KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 – A landmark Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed today between Takasago Thermal Engineering Co. Ltd. from Japan, T.T.E. Engineering (M) Sdn. Bhd. from Malaysia, and the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). This partnership is set to advance research excellence, knowledge exchange, and sustainability through innovation.

The event was officiated by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs & Alumni) concurrently serving as the Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & International) of UTM, Prof. Ts. Dr. Ali Selamat; the President of Takasago Thermal Engineering Co., Ltd., Kojima Kazuhito; and the Managing Director of T.T.E. Engineering (M) Sdn. Bhd., Sato Tadashi. Also in attendance were the Executive Officer and Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of R&D Headquarters, Takasago Thermal Engineering Co. Ltd., Saburi Toshikazu; Deputy Managing Director of T.T.E. Engineering (M) Sdn. Bhd., Tan Seng Teck, and Dean of MJIIT, Assoc. Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Nurulakmar Abu Husain.

This agreement marks the continuation of collaboration among Takasago Thermal Engineering, T.T.E. Engineering (M) and UTM, which began with the establishment of the Takasago Thermal and Environmental Systems (TTES) i-Kohza (research group) in 2015. Officiated on October 29, 2015, TTES i-Kohza featured its first founding members led by Prof. Emeritus Dr. Norio Arai, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tohru Suwa, Dr. Siti Rahmah Aid, and Dr. Tan Lit Ken. In 2016, Prof. Dr. Yutaka Asako was appointed as the head of i-Kohza followed by the addition of a new member, Associate Prof. Dr. Norazwadi Che Sidek.

In 2023, TTES  i-Kohza welcomed Dr. Muhammad Thalhah Zainal and Dr. Shahirah Abu Bakar as additional members. Since November 2024, the i-Kohza has been under the leadership of Dr. Muhammad Thalhah Zainal, who succeeded Prof. Dr. Yutaka Asako as the head of i-Kohza. The current members of TTES i-Kohza include Dr. Siti Rahmah Aid, Dr. Tan Lit Ken, and Dr. Shahirah Abu Bakar.

The MoA signing ceremony commenced with welcoming remarks by Prof. Ts. Dr. Ali Selamat. This was followed by speeches by Kojima Kazuhito and Sato Tadashi from Takasago Thermal Engineering Co., Ltd. and T.T.E. Engineering (M) Sdn. Bhd., respectively. Both speakers emphasized the importance of strengthening their partnership with UTM. Dr. Muhammad Thalhah Zainal concluded the series of speeches by highlighting the transformative potential of this collaboration and emphasized TTES i-Kohza’s focus on cutting-edge research in carbon capture, renewable solar systems, thermal management, and artificial intelligence (AI) – driven environmental sustainability.

The partnership will prioritize three main areas:

1. Research Excellence: The collaboration aims to address global challenges such as achieving net-zero carbon emissions, advancing renewable energy solutions, developing sustainable environmental systems, and enhancing heat transfer technology
2. Knowledge Exchange: MJIIT students stand to benefit from enhanced industrial training opportunities, creating a pool of skilled, industry-ready graduates for Takasago Thermal Engineering Co., Ltd., and T.T.E. Engineering (M) Sdn. Bhd.
3. Sustainability and Innovation: The agreement seeks to drive the development of technologies that align with global sustainability goals and meet industry demands.

After the signing ceremony, delegates from Takasago Thermal Engineering Co., Ltd. and T.T.E. Engineering (M) Sdn. Bhd. visited the TTES i-Kohza at MJIIT. During the visit, TTES i-Kohza members provided explanations of the technical work conducted in the laboratory, including detailed descriptions of equipment and experimental processes. The researchers also showcased their projects through video presentations and poster displays, offering insights into the groundbreaking work being carried out at the facility.

The laboratory visit was also celebrated with a special acknowledgment of a remarkable milestone achieved by Takasago Thermal Engineering Co., Ltd. Just one day prior to the ceremony, on January 15, 2025, the company successfully launched its spacecraft to the moon from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, United States, marking a proud moment in its history.

The MoA signifies a significant step forward in bridging academia and industry, with a shared vision of addressing pressing global challenges while fostering innovation and sustainability. With this partnership, UTM is represented by MJIIT, Takasago Thermal Engineering Co., Ltd., and T.T.E. Engineering (M) Sdn. Bhd. reaffirm their commitment to building a sustainable future.

Written by: Dr. Muhammad Thalhah Zainal, Dr. Siti Rahmah Aid, Dr. Tan Lit Ken, and Dr. Shahirah Abu Bakar

Source: UTM NewsHub