Swinburne Sarawak launches Research Masterplan 2030

KUCHING, 28 April 2025: Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus today launched its Swinburne Sarawak Research Masterplan 2030, a bold strategic roadmap that will not only guide the university’s research vision and priorities over the next decade but marks a significant milestone to becoming a research institution of national and regional significance.

The launching, which took place at the campus auditorium, was officiated by guest of honour, Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Sarawak, Datuk Dr Haji Hazland bin Haji Abang Hipni and attended by members of Swinburne Sarawak’s Board of Directors and Council, industry partners, researchers and students.

“At Swinburne, research is not just about knowledge generation. It’s about transformation impact, shaping the future of our industries, solving real-world problems and improving the lives of the communities we serve – locally here in Sarawak, across Malaysia and globally. Swinburne is proud to play a catalytic role in supporting a future-ready Sarawak through research that matters,” said Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer of Swinburne Sarawak, Ir Prof Lau Hieng Ho in his opening speech. According to him, the Sarawak campus looks forward to further strengthening their alignment with the Melbourne campus, leveraging the power of a truly global research network to deliver local relevance and international excellence.

“The Research Masterplan 2030 is not just a roadmap, but a strategic framework aligned with Sarawak’s Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 and reflects Swinburne’s commitment to contribute meaningfully to the state’s aspirations for digital transformation, energy transition, sustainable development and high-skilled talent growth,” said Datuk Dr Haji Hazland in his officiating speech. The deputy minister also described the masterplan as a timely, bold and strategic document that outlines the campus’ research vision for the coming decade.

In today’s event, Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research), Prof Ida Fatimawati Adi Badiozaman shared more on the Research Masterplan and its area of focus, which spans cutting-edge domains like hydrogen and biomass energy, AI-driven manufacturing and construction, the digital circular economy, digital health and sustainable environments as well as fostering an inclusive and innovative society, reflecting Swinburne’s strengths and strategic intent to the most pressing challenges of the time.

As Sarawak gears up to position itself as a regional and global leader in the hydrogen economy, Swinburne Sarawak’s research focus in areas such as hydrogen and green energy aligns seamlessly with this momentum, underscoring the institution’s role not just as a contributor, but as a convener of ideas, partnerships and pathways toward a sustainable and decarbonized future for the state.

Through partnerships with notable organisations including Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), Sarawak Heritage Society, Malaysian Palm Oil Council, Western Digital, Sarawak Metro, RRC Companies and international collaborators like Tsinghua University, Swinburne Sarawak positions itself as a hub for innovation and talent development – serving not just academia but also industry and the broader community. By enhancing its reputation as an emerging Asia-Pacific research hub, Swinburne Sarawak aims to draw in top PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and global experts. Outlined in the masterplan, Swinburne Sarawak will be driving policy and institutional support by advocating for sustained investment in research capabilities, digital transformation and academic leadership and reinforcing the pivotal role of the School of Research in managing funding, capacity building and ensuring timely research deliverables.

Crucially, the masterplan also lays out a framework to ensure research sustainability and impact, building a culture of interdisciplinary collaboration, long-term planning and robust impact measurement – not just within academia but in terms of community relevance, industry application and policy influence. In Swinburne Sarawak’s pursuit of excellence, the institution will be championing public engagement and brand positioning in efforts to raise awareness as a research leader and innovator, ensuring that the strategies and initiatives are meticulously designed to align with the Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 and Swinburne Research vision.

“The launch of the Swinburne Sarawak Research Masterplan 2030 marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter – one where we pursue excellence with purpose and where innovation is guided by empathy, inclusion and sustainability. As we move forward, let us remain steadfast in our commitment to research that places people at its heart and technology as its enabler – people and technology working together for a better world,” concluded Prof. Ida Fatimawati.