Official Opening of Centre of Biofuel and BioChemical Research (CBBR) (24 Feb 2011)
A new Centre of Biofuel and Biochemical Research (CBBR) aimed to be a leading centre for biomass research in Asia was officially launched at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) on 24 February 2011. The centre was officiated by Mitsubishi Corporation’s Chief Executive in Malaysia, Mr Junichi Iseda and YBhg Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Hj Kasim, Rector of UTP.
CBBR’s mission is to be a research centre for biomass utilisation, where leading research is conducted and funding is secured. Indeed, it is the Centre’s quest to produce the best biomass utilisation researchers and engineers in Asia and become a key member of a global alliance of top biomass utilisation centres from academia and the industry in Asia.
Among the Centre’s objectives are to perform leading research in biomass utilisation, which will lead to publication in high impact journals and technology development for the industry; develop talented researchers and engineers to become top biomass experts, and to provide state-of-the-art facilities for research as well as to offer courses in Green Technology for postgraduate students and engineers from industries.
“Biomass is one of the promising renewable sources. Upon its utilisation, selection of biomass to be utilised and what products to be produced from the biomass are the key issues,” says Professor Dr Yoshimitsu Uemura, Mitsubishi Chair in Green Technology who founded the centre. The current major research areas undertaken by the centre include solid fuel production from lignocellulosic biomass and liquid fuel and chemical production from lignocellulosic biomass.
The launch also marks another important milestone for the strategic collaboration established between UTP and Mitsubishi, which was first instituted with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in April 2009 between the two parties. The MoU is part of a long-term collaboration between UTP and Japan's largest general trading company that will pave the way to enhance the relationship between the industry and the academia in developing industry relevant research and creating a pool of knowledgeable and skilled human capital. Such collaborations will enable UTP to tap the expertise and knowledge of its partner to strengthen its position in research and development in green technology, which is one of the main focus areas of UTP.
Also present at the Officiating Ceremony were Professor Dr Yoshimitsu Uemura, Mitsubishi Chair in Green Technology in UTP, delegates from Mitsubishi Corporation, members of the Management Committee and Senate of UTP.
