Proton enters into collaboration with UTM
An agreement was reached between Proton and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) which sees the national car maker collaborate with the noted university in various areas of research and development. The agreement was announced in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two parties earlier today.
To kick-start the partnership, UTM has committed to invest RM 1 million’s worth of research for Proton in addition to having one of its professors stationed in Proton’s R&D centre on a full-time basis for two years. The said professor, unnamed at this stage, will be directly involved in developing the next generation of Proton cars.
The MoU was signed by Proton Holdings Berhad Group Managing Director Dato’ Haji Syed Zainal Abidin bin Syed Mohamed Tahir and UTM Vice Chancellor Professor Dato’ Ir Dr. Zaini b. Ujang in a ceremony held at Proton Centre of Excellence today.
“To be at par with other international car makers, Proton cannot merely depend on the achievements it has accomplished after 25 years. Proton must now expedite its initiative to further strengthen its human capital especially in the fields of engineering and technical expertise,” said Proton Holdings Berhad Chairman Dato’ Sri Mohd. Nadzmi Mohd. Salleh, who was present to witness the event.
The arrangement is dubbed the Proton-UTM Professorship Program, and is a follow-up to a MoU signed between the two parties in 2009 which UTM pledged to help Proton improve on its management, manufacturing, research, and quality practices. On Proton’s part, the company is allocating some RM500,000 to fund activities slated for the first year of the program.
The company’s desire to work with UTM was probably inspired by the university having won the National IP Award for Organisation Category for three years in 2006, 2009 and 2010. As of 2010, UTM holds a total of 1,870 patents, and the university hopes that this collaboration with Proton will further increase it’s generation of Intellectual Property (IP).
Commenting on the tie-up, Proton MD Dato’ Syed Zainal said, “The industry-university collaboration provides many benefits to both parties. For Proton, it will inculcate the research culture within the organizations and as for UTM it will strengthened the University as the leading “Research University” in Malaysia.”
“It is also our hope that this collaboration would strengthen Proton’s competitiveness and position as an automotive company as well as to develop quality human capital to drive Malaysia forward as an advanced nation by 2020,” he added.
