Monash eyes an expansion of collaborative research with industry and academia

17 January 2008

Industry can save millions of ringgit each year through collaborative research with universities with institutions having much to gain through such partnerships. Monash University's Head of the School of Engineering, Professor Ian Prince said several previous collaborations have resulted in huge savings for the partnering companies, either through development and adoption of new technologies or from better understanding and application of existing technologies.

One striking example is Monash University's collaboration with Freescale Semiconductors in the area of product testing, which has led to the development of new testing methods that are saving the company millions of ringgit each year.

Professor Prince said Monash is actively seeking to expand its collaborative research activity both with industry as well as other universities in Malaysia."There are clearly significant benefits to be achieved from collaborations with industry," he said after opening the Industrial-Academic Research Collaboration on Signal Processing, Control and Communications Seminar at the university’s Sunway campus on 9 January 2008.

The one-day seminar was jointly organised by Monash University, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Instrumentation and Measurement Chapter and Singaporean firm i-Math Pte Ltd, which supplies a number of software used by researchers to solve mathematical problems and modelling.

Professor Prince said collaborative research contributes to the development of well-trained researchers who have a high-level of expertise with state-of-the-art equipment and whilst being exposed to issues affecting industry. "It also allows the university to gain access to data and infrastructure that may be too expensive for it to acquire for research projects, especially by third year students."

Another advantage, he expanded, was the opportunity for industry partners to provide researchers and students with hardware and software to facilitate technology development and address real industry issues and technical challenges.

He said Monash University, as a research-intensive university with eight campuses in three countries, could offer Malaysian industry access to research talent, not only at the Sunway campus, but also opportunities to leverage off expertise and infrastructure at other campuses.

"The campus' move into its new purpose-built RM200 million campus in Bandar Sunway last year was a clear signal of the university's commitment to Malaysia and to develop its capacity to do collaborative research with colleagues in Malaysia."

Monash University lecturer and chair of the IEEE- Instrumentation and Measurement Chapter, Dr Rini Akmeliawati said the event was one of more than a dozen organised by the Chapter for its members. The seminar featured several speakers from Monash University and industry, including Dr Mazlan Abbas from the Malaysian Institute of Microelectronics (MIMOS) and Mr Eruan Abdul Razak from System Consultancy Services. Participants were also given an overview of i-Maths’ range of solutions and services by Mr Joshua Chan. - Jasbir Singh