USM PENANG, 28 October 2024 – In a significant stride towards enhancing international research partnerships, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) participated in the Second Council Meeting and Thematic Working Group Meeting of the University Network for Research Collaboration (iUNRC) – an initiative fostering Belt and Road Science and Technology.

Hosted by Chongqing University, the meeting aimed to strengthen collaborative frameworks that address new cooperation strategies, pathways, models, and to further advance iUNRC's vision and plans.

In her speech, USM’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation, and Co-Chair of iUNRC, Professor Dr. Habibah A Wahab, emphasised the network’s vital role; “iUNRC is a cross-university cooperation network where more than ten universities collaborate on research to tackle global challenges such as sustainable development, climate change, and I look forward to expanding these efforts in the years to come.”

During the discussion and exchange on technology cooperation, each member university focused on identifying significant regional or global issues for collaborative research, further enabling USM to contribute to impactful global solutions and fostering the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

As iUNRC looks ahead to 2025, it plans to establish an innovation fund supporting ten projects, promote joint applications for international projects, and organise the Presidents Roundtable during the “Belt and Road” Technology Exchange Conference.

The meeting concluded with discussions on operational mechanisms and an invitation to more universities to join iUNRC’s council.

USM is one of the founding members of the iUNRC.

Text: Shafinaz Md Ismail & Tan Ewe Hoe