Universiti Malaya (UM) proudly announces that the Photonics Research Centre (PRC) and the Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES) have officially graduated as Higher Education Centres of Excellence (HICoE) under Batch 2014, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s research landscape.

The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) conferred the dual recognition following a comprehensive evaluation of both centres’ long-term performance, research leadership, and national impact. PRC was recognised for its sustained excellence in advancing Optical Devices for Optical Communication, while IOES earned distinction for its pioneering research on Air–Sea–Land Interactions.

Both centres have consistently demonstrated high-impact scholarship, innovation, and global engagement within their respective niche areas, further strengthening UM’s position as a leading research-intensive university.

In conjunction with the graduation, each centre has been awarded an incentive grant of RM1,000,000.00. The allocation underscores MOHE’s confidence in PRC and IOES to continue driving sustainability-focused research, technological advancement, and international visibility.

Beginning 1 January 2026, PRC and IOES will embark on a new chapter as graduated HICoEs, with expanded opportunities for strategic collaborations, breakthrough discoveries, and enhanced contributions to national and regional development. UM extends its heartfelt congratulations to the leadership, researchers, and staff of both centres for this outstanding achievement, which reflects their unwavering commitment to excellence and their vital role in elevating Malaysia’s research ecosystem.

Source: Ministry of Higher Education

Grant Category	Funder	Type of Grant	Brief Description	Link to Website	Ceiling	Expected Grant Call
INTERNATIONAL GRANT	Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE)	Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS)	The SATREPS program is promoting international joint research with the goal of resolving global issues as one aspect of “science and technology diplomacy,” which connects science and technology with diplomacy for the mutual advancement of both. Worldwide attention directed toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) illustrates the increasing complexity of global issues such as climate change, food problems, natural disasters, and infectious disease. Developing countries that are more susceptible to their impacts are being placed in a difficult situation. To resolve these issues will require scientific and technological innovation, putting the results of research to use in society, developing human resources, and improving research capacity across national boundaries. In the SATREPS program, researchers from Japan and developing countries are together tackling issues in the four fields of Environment and Energy, Bioresources, Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, and Infectious Disease Control*, discovering new knowledge and technologies with real-world applications in light of local needs, and thus contributing to the international community that is working toward sustainable development.	https://www.jst.go.jp/global/english/about/about.html	Approx. 100 million yen per project per year Funding split: JST: Approx. 35 million yenFunding split: JICA: Approx. 60 million yen	Late August or Late October

Grant Category	Funder	Type of Grant	Brief Description	Link to Website	Ceiling	Expected Grant Call
INTERNATIONAL GRANT	Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE)	Malaysia-Spain Joint Programme – Malaysia-Spain Innovating Programme (MySIP)	–	–	–	No call for year 2023

Grant Category	Funder	Type of Grant	Brief Description	Link to Website	Ceiling	Expected Grant Call
INTERNATIONAL GRANT	Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE)	Malaysia- France Bilateral Research Collaboration 2021 (MATCH)	Malaysia-France Bilateral Research Collaboration 2021 (MATCH 2021) is a joint funding programme with the objective of structuring and stimulating research cooperation between France and Malaysia. This programme is based on a call for projects, an independent evaluation process and a selection of projects guided by a common interest and ambition for excellence. The call for projects is open to all research teams of both Malaysia and France, from research institutes or from public or private companies having started joint research.	mfuc.org/cooperation-in-research/#MATCH	NA	NA

