IPPT USM–Industry Symposium 2025 Strengthens Research–Industry Synergy and Future-Ready Talent Development

PENANG, 10 December 2025 – The Advanced Medical and Dental Institute (IPPT), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), continues to strengthen its role as a center of excellence in research and talent development through the organisation of the IPPT USM–Industry Symposium 2025, themed Bridging Minds, Building Futures: Industry Insights for Research and Career Readiness, held at Eastin Hotel, Penang. The main objective of this program is to reinforce the synergy between university research and industry needs, enhance career readiness and graduate employability and create a platform for strategic collaboration among academia, industry and government agencies to support innovation and human capital development.

The symposium, organised by the Research, Innovation, and Networking Division (BPIJ), IPPT USM, brought together industry leaders from the healthcare, medical technology and electronics sectors, academic experts and postgraduate students to bridge the gap between university research and actual industry needs while improving graduate career readiness. This initiative directly supports Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: Good Health and Well-Being, SDG 4: Quality Education through industry-based learning, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth by enhancing graduate employability, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure by promoting collaboration among academia, industry, and government to drive research innovation and strengthen Malaysia’s medical technology ecosystem, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals by building robust cross-sector partnerships to advance health innovation and human capital development.

The event began with a welcome speech by the Director of IPPT USM, Associate Professor Dr. Bakiah Shaharuddin, emphasizing that research only has true impact when it is translated into solutions that meet real industry and societal needs. She emphasized this programme serve as critical platforms for fostering holistic learning, enabling students and researchers to gain insights beyond the academic realm and directly engage with the practical demands of the workforce. Dr. Bakiah further highlighted that such platforms resonate with IPPT’s steadfast commitment to the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) agenda, ensuring that learning experiences not only develop knowledge and technical skills but also cultivate critical thinking, creativity and social responsibility among future leaders and innovators.

The opening ceremony was officiated by USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Industry and Community Network, Professor Dr. Azlan Amran, who stressed that close collaboration between academia and industry accelerates innovation and strengthens human capital development. He noted that such synergy is vital because research empowered through industry collaboration opens new opportunities in healthcare technology development and enhances societal well-being.

The program continued with a Keynote Note talk by Dr. David Lacey, Director of External Affairs, OSRAM Opto Semiconductors, presenting on Opportunities for MedTech Innovation through Leverage of Malaysia's Electronics Industry Ecosystem. This session provided fresh perspectives on medical technology innovation through the strength of Malaysia’s electronics industry ecosystem, demonstrating how innovative research and technology can be integrated to produce sustainable solutions for healthcare needs.

The symposium also featured a forum titled Shaping the Future of Translational Research in Healthcare, discussing the direction of translational research in the healthcare sector. The forum, moderated by IPPT USM postgraduate student Mr. Mohd Khairul Akma Darwis, included prominent figures such as Dato’ Dr. Fazilah Shaik Allaudin, Director of Health, Penang State, Dr. Md Azman Seeni Mohamed from SIRIM Berhad, and Professor Dr. Asrul Akmal Shafie in Pharmacoeconomics, USM. Discussions focused on strengthening translational research to improve national healthcare quality, aligning with efforts to enhance access to quality medical technology and services for society.

The Talent Match: Industry Perspectives on Career Readiness and Employability session provided students with direct exposure to real industry requirements in career development. Dr. Aik Aun Tan, Director of R&D, B. Braun Medical Industries Sdn. Bhd., shared insights on competency requirements, soft skills and global competitiveness in the medical and technology sectors.

At midday, the Industry Insights Forum: Shaping Career Pathways, Collaboration, and Employability Skills, moderated by Mr. Mohd Khairul Akma Darwis, brought together leading industry panelists including Dr. Aik Aun Tan (B. Braun Medical Industries Sdn. Bhd), Ms. Tan Lin Im (Teleflex Medical Sdn. Bhd), and Ms. Julia Hoong (Keysight Technologies Malaysia Sdn. Bhd). The forum enabled constructive two-way dialogue between industry and academia to create clearer, strategic, and relevant career pathways for students, supporting national human capital development.

The Mock Interview session with industry experts offered participants hands-on experience in real interviews. This approach not only boosted participants’ confidence but also reinforced experiential learning, supporting the development of a skilled future workforce.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Rafidah Zainon, Chair of the IPPT USM–Industry Symposium 2025, the symposium served as a strategic platform to align postgraduate research with industry priorities while accelerating knowledge transfer and innovation. She appreciated students’ efforts to interact with industry experts, ask questions and engage directly with panelists, which helped enhance essential soft skills and provided opportunities to learn from the expertise and experiences of industry leaders. Moreover, the symposium contributed to strengthening multi-party collaboration between universities, industry, and government agencies. The organisation of the IPPT USM–Industry Symposium 2025 demonstrates IPPT USM’s ongoing commitment to producing researchers and graduates who are not only academically excellent but also ready to contribute to national development and societal well-being in line with global sustainable development goals.

The closing ceremony was officiated by Professor Dr. Badrul Hisham Yahaya, Deputy Director of Research and Networking, IPPT USM, who expressed gratitude to all industry partners, including Osram Opto Semiconductors, B. Braun Medical Industries Sdn. Bhd., Keysight Technologies Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Teleflex Medical Sdn. Bhd., SIRIM Berhad, Association of Malaysian Medical Industries, and the Ministry of Health Malaysia, for their commitment to the success of this prestigious symposium. Through a structured and impactful program, the symposium directly strengthened IPPT’s efforts to build more inclusive collaborations with industry partners, opening greater opportunities for research, technology transfer and talent development in the future.

Text prepared by: Nur Aqilah Tajul Ashikin
Text edited by: Associate Professor Dr. Rafidah Zainon
Photo: Norizan Ishak