GEORGE TOWN: Western Digital and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) today announced a long-term collaboration to establish the Centre of Innovation and Automation (CiA).
CiA is an exclusive technology hub focusing on driving Industry 4.0 (IR4.0) design and development, prototype build-up and intellectual property generation.
The collaboration was officiated at a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing ceremony at USM's main campus.
Western Digital Global Flash Backend Operations vice-president KL Bock said the collaboration with USM would further anchor efforts in the area of Lights Out Automation to achieve resilient operations in dynamic environments and immense gains in both productivity and quality.
"The collaboration also reflects our ongoing commitment to the community at large in the development of local talents, industrial capacity and technological co-transfer," he said.
The partnership between Western Digital and USM School of Engineering is aimed at bridging and fostering closer ties between leading industry players and the academic community, bringing together the brightest minds and talents to drive breakthrough technology advancements in manufacturing technology.
Under this initiative, both organisations will work together on industry-driven research projects and promote research outputs.
Selected PhD students will also enjoy attachment opportunities.
USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr Faisal Rafiq Mahamd Adikan, said the involvement of USM with the industry further emphasises USM's commitment to providing educational and research experience that are beyond the norm to Malaysian academicians, researchers, technical staff and students.
USM, he said, is also committed to forging more industrial collaborations and also creating new ones by forming start-ups.
"It is therefore increasingly important to have university-industry partnerships in order to keep abreast of the latest developments and trends within the context of IR4.0.
"This collaboration with Western Digital, being the leader in data infrastructure, is truly timely and appropriate.
"The CiA project is the first of its kind in Malaysia, where it puts the 'university within the industry' to bring the lecturers and more importantly the students, first-hand experience to equip themselves to be 'industry-ready'.
"What was learned previously in labs could now be transformed, transferred and applied in real-world scenarios. This will surely bring added value and further boost the value chain within the industrial sector," he added.
The CiA will focus on strengthening and amplifying PRiSMS-DnA:registered: elements with IR4.0 components such as Big Data Analytics, Internet-of-Things, Mixed/Augmented Reality, System Integration, Additive Manufacturing, Simulation, Autonomous Collaborative Robots, Cloud Computing and Cognitive Computing.
The MOA was signed on behalf of Western Digital by Bock and site general manager Vishwanath Ramaswamy.
USM was represented by Faisal and deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation) Professor Datuk Ir Dr Abdul Rahman Mohamed.
The signing ceremony was also attended by Western Digital group chairman, Malaysia Operations, Datuk Dr Syed Hussian Aljunid; USM Board of Governors chairman Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin; as well as top officials from the Higher Education Ministry, Western Digital and USM.