KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- The Weststar Group, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) and Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) will explore cooperation in developing advanced local technologies, including dual-use innovations for the defence and civilian sectors, to strengthen the country’s defence capabilities and resilience.
UPNM, in a statement, said the proposed collaboration will also cover joint research, multidisciplinary leadership development and joint degree programmes.
Its vice-chancellor Lieutenant-General Datuk Arman Rumaizi Ahmad said the combination of UPNM’s strategic defence expertise, UTP’s engineering capabilities and The Weststar Group’s industry strengths had the potential to enhance local technology development and support the government’s whole-of-government approach.
“The combined expertise of the two universities, together with industry participation, opens up opportunities to develop high-impact technological solutions that not only support defence needs but also contribute to the country’s security and self-reliance,” Arman Rumaizi said in the same statement.
The potential collaboration was explored during a visit to UTP in Seri Iskandar, Perak, yesterday, by a delegation led by UPNM Board of Directors chairman and The Weststar Group managing director Tan Sri Syed Azman Syed Ibrahim.
The delegation, which also included Arman Rumaizi, was received by UTP president Mohamed Firouz Asnan.
UPNM said that potential areas of cooperation in energy security include the protection of critical energy infrastructure, cybersecurity for energy systems, energy supply resilience for defence operations, and maritime energy security.
Exploration in these areas will also cover crisis management and strategic policy development to strengthen the country’s preparedness, operational continuity and energy sovereignty in facing security threats and global geopolitical uncertainties.
During the visit, the delegation was also briefed on UTP’s research in nuclear technology, energy storage and harvesting systems, advanced materials, e-mobility, autonomous driving, renewable bio-based technologies, carbon accounting and halal blockchain applications.
Following the visit, researchers from both universities and The Weststar Group will identify potential areas for joint research, development and commercialisation, while details of the twinning programmes and technological focus areas will be refined by the senior management of both universities.
-- BERNAMA