KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 6 — Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), under the Department of the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation (JTNCPI), successfully hosted the International Nexus Conference 2025 (INexCo 2025) in Kuala Lumpur in collaboration with partner universities from Indonesia. This prestigious event aimed to enhance strategic international research collaboration and promote impactful innovation for a sustainable future.
The theme of INexCo 2025 was “Innovating for a Sustainable Future: Advancing Research and Development Across Frontiers.” It brought together multidisciplinary researchers, academics, and industry partners to exchange knowledge, present their discoveries, and establish new collaborative efforts to address pressing global challenges.
During her welcoming speech, the Chair of INexCo 2025, Professor Dr. Nor Haniza Sarmin, explained that the conference originated from the UTM VC Asia Tour@Indonesia 2022, initiated by former Vice-Chancellor Prof. Datuk Ir. Ts Dr. Mohd Fauzi Ismail. This tour laid the foundation for strengthened bilateral ties between Malaysia and Indonesia in research and academic exchange, resulting in 76 matching grant projects, nine Memorandums of Agreement (MoAs), and one Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with leading Indonesian institutions.
The conference was officiated by UTM’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Shafry Mohd Rahim. The event showcased the strong and growing cooperation between Malaysia and Indonesia in the areas of higher education, research, and innovation.
The prominent academic collaborations mentioned include partnerships with several universities: Universitas Indonesia, Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), Universitas Ahmad Dahlan (UAD), Universitas Negeri Malang (UNM), Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), Universitas Sriwijaya (UNSRI), Universitas Muhammadiyah Palembang (UMP), Universitas Hasanuddin (UNHAS), Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB), and Telkom University (TU).
Around 80 participants attended INexCo 2025, which included two keynote speakers, three invited speakers, presenters, and attendees from various academic and professional backgrounds.
The programme featured parallel sessions for paper presentations, interactive knowledge-sharing forums, and valuable networking opportunities.
Outstanding presentations were acknowledged with the Best Presenter Awards. The recipients included Megawati Ayu Putri from Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) and Nurhalimah from Universitas Indonesia, both from Indonesia. From Malaysia, the awardees were Noor Fatihah Mazlam from Southern University College, along with Muhammad Yazid Unos, Norsyafiqah Amalina Ahmad Jafri, and Dr. Sheela Chandren from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).
INexCo 2025 was proudly supported by three official sponsors: Galaksi Investasi Harapan (GIH), UNI-TECHNOLOGIES Sdn. Bhd. (UTSB), and Pure Aims Technologies Sdn. Bhd. Their support played a significant role in the success of the conference and the achievement of its goals.
This international conference aligned with UTM’s enVision 2025 strategic framework, particularly in enhancing academic excellence, strengthening research and innovation capacity, fostering strategic partnerships across sectors, and elevating the university’s global standing.
Ultimately, INexCo 2025 succeeded in promoting cross-border collaboration, nurturing research excellence, and creating opportunities for impactful and sustainable innovation. UTM continues to welcome researchers, academicians, and industry partners in its mission to co-create solutions that transcend borders and benefit global communities.
Visit the INexCo 2025 website https://research.utm.my/inexco2025/ for more information.
Prepared by:
Arina Syairah Maslani & Prof. Dr. Nor Haniza Sarmin
INexCo 2025 Organizing Committee
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Source: UTM NewsHub