Azbil Corporation has sealed a cooperation agreement with the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT) of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia^* (UTM). Specifically, the alliance aims to strengthen its comprehensive collaborative relationship, including industry-academia partnerships.

Akiko Ogino, President of Azbil Academy and YBhg. Prof. Datuk Ir. Ts. Dr. Ahmad Fauzi bin Ismail, Vice-Chancellor of UTM witnessed the signing ceremony. Azbil Academy is an in-house institution specializing in human resource development.

Furthermore, Minister Karimata of the Embassy of Japan in Malaysia; Deputy Minister YB Datuk Ts. Mustapha Sakmud and Secretary General Zaini Bin Ujang, both of Malaysia’s Ministry of Higher Education; and Professor Ts. Dr. Ali Bin Selamat, Dean of MJIIT graced the signing ceremony.

 Also in attendance were members of the UTM and the local Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as representatives of several Japanese companies.

Joint R&D

During the ceremony, Ongino discussed the relationship that has developed between UTM and Azbil. Thus, looking ahead, what it is that both signatories—and both countries. Moreover, they hope to realize by strengthening and expanding partnerships between industry and academia.

Azbil hired an MJIIT-UTM graduate in 2019 and accepted an internship student from MJIIT-UTM in 2023. Azbil has also worked with MJIIT-UTM on the Clean Energy Future Initiative for ASEAN (CEFIA)—an initiative led by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). Specifically, to facilitate collaboration between the public and private sectors with the aim of achieving decarbonization within the ASEAN region—developing tools (for energy-conservation education and surveys) that the students can use.

In February 2024, as part of its CEFIA activities, Azbil organized an energy-conservation seminar for industry. “Going forward, we will further promote joint research and development projects based on measurement and control technologies with an emphasis on decarbonization technologies,” said Ongino.

Investment in Human Resources

Regarding this MoU, Akihiko Naruse, Azbil’s Managing Corporate Executive in charge of Human Resources and Education, explains that “UTM is Malysia’s oldest science and technology university and one of the finest educational institutions in the country. Indeed, the UTM/MJIIT graduate who joined Azbil five years ago is extremely talented. Today, (they) are working on leading-edge projects for energy-conservation control in ASEAN.”

In addition, Naruse said further strengthening collaboration with MJIIT-UTM draws on the strengths of both institutions. Thus, will be able to foster talented individuals who can tackle a variety of global issues.

“It is our belief that the key to realizing a sustainable society is investment in human resource development. We commit to collaborating on both technology research and education.”

Guided by the Azbil Group’s corporate philosophy of “human-centered automation,” the company aims to expand through strengthened human capital investment.

23 July 2024