KUCHING: The Sarawak Government will establish a new campus for Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak dedicated exclusively to research and innovation.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said his government is committed to the effort and has identified 10-acre site for the research centre.
“As long as the university can produce critical technical thinkers, I don’t mind to expand the area to 15 acres.
“The state government will invest in building this research centre and to equip it with the latest equipment to analyse all the materials that we can produce and convert it into high quality products with the latest technology,” he said in his speech during the Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on Tuesday.
Abang Johari said Sarawak must advance in four key frontiers, namely energy, semiconductor, petrochemical, and material science, and this requires a new generation of skilled human capital.
He emphasised that while Sarawak is rich in natural resources, it needs stronger intellectual capacity, with Swinburne playing a vital role in developing the high-calibre talent needed to process these resources.
As Sarawak strives to achieve developed state status by 2030, the state must nurture a new generation of professionals to drive its digital economy, renewable energy particularly hydrogen technology, and Industry 4.0 initiatives.
“We need engineers who understand both traditional systems and emerging technologies. We need business traders who can navigate global markets while understanding the local context. We need IT professionals who can drive digital transformation.
“We need researchers who can solve real-world problems and also problems of our industries and communities who are facing this problem.
“The workforce demands of today are vastly different from 25 years ago when we established this branch campus. Artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, automation, and sustainable technologies are no longer future concepts, they are present realities, shaping our industry today.
“Therefore, the product of Swinburne in the next 25 years must be equipped not just with technical knowledge but also with critical thinking, which we need also adaptability and the ability to learn continuously throughout their careers. This is where Swinburne Sarawak’s role becomes even more crucial,” he said.
