USM PENANG, 12 February 2026 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) yesterday had the honour of welcoming two distinguished leaders from Japan’s top universities, Professor Dr. Akihiro Wakahara, President of Toyohashi University of Technology (TUT) and Professor Dr. Soichiro Nakamura, President of Shinshu University, on a courtesy visit to USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed.

The delegations, also comprised senior management and administrators, reaffirmed their commitment to deepening academic and research collaborations with USM.

USM and TUT share a partnership spanning nearly three decades, beginning with materials science and expanding into semiconductors, waste management, biotechnology, and agriculture.

This collaboration has produced almost 150 co-publications in reputable international journals and provided valuable opportunities for academic and non-academic staff, as well as students, through exchanges and placements.

The USM Vice-Chancellor and the President of TUT also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), extending the partnership for another five years.

Shinshu University, meanwhile, represents a newer collaboration, initiated last year.

Later this week, a team from its Institute for Aqua Regeneration will visit USM’s School of Chemical Engineering to explore joint research opportunities.

USM’s Research and Innovation Division, led by Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Habibah A Wahab, is ready to co-fund research in the fields of medicine, advanced materials, and nanotechnology to kick start the research collaboration between USM and Shinshu University. 

During the meeting, the USM Vice-Chancellor proposed a trilateral collaboration between USM, TUT, and Shinshu University to nurture industry-ready talent for Penang’s thriving semiconductor sector.

Both Japanese presidents welcomed the idea, recognising the potential impact on regional and global innovation.

Also present at the meeting were the Director of the Academic and International Division, Professor Dr. Lee Keat Teong; Director of the Collaborative Microelectronic Design Excellence Centre (CEDEC), Professor Dr. Asrulnizam Abd Manaf; and Director of the Institute of Nano Optoelectronics Research and Technology (INOR), Associate Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd Zamir Pakhuruddin.

This visit marks a significant step forward in strengthening USM’s international collaborations, fostering impactful research, and preparing future-ready graduates for global industries.

Text: Professor Dr. Lee Keat Teong, Director of the Academic and International Division, USM/Editing: Tan Ewe Hoe/Photo: Mohd Fairus Md Isa