JOHOR BAHRU, Apr 18 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) proudly hosted a high-level academic delegation from King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB), Thailand, as part of a strategic research and academic networking initiative organized by the Centre for Advanced Composite Materials (CACM), UTM. This collaborative engagement reflects UTM’s commitment to strengthening its position as a global leader in advanced composite materials and innovation.
The delegation, led by Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Suchart Siengchin, Advisor to the President for Industrial Research and International Affairs, was joined by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sanjay Mavinkere Rangappa, Principal Research Scientist (Specialist 3) and Advisor to the President for University Promotion and Development, and Dr. Rapeeporn Srisuk, Researcher Assistant from the Materials and Production Engineering Department, The Sirindhorn International Thai-German Graduate School (TGSS). The delegates arrived at Senai International Airport on 17 April 2025 and were warmly received by Prof. Dr. Mohd Yazid Yahya, Director of CACM.
On 18 April, the visit officially commenced with a guided institutional tour of the Sultan Ibrahim Chancellery Building, including a commemorative photo session at Sultan Iskandar Hall and a walkthrough of UTM’s key heritage landmarks. The tour, coordinated by CACM Deputy Director Dr. Ahmad Ilyas Rushdan, introduced the KMUTNB team to UTM’s campus identity and academic legacy.
The visit proceeded with the FKM Colloquium held at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (FKM), moderated by Dr. Muhammad Asyraf Muhammad Rizal. The session featured insightful presentations by Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Suchart Siengchin on “Governance and Research at KMUTNB” and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sanjay Mavinkere Rangappa on “Natural Fiber Composites Research at TGGS.” The colloquium served as a platform to exchange ideas on research strategies, sustainability, and advanced materials innovation.
Following the academic session, the KMUTNB delegation engaged in a strategic discussion with UTM’s Innovation and Commercialization Centre (UTM ICC), chaired by Dr. Ma Kalthum Ishak, Deputy Director of UTM ICC. The meeting, also attended by CACM representatives, focused on potential collaborations in innovation pipeline development, intellectual property management, and commercialization strategies.
Later in the evening, the delegates visited CACM for a research showcase featuring UTM’s composite innovation ecosystem, followed by a technical tour of the Marine Technology Centre and UTM AeroLab. The tour, coordinated by Dr. Muhammad Asyraf Muhammad Rizal and Mohammad Nabil Jainal, provided delegates with firsthand insights into UTM’s research infrastructure and testing facilities related to aerospace and marine technologies.
The visit is expected to generate several impactful outcomes, including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UTM and KMUTNB, joint publications in Q1 journals, collaborative research grants, academic exchanges involving faculty and students, co-hosting of international conferences, and exploration of joint academic programs and sustainable industrial solutions.
This milestone engagement highlights UTM’s ongoing efforts to establish global partnerships that support academic excellence, high-impact research, and sustainable innovation. The presence of KMUTNB at UTM reinforces the university’s aspiration to lead globally in composite materials research and international collaboration.