The Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI) and Swinburne University of Technology (SUT) today announced updates on several research projects, as part of a MAI led partnership with Swinburne University of Technology, Australia. These projects are currently undertaken by the Transport Innovation Centre (TIC), located in the Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus.

Six (6) projects were presented by scholars of the MAI-SUT Automotive Scholarship Research Programme, a research based post-graduate programme launched under the TIC. Researchers work directly with the industry to develop novel solutions ascertained from current trends and demands of the automotive sector.

The TIC, based in Kuching, Sarawak is a collaboration platform between Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI) and Swinburne University of Technology (SUT). Launched in 2016, The TIC provides a research and development platform for a wide range of automotive engineering issues, especially within Sarawak, Sabah and the East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMPT-EAGA).

Apart from the TIC, MAI has led numerous public-private initiatives, such as the Automotive Innovation Centre (AIC) with the University of South Australia (UniSA), Industry Led Automotive Apprenticeship Programmes with UiTM, UTEM, UMP and UTHM, as well as Supplier Development Programmes with OEMs.

The first batch of research projects, presented by MAI-SUT scholars to members of the government, industry and the academic community, address real time problems faced by the scholars’ respective industry partners.

During the initial stage of the programme, the scholars and their industry partners are matched to form public-private team, tasked to conduct the necessary research & development activities to deliver specific solutions to a problem faced by their industry partner.

“This form of public-private collaboration has demonstrated positive, and most importantly, real-time, rapid results directly for the industry. The multi disciplinary teams brings a new dimension towards addressing problems faced by the industry”, said MAI CEO, Dato’ Madani Sahari.

Dato’ Madani further explained how both the industry players and the MAI-SUT scholars bring key elements to the table, combining methodical academic research with experience and expertise of the participating industry talents.

“The projects presented by this first batch of scholars are a tremendous value addition to the Industry 4.0 talent network within the transportation sector – in line with the government’s National Policy on Industry 4.0 (Industry4WRD).

As this programme grows in the years to come, the MAI-SUT Automotive Scholarship Research Programme is expected to create a critical mass of Industry 4.0 practitioners and further enhance Malaysia’s technology value chain beyond the transportation sector, including in the state of Sarawak”, he added.