Grant Category	Funder	Type of Grant	Brief Description	Link to Website	Ceiling	Expected Grant Call
INTERNATIONAL GRANT	Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE)	Hubert Curien Partnership – Hibiscus (PHC-Hibiscus)	The Partnership Hubert Curien-Hibiscus is a joint funding program with the objective of structuring and stimulating research cooperation between France and Malaysia. The Program is based on a call for projects, an independent evaluation process and a selection of projects guided by a common interest and ambition for excellence. Projects have a duration of two (2) years and are financed according to each party’s funding process on an equal basis by each of the Parties. The call for projects is open to all research teams of both countries, from research institutes or from public or private companies having started joint research. The Program aims to: a. strengthen scientific and technological exchanges between France and Malaysia on the basis of mutual benefit; b. support existing cooperation and encourage new collaborations and foster the development of innovative and high-level joint research projects; c. encourage the participation of French and Malaysian researchers, post-doctoral and PhD students in joint research projects by supporting academic and scientific cooperation between the two countries; d. foster the promotion and enhancement of joint research activities of the scientific communities of the two countries (scientific copublications, seminars, workshops, joint patent registration); e. develop synergies between the scientific communities of the two countries in order to create structured and sustainable research networks of high level and recognized at European and international level.	NA	NA	NA

Grant Category	Funder	Type of Grant	Brief Description	Link to Website	Ceiling	Expected Grant Call
INTERNATIONAL GRANT	Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC)	China (EBC-C) – APT	The objective of the EBC-C is to promote the use of ICT applications in APT Members in addressing socio-economic issues such as poverty, digital divide, health, education, clean energy, infrastructure development, sustainable cities and communities, etc.	https://www.apt.int/Publications	USD 100,000	June/July
		Japan (EBC-J) – APT		https://www.apt.int/Publications	By Call	June/July
		Korea (EBC-K) – APT	Subject to grant call	http://nsg-zaidan.or.jp/oversea/index_en.html	Subject to grant call	June/July

UM CELEBRATES PRC AND IOES ON THEIR GRADUATION AS HICOE

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Grant Category	Funder	Type of Grant	Brief Description	Link to Website	Ceiling	Expected Grant Call
INTERNATIONAL GRANT	Wellcome Trust Foundation	Early Career Awards	This scheme provides funding for early-career researchers from any discipline who are ready to develop their research identity. Through innovative projects, they will deliver shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing. By the end of the award, they will be ready to lead their own independent research programme.	https://wellcome.org/grant-funding/schemes/early-career-awards	up to £400,000	5 October 2023
		Career Development Awards	This scheme provides funding for mid-career researchers from any discipline who have the potential to be international research leaders. They will develop their research capabilities, drive innovative programmes of work and deliver significant shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing.	https://wellcome.org/grant-funding/schemes/career-development-awards	NA	27 July 2023
		Discovery Awards	This scheme provides funding for established researchers and teams from any discipline who want to pursue bold and creative research ideas to deliver significant shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing.	https://wellcome.org/grant-funding/schemes/discovery-awards	25 July 2023

Grant Category	Funder	Type of Grant	Brief Description	Link to Website	Ceiling	Expected Grant Call
NATIONAL (GOVERNMENT)	Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE)	Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS)	Penyelidikan ini bertujuan untuk melonjakkan penjanaan teori, konsep dan idea baharu beracuan Malaysia yang menjadi pemangkin kepada penemuan baharu yang menerobos sempadan ilmu dan penciptaan inovatif.	http://portal.mygrants.gov.my/main.php	RM 250,000.00	December 2023 – January 2024
		Prototype Research Grant Scheme (PRGS)	Penyelidikan ini bertujuan untuk membantu merapatkan jurang antara penemuan penyelidikan dan pengkomersialan bagi tujuan penciptaan teknologi/penemuan baharu beracuan Malaysia selaras dengan keperluan K-Ekonomi dan pelaksanaan Model Ekonomi Baru.	http://portal.mygrants.gov.my/main.php	RM 500,000.00	December 2023 – January 2024
		Transdisciplinary Research Grant Scheme (TRGS)	Penyelidikan ini bertujuan untuk melonjakkan penjanaan teori, konsep dan idea baru yang dapat menjadi pemangkin kepada penemuan baru yang menerobos sempadan ilmu dan penciptaan inovatif.	http://portal.mygrants.gov.my/main.php	RM 1,000,000.00	TBC
		Long-Term Research Grant Scheme (LRGS)	LRGS adalah penyelidikan fundamental yang melibatkan skop lebih ekstensif; dan tempoh masa yang panjang serta memerlukan komitmen yang tinggi. LRGS boleh menghasilkan teori dan idea baru yang terkehadapan dalam nic-nic yang strategik untuk perluasan sempadan ilmu.	http://portal.mygrants.gov.my/main.php	RM 3,000,000.00	TBC
		Konsortium Kecemerlangan Penyelidikan (KKP)	Tujuan utama KKP adalah untuk memantapkan lagi kerjasama di antara kumpulan penyelidik dalam aktiviti penyelidikan dalam bidang nic melalui penjanaan teori, idea baharu dan penciptaan yang inovatif serta terkehadapan dalam bidang-bidang strategik demi perkembangan sempadan ilmu. KKP juga adalah salah satu platform untuk menggalakkan Pusat Kecemerlangan (CoE) di Institut Pengajian Tinggi (IPT) ke arah penarafan sebagai Pusat Kecemerlangan Pendidikan Tinggi (HICoE) dan seterusnya menjadi pakar rujuk (referral point) dalam bidang nic berfokus.		RM 500,000.00	TBC
		Malaysia Laboratories for Academia-Business Collaboration (MyLAB)	Membangun dan memantapkan produk hasil daripada penyelidikan yang berpotensi tinggi untuk dikomersialkan dalam bidang tujahan yang strategik.	https://mastic.mosti.gov.my/index.php/sti/incentives/malaysia-laboratories-academia-business-collaboration-mylab	RM 3,000,000.00	Q1 2024
		Public Private Research Network (PPRN)		https://epprn.mohe.gov.my/	RM 350,000.00	December 2023 – January 2024

Grant Category	Funder	Type of Grant	Brief Description	Link to Website	Ceiling	Expected Grant Call
NATIONAL (GOVERNMENT)	Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovaton (MOSTI)	TeD 1 – Dana Pembangunan Teknologi 1	Dana Pembangunan Teknologi 1 (TeD 1) terbuka kepada penyelidik dan syarikat yang berminat untuk melaksanakan projek penyelidikan dan pembangunan (R&D) bagi menghasilkan proses dan produk baharu dalam bidang yang telah dikenal pasti oleh Kerajaan. Projek R&D tersebut hendaklah berpotensi dalam menyelesaikan permasalahan di peringkat nasional secara lestari dan holistik. Projek yang dicadangkan hendaklah sekurang-kurangnya pada tahap formulasi konsep; iaitu pelan atau reka bentuk penghasilan teknologi, proses atau produk baru yang berpotensi untuk dikomersialkan. Hasil projek adalah teknologi prototaip baharu, proses atau produk yang nilainya dapat dihasilkan untuk pelanggan, industri dan masyarakat	https://sdb.mosti.gov.my/sdbcms/en/	RM 1,000,000.00	open throughout the year
		TeD 2 – Dana Pembangunan Teknologi 2	Dana Pembangunan Teknologi 2 (TeD 2) terbuka kepada penyelidik dan syarikat yang berminat untuk melaksanakan projek penyelidikan dan pembangunan (R&D) bagi menghasilkan proses dan produk baharu dalam bidang yang telah dikenal pasti oleh Kerajaan. Projek R&D tersebut hendaklah berpotensi dalam menyelesaikan permasalahan di peringkat nasional secara lestari dan holistik. Projek yang dicadangkan perlu sekurang-kurangnya mempunyai pembuktian konsep (proof of concept, POC) atau prototaip yang telah berfungsi (working prototype). Projek juga mesti mempunyai reka bentuk yang baik, dibuktikan secara saintifik serta berdaya saing dengan teknologi dan penyelidikan masa kini. Pembiayaan dana bagi teknologi, proses