10 Malaysian Researchers To Join Malaysia-China Science Exchange Prog

PUTRAJAYA, June 22 (Bernama) -- A total of 10 Malaysian researchers have been selected to participate in the Malaysia-China People-to-People Exchange Programme in Science and Technology 2025, which will place them for six months at selected research institutions, universities and companies in China to strengthen science diplomacy, expand bilateral research networks and build the country's capabilities in strategic technology.

In a statement today, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) announced that the programme through the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) and the Malaysia Science Endowment (MSE) is a follow-up to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Expertise Exchange Programme in Science and Technology between Malaysia and China on June 19, 2024, in conjunction with the official visit of Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang to Malaysia.

"This programme also supports the efforts of both countries to strengthen cooperation in research and development, technology transfer, exchange of expertise and development of new technology fields," according to the statement.

The announcement of the participants' participation was made in conjunction with the fourth Malaysia-China Joint Committee Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation between Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Chang Lih Kang and Chinese Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Lin Xin, here today.

Also present were ASM vice president Prof Datuk Dr Looi Lai Meng and ASM secretary-general Noorsaadah Abd Rahman.

In the same statement, Chang said the programme made possible through the MSE fund symbolised a strategic investment that went beyond the scope of the usual researcher exchange.

He said MSE not only drives industry innovation, strengthens international cooperation but also, through programmes like this, catalyses capacity development.

"This step opens up opportunities for access to world-class expertise and facilities and accelerates the development of solutions in areas that are important to the economy and the well-being of the people," he said.

Meanwhile, ASM president and Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Advisor to the Prime Minister and Nation, Datuk Dr Tengku Mohd Azzman Shariffadeen said as the implementing agency of the MSE, ASM sees the programme as an investment in developing the country's talent, networks and capabilities.

"The selected researchers will not only bring the name of Malaysia but will return with knowledge, strategic relationships and new collaboration potential that can be leveraged to strengthen the country's Science, Technology, Innovation and Economy (STIE) ecosystem," he said.

The selected researchers were assessed by the ASM Project Evaluation Committee chaired by Looi, with the programme's focus areas including advanced materials, artificial intelligence (AI), energy storage, human vaccines, space technology, blockchain and microelectronics.

Participants are also required to prepare impact reports and videos at the end of the programme, apart from sharing knowledge through mentoring or sharing sessions at their respective institutions, to ensure that the benefits of the programme are not limited to the participants but also extended to the local research community.

-- BERNAMA