatives from the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation), UTM Office of Corporate Affairs, UTM International, Research Alliance Smart Digital Community, Research Alliance Health and Wellness, UTM Institute of Bioproduct Development (IBD) and project leaders of UTM-CONICET.
Ambassador Rendon noted that, “UTM is strong in engineering and technology . We need experts in Science and Technology for developments and humanity.” She said that Argentina is looking for opportunities to collaborate with UTM or other Malaysian Universities even though the education system of both countries is different. She said that future possible collaboration with UTM could involve Antartica Expeditions and exchange of postgraduate students.
The Ambassador’s visit also marked the beginning of a three-year joint scientific R&D collaboration program between UTM and the National Scientific and Technical Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), which is also the first official scientific collaboration between Malaysia’s Institution of Higher Learning (IHL) and its counterpart in Argentina.
CONICET is an agency under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovative Production, Argentina and is the main organization dedicated to the promotion of science and technology in Argentina.
This three-year R&D program (2015-2017) focuses on research work in the field of biotechnology through the setting up of R&D programs in both Argentina and Malaysia. In Argentina, the R&D program will be known as the CONICET-UTM Bilateral Cooperation Program (BCP-II) which will be funded by CONICET, while in Malaysia, the R&D program set up in UTM will be known as the UTM-Argentina R&D Collaboration Flagship Program, and funded by UTM. Under these programs, both Argentinean and UTM researchers will directly be involved as team members in research work carried out in partner institutions.
UTM and CONICET will embark on joint initiatives investigating the feasibility of using locally developed technology in science and engineering fields which is mutually beneficial to both institutions. This collaboration focuses on the field of Biotechnology with the following study areas:
1) ‘High value-added products from green and advanced processing of biomass’
2) ‘Bioremediation of toxic contaminants from polluted soil and water’
3) ‘Delivery vehicle of local herbal/ medicinal plant extracts’
4) ‘Harnessing sustainable biocatalysts from extremophile genomes’
5) ‘Green management of carbon and natural gases using agro-based industrial waste materials’
Other joint-collaborative activities include working visits to Argentina and joint supervision of postgraduate students, publication, research workshop/ training and others.
Currently, there are 30 UTM and 20 Argentinean researchers directly involved as project team members; joint publication in high impact research journal (IF = 8.905); joint editor for Research Book (2015); attachments of 2 UTM PhD students in CINDEFI, La Plata for 5 weeks from May 8th, 2015 to June 14th, 2015; and postdoctoral study of one of UTM’s staff in Argentina for up to 3 months.
UTM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Ir. Dr. Wahid bin Omar said, the university welcomes and supports any collaborative effort with international scientific organisations so as to further strengthen UTM’s global position amongst its academic peers as well as maintaining Malaysia’s status as a premier educational hub in this region.
This program is one of the significant outcomes from joint collaborative work between UTM (through its Institute of Bioproduct Development and Health and Wellness Research Alliance) and CONICET, which started as early as 2010, culminating in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in early 2013.
Ambassador Rendon was then taken on a tour of the UTM Johor Bahru campus including the Wireless Communication Centre (WCC) which is one of the National Higher Education Centre of Excellence, UTM Equine Centre and UTM Institute of Bioproduct Development.
H.E. Ambassador Rendon also had the opportunity to address the UTM community on the relationship between Malaysia and Argentina through her Special Lecture session in the afternoon entitled “Argentina-Malaysia Relations: Present and Future”.
Speaking when met at the end of her visit to UTM, H.E. Ambassador Rendon said that Argentina and Malaysia share some common values such as diverse ethnic background, similar climate, great food and friendly people. She is thus looking forward towards a fruitful and lasting collaboration between both nations.
