UTP the only private local university in NanoMITe (13 April 2015)
Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) is proud and honoured to be part of the NanoMalaysia Institute for Innovative Technology (NanoMITe) research consortium that was launched today.
This invaluable opportunity and honour of becoming a member in this global consortium is an acknowledgment of UTP’s commitment and capacity for research and development in nanotechnology. It augurs well for the institution’s goal to become a leading research university in the global world of academia and science.
The launch of NanoMITe was held at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur with UTP’s Vice Chancellor Datuk Ir (Dr) Abdul Rahim Hashim representing the university.
NanoMITe is a project mooted by the Ministry of Education in 2013. The official founding and launching of this institute today marks the global collaboration of researchers and scientists in the world of nanotechnology.
The world’s first initiative that brings together top research personnel from world renown institutions of higher learnings, this platform was set up to focus on the research, development and strengthening of nanotechnology-enabled solutions. The flagship research programmes are in five core centres, namely energy, wellness, medical and healthcare, food and agriculture, electronics, devices and systems and environment.
Pivoting Malaysia deeper into the world of innovation, NanoMITe is positioned to generate knowledge, create wealth and increase societal well-being. Predominantly based in Malaysia in collaboration with international scientists, the efforts and activities of this institute will also contribute significantly to the growth and development of science and technology in Malaysia and contribute to the country’s gross national income.
As a member of this prestigious global research consortium, UTP pledges to commit resources and research capabilities and capacity towards achieving the targets and goals of NanoMITe.
With its strong emphasis on research and development, UTP is well-positioned to contribute significantly and meaningfully towards this consortium. Already well into research activities, both on its own merit as well as in collaboration with PETRONAS, other institutions and industries at home and abroad, it has state-of-the-art facilities within the campus that are aligned with high-impact and in-depth research.
UTP Centre of Innovative Nanostructure and Nanodevices (COINN) is one of the Malaysian Nanotechnology Centres of Excellence that forms part of NanoMITe, and UTP is honoured to be the only private Malaysian university in this international collaboration. The other local institutions are from UTM, UKM, UPM, UM and USM, which are all established research universities. Foreign partners include high profile universities such as Harvard and Stanford, who together make up the 38 members of NanoMITe presently. More members are expected to come onboard.
Professor Dr Norani Muti Mohamed, who is the Head of COINN, is one of the Principle Members of NanoMITe, while also being the project leader for the Development of Flexible Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells at the Centre.
Working on the Energy Efficient Integrated Nanosystems programme within NanoMITe, COINN has already established the third generation solar technology in the form of dye solar cells on rigid substrate. Next step would be the research into large scale applications where flexibility is beneficial as it allows for installations on curved surfaces of buildings that can provide large surface areas for solar power generation. The flexible printed solar cells would also be suitable for powering the applications of printed electronics.
COINN aspires to become a premier centre of excellence and technology provider in nanotechnology. It aims to produce an established library of high quality, diverse and stable nanostructures, nanomaterials and nanodevices that can be easily reproduced and manufactured safely and effectively.
Incidentally, nanotechnology is also one of UTP’s nine niche focus areas identified as Mission Oriented Research.
Other current research projects at COINN involved the development and application of nanotechnology for oil & gas, health & biomedical and green energy sectors.
