Triple win for our engineering researchers at SIRIM Expo 2025

_{From left to right: Ir Ts Dr Muhammad Izzal Ismail (Chief Technology Officer, SIRIM Industrial Research, SIRIM Berhad), Karen Ng Mei Pou (Monash University Malaysia), Dr Patrick Tang Siah Ying (Monash University Malaysia), Mohd Faisal Abdul Shukor (Group Chief Marketing Officer, SIRIM Berhad), Jasmine How Sher Wei (Monash University Malaysia), Associate Professor Dr Md Azman Bin Pkm Seeni Mohamed (Senior Director, Advanced Materials Research Centre (AMREC), SIRIM Industrial Research, SIRIM Berhad), Dr Azmi Bin Hj. Idris (Deputy President of Malaysian Association of Research Scientists (MARS)), and Dr Mohd Afian Bin Omar (Chairman of SI2TE 2025).}

The Colloids and Polymers group from Monash University Malaysia’s School of Engineering has once again achieved an impressive feat, claiming a triple win at the SIRIM Invention, Innovation & Technology Expo 2025 (Si2Te).

The team secured three accolades, including the Special Award for Best in Medical Device Innovation Category under the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (MDIC NIMP) for the “Self-Healing Nanocellulose Smart Glove”, and two Silver Medals, one in the International Category also for the “Self-Healing Nanocellulose Smart Glove” project and another in the Professional Category for “Space Coat: Flexible Cosmic Radiation Shielding Barrier.”

The Special Award, typically reserved for Gold Medal winners, was presented to the team in recognition of their contributions to advancing medical device innovation, marking a rare and extraordinary achievement.

Organised by SIRIM Berhad and the Malaysian Association of Research Scientists (MARS), Si2Te 2025 carried the theme “Fusion of Intelligence – Advancements in Science & Technology”, featuring 263 participants across academia, industry, and schools. The expo aims to exhibit breakthrough technologies and collaboration among the research, innovation, and commercialisation sectors. “We want to bring together creativity, innovation and technological excellence through invention competitions and also promote an innovative culture across industrial research to drive Malaysia’s technological advancement”, said Ir Ts Dr Muhammad Izzal Ismail, Chief Technology Officer of SIRIM Industrial Research.

The “Self-Healing Nanocellulose Smart Glove” introduces a sustainable, self-repairing glove made from synthetic rubber reinforced with nanocellulose that can heal small cuts under heat stimulus, extending its lifespan and reducing industrial waste. The “Space Coat: Flexible Cosmic Radiation Shielding Barrier” features a lightweight, natural rubber-based coating designed to protect medicines from cosmic radiation during space missions. It was successfully tested aboard SpaceX Falcon 9’s PHOENIX capsule earlier this year.

“Our research group is committed to translating pioneering research into real-world innovation, advancing Malaysia's rubber and glove industry,” said Dr Patrick Tang Siah Ying, Leader of the Colloids and Polymers group.

The team’s win continues their strong record of success, following last year’s double win at the National Nuclear Innovation Award 2024, where the Colloids and Polymers group took home the Gold Medal and Special Award for their work in lead-free, flexible radiation-shielding materials. The accomplishments this year were also made possible through strong research collaboration with Sunway Biofunctional Molecules Discovery Centre (SBMDC), Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL MICET), IDDK Co., Ltd. (Japan), and the Malaysian Nuclear Agency.

The group’s achievements highlight the university’s presence in materials science, nanotechnology, and applied engineering, strengthening its role as a leader in impactful, industry-aligned research.