By Asmahanim Amir
Pix Ikhwan Hashim

BANGI, 12 May 2015 – The National University of Malaysia (UKM) through its Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI) together with MTE Corporation Sdn Bhd (MTE) have come up with a strategic plan to collaborate with Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH) to undertake a programme of international cooperation in developing solar manufacturing technology for local and international markets.

Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Prof Dato’ Dr Mazlin Mokhtar said the collaboration will ensure the governments, academia and industries of the two nations work together for long term benefits.

“The strength of the collaboration between academia and industry at the international level can have a huge impact on the economic growth of Malaysia and South Korea,” Prof Mazlin said in his speech at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoI) between UKM, MTE and KITECH here, today.

He said joint cooperation between Malaysia and South Korea will be able to produce better quality and world class products.

“SERI has special expertise and knowledge in the field and every year, they have never failed to win one of the prestigious awards internationally. So, KITECH and MTE Corporation, you have chosen the right partner in UKM but also in Malaysia and Asia.

“We need to work hard and we hope this special collaboration will become a good impact in the technology industry and cooperation is expected to continue into the next generation,” he said.

Prof Dato’ Mazlin said this relationship will ensure continuation of productivity-based solar power generation, will bring it to wider international network in accordance with the branding of UKM and KITECH as a world class-research centre.

Meanwhile, Managing Director of KITECH, Uoo-Chang Jung in his brief speech expressed hope that they will further discuss the details about the collaboration between both countries.

“UKM is a very famous university in Malaysia and they are very experienced in this area (solar technology). So we take this opportunity to make a collaboration with UKM and hope that we can get more chance to continue to work in technology,” he said.

Chief Executive Officer of MTE Corporation Sdn Bhd, Dr Patrick Chong said cooperation between Malaysia and South Korea will allow the two countries to perform research and development of solar energy.

He said Malaysia is moving towards becoming the centre of production of solar energy, manufacturing among Asian countries under the positive influence of renewable energy and green technology.

“We need to set up electrical systems technically and also R&D and we can also see that Malaysia has the largest solar manufacturing in Kuching, Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur,” Dr Chong remarked.

He said solar energy has the best potential for long term energy in the future.

“We give encouragement to all universities throughout Malaysia to set up a special course (on solar energy) to students for the future of the country, besides providing job opportunities for them,” he said.