KUCHING – Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus and Sarawak Information Systems Sdn. Bhd. (SAINS) signed an agreement on 31 March 2009 to collaborate on R&D projects.
Signing for Swinburne Sarawak were Professor Helmut Lueckenhausen, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, and Professor Anatoli Vakhguelt, Head of the School of Engineering and Science.
Mr Teo Tien Hiong, Chief Executive Officer of SAINS and Dr Anderson Tiong, Head of Network and Systems Engineering, signed for SAINS.
Under the agreement, both Swinburne Sarawak and SAINS are to design and develop electronic devices to integrate and enhance equipment as well as software which are being developed or those that are currently used by the business community.
Both Swinburne Sarawak and SAINS will also jointly set up an Electronics Design and Automation Laboratory at the university’s School of Engineering and Science.
The laboratory will be used by researchers for the design and development of industrial prototypes which are necessary for demonstrating the feasibility of the projects that will be undertaken.
Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam who is also the Chairman of SAINS, and Tan Sri Datuk Amar Haji Abdul Aziz Bin Dato Haji Husain, Chairman of Swinburne Sarawak Sdn Bhd, witnessed the signing ceremony.
In his speech, Dr Chan, who is also the Minister in charge of Industrial Development in the State, said that he is indeed happy to see the industry and academia working together, adding that the collaboration puts university students and instructors in touch with the business world while the industry partner benefits from valuable research outcomes.
SAINS started operations in 1992 and has since grown and strategically developed a presence in Malaysia as a leading ICT systems integrator and solutions provider. Its services and solutions ranges from IT consultancy, software development and integration, networking and systems engineering, project management, IT training, data conversion and digitisation, facility management and operations support services.
Swinburne Sarawak is the only international campus of Swinburne University of Technology, Australia. Jointly owned by Swinburne Australia and the Sarawak Government via Yayasan Sarawak and Sarawak Higher Education Foundation, it was established in Kuching in 2000 and offers courses in business, engineering, science, computing and design. It has high aspirations to excel in research, become a renowned center in entrepreneurship and innovation, and have an international approach to teaching and learning.