SIBU: Delegates from Malaysia, Brunei, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Pakistan have converged here to deliberate on the renewable energy transition, distributed energy systems, solar technologies, energy storage, and hydrogen development.
They are taking part in a three-day COMSTECH-UTS International Workshop on Renewable Energy: Affordable & Clean Energy for All (CURE-ALL) which was launched on Tuesday.
The event, a collaboration between the COMSTECH (Scientific and Technological Cooperation Secretariat with the University of Technology Sarawak (UTS), has brought together experts, researchers, and policymakers from across the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) region and beyond.
The programme also includes a field visit to the Sarawak Energy Batang Air Power Plant, offering participants practical exposure to one of the region’s most advanced renewable energy facilities.
In his opening address, UTS Vice Chancellor, Prof Datuk Dr Khairuddin Abdul Hamid, stressed that UTS has reaffirmed its role as the main gateway for scientific and technological cooperation among the member states of the OIC by organising the international workshop.
He said the international workshop was a result of UTS’ participation in the COMSTECH Rectors’ Forum and the Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Excellence in Pakistan earlier this year.
“In fact, this international workshop was organised as a result of the visit and our commitment to strengthen scientific and technological cooperation, especially in areas that are of great importance to our region and also globally.
“This opens up new opportunities for academic collaboration, particularly under the COMSTECH Outstanding Masters Programme, as well as other initiatives such as student mobility programmes, joint research and joint publications,” he said.
According to him, among the follow-up initiatives is the COMSTECH joint researcher exchange programme which will see UTS receive 10 researchers from OIC countries between 2025 and 2026, with the first group of six expected to arrive soon.
In addition, he said, UTS spin-off company, FORMETA PLT also represented Sarawak and Malaysia at the SEE Pakistan 2025 entrepreneurship exhibition.
“With the launch of this joint workshop on renewable energy, we are taking another step forward in shaping sustainable cooperation.
“Together, we are not only aiming for knowledge exchange, but also planning concrete collaborations to address common challenges in sustainable technology, energy, environment and development across the OIC region,” he said.
