TAMPINES, Nov 27 – A delegation from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) visited the Centre for Research & Opportunities in Plant Science (CROPS) at Temasek Polytechnic’s School of Applied Science (ASC) in Singapore. The purpose of the visit was to promote research collaboration in plant and environmental biotechnology, enhance researcher and student mobility, and support staff development in research.
The UTM delegation primarily comprised members of the Environmental Biotechnology (EnvBio) Research Group, led by Dr. Fazilah Abd Manan. The team also included Dr. Nicole Leong Hong Yeng, Dr. Wan Rosmiza Zana Wan Dagang, Dr. Huszalina Hussin, and Dr. Nurashikin Ihsan, all members of the EnvBio group. Additionally, Dr. Nazrin Abd Aziz, a member of the Natural Products (NatPro) Research Group, was also part of the delegation.
The visit commenced with a warm welcome from the CROPS researchers, led by Dr. Kadamb Patel and his team, which included Dr. Anand Kumar, Dr. Khin Mar Cho, Ganapathy Rajaseger, Chan Kit Lun, and Tan Kay Yee. The initial meeting introduced the research teams and discussed potential joint research projects and student exchange programs, laying the foundation for future collaborations.
The delegates visited several research laboratories and facilities, including the Centre for Innovation in Complementary Health Products, the Centre for Urban Sustainability, the Horticulture Lab, the Rooftop Farm, the Mass Spectrometry Facility, and the Pilot Scale Renewable Energy Processing Plant. Both institutions expressed their gratitude for the productive discussions and exchanged tokens of appreciation.
The visit successfully identified potential collaborations in plant biotechnology and microbial studies. Both parties agreed to pursue future partnerships through a memorandum of understanding (MoU), research collaboration agreements (RCA), joint research grant applications, internship placements, staff attachments, and joint supervision of undergraduate final-year projects. This visit strengthened the relationship between UTM and CROPS, creating valuable opportunities for faculty members and researchers to expand their knowledge and networks. UTM delegates are looking forward to a reciprocal visit from CROPS in the near future.
