- The Lab for the Next Technological Breakthrough in the 4.0 Industry Revolution
 
KUALA LUMPUR, July 19 (Bernama) -- Along with the national aspiration to fuel Malaysia to be an advanced economy nation through Industry 4.0, Sunway University launched its state-of-the-art Graphene and Advanced 2D Materials Research Lab recently.

The Graphene and Advanced 2D Materials Research Lab which comprises leading-edge equipment and facilities worth RM3.5 million will be the place to synthesise and perform different researches on 2D materials and its analogues for industry application. Currently, the Research Lab houses the developing of a novel graphene nano lubricant for automotive and industrial application as well as new 2D materials for supercapattery and low-cost thermoelectric generators. The Research Group has accrued more than RM4 millions of internal and external grants for these on-going projects. Upholding multidisciplinary research approach, the Research Group has already published at least 50 papers in top quality journals and received a gold award from the 30^th International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition (ITEX) competition.

The Graphene and Advanced 2D Materials Research Lab was launched by the Vice-Chancellor of Sunway University, Professor Graeme Wilkinson together with the CEO of NanoMalaysia Bhd, Dr Rezal Khairi Ahmad. During the launch, Sunway University and NanoMalaysia Bhd, which is the Lead Agency to execute the National Graphene Action Plan 2020, also inked a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their collaboration in the field of graphene.

Professor Wilkinson said “This lab has come about because we were fortunate to be able to attract Professor Khalid to Sunway University a few years ago. He is a true expert in the field of nanomaterials and graphene in particular. He has built an impressive Research Group with co-researchers with multidisciplinary expertise who between them are well-suited to driving advanced research into the use of advanced 2D materials”.

“I would also like to express my sincere thanks to NanoMalaysia for joining with us and helping our Research Group take their work to the next level in terms of commercialisation. This kind of partnership is excellent and can help academia engage more fruitfully with high tech industries from which the whole country can benefit,” added Professor Wilkinson.

Dr Rezal Khairi said “Malaysia’s first Graphene Research Lab at Sunway University aligns to the country’s National Graphene Action Plan and Fourth Industrial Revolution aspirations. It provides a cost-effective platform for Malaysia’s small and medium enterprises to innovate high value graphene-based products for sustainable business growth thus supporting the newly launched National Entrepreneurship Policy.”

“2D materials are the wonder materials of 21^st century, it is like a deck of cards that could be tailored to fit into any desired applications ranging from electronics to energy storage.  These Smart materials will play a pivotal role in manufacturing smart devices that are going to drive the industry 4.0” added Professor Mohammed Khalid, the Head of the Graphene and Advanced 2D Materials Research Group.

The event was attended by about 15 companies ranging from large corporations to small and medium enterprises across different industries.

“We strongly believe that collaboration with industry is an important precursor of national innovation system, particularly in today’s fast moving and knowledge intensive global markets,” said Matthijs Van Leeuwen, Director of Sunway R&D Sdn Bhd. The Sunway R&D is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sunway University, and it aims to promote university–industry collaboration through contract research and consultancy, in the following 5 key areas: health and wellbeing, transformative and advanced material sciences, digital living, data and cyber security, and sustainable future.

Over the years, Sunway University has strategically invested in cutting-edge facilities and equipment to drive high impact research programmes, for the development of technologies that address the world’s most pressing issues. In addition to its academic schools, Sunway University owns leading research network that scales across nine research centres, namely: Centre of Biomedical Physics, Centre of Research-Creation in Digital Media, Centre for Virus and Vaccine Research, Research Centre for Carbon Dioxide Capture and Utilisation, Research Centre for Crystalline Materials, Research Centre for Nano-materials and energy technology, Centre for Higher Education Research, Jeffrey Sachs Centre on Sustainability Development, and Jeffrey Cheah Institute of South East Asia. Sunway University is also engaged in global research collaborations with the world’s top 10 universities such as Harvard University, University of Oxford and University of Cambridge.

Source: NanoMalaysia Berhad

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Ms Jerrine Koay
Email: jerrine@sunway.edu.my

Name: Ms Karen Lau
Email: karenkzl@sunway.edu.my

--BERNAMA