Penang, Malaysia, 31 October 2022: Universiti Sains Malaysia today announced strategic new partnerships separately with Institut Teknologi Batam (ITEBA), and Karuna Khoshee Venture Capital Sdn Bhd (25 Startups) at Vice Chancellor's Office, Chancellery Building, USM.

ITEBA is a technopreneur institute, established under the Vitka Foundation. For the purpose of this MoU, ITEBA is represented by The Vitka Citi Complex JI Gajah Mada, Tiban, Batam Island, Riau Island Province, Indonesia. ITEBA comprises two faculties, the Faculty of Industrial Technology with Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management programs, and the Faculty of Information Technology, with Information Systems, Computer Engineering, Visual Communication Design and Mathematics programs.

Karuna Khoshee Venture Capital Sdn Bhd, or 25 Startups, is a blockchain and loT incubator launched in May 2022. 25 Startups was formed under a joint venture company called Karuna Khoshee Venture Capital Sdn Bhd at the Creative Digital District @ George Town (CD2 @ George Town). The incubator is aligned with the Penang Creative Digital District initiative, as a catalyst to spur innovation and investments in digital technology. Its vision is to spearhead Penang as the new economic digital powerhouse in Malaysia. 25 Startups plans to increase its presence in Cyberjaya and Kuching by end of 2022.

USM was represented by Prof. Dr. Md. Roslan Hashim, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Sustainability and Institutional Development, and Assoc. Prof. Dr Selvakumar Manickam, Director, National Advanced IPv6 Centre (NAv6). ITEBA was represented by Dr. H. Asman Abnur, SE., MM, Chairman, Yayasan Vitka, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ir. H. Hairul Abral, Rector, ITEBA, and Zainul Munir, MeTC, Kabid. Kerjasama ITEBA. Meanwhile, Sivavenayakam Velayutham, Managing Director, represented 25 Startups.

The primary focus of these partnerships will be on establishing collaboration and opportunities for development, support and enrichment in research, educational and training programs in the fields with mutual interest to all parties. “I welcome the MoU accomplished between USM and ITEBA, and can't wait for the implementation of this MoU," said Prof. Dr. Md. Roslan Hashim in a statement.

The agreements in this MoU include academic lecturers’ visits and research exchanges, academic cooperation in community service and continuing education, as well as institutional skills development training programs.

These agreements also include graduate and undergraduate student visits exchanges, USM PhD programs collaboration, exchange and cooperation in research projects, academic meetings and conference coordination, and digital educational and scientific information exchange.

MoU will pave the way for future opportunities like ITEBA students’ internship in Penang industries in collaboration with USM, visiting professors, joint research and conferences and ITEBA lecturers’ further studies in USM. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ir. H. Hairul Abral added, “The existence of this MoU will be very beneficial for both campuses, because there are many activities that can be done together”.

As for collaboration with 25 Startups, the strategic partnership provides opportunities for USM to contribute by participating in 25 Startups Idea Lab platform, collaborating in 25 Startups industry programs, promoting 25 Startups initiatives to students and lecturers, and connecting potential student entrepreneurs to 25 Startups growth programs.

In addition, the alliance will facilitate 25 Startups in providing talks, workshops and sharing sessions by entrepreneurs to students, platform for corporate entities to collaborate with USM students’ and lecturers’ Final Year Projects (FYP) via Idea Lab program, platform for corporate entities & SMEs to outsource their projects to USM students and lecturers via Idea Lab program, and finally, connecting startups for industrial training opportunities for students.

Subject to respective laws, constitution, regulations and/or policies from time to time in force, these MoUs shall remain in effect for a period of 2 years with ITEBA, and 3 years with 25 Startups.

These MoUs will define the general framework for the establishment of an academic link and cooperation between interested parties. However, they shall not impose any financial commitments on either party. All financial arrangements for any of the programs will be negotiated and mutually agreed in writing between the parties, depending on the availability of funds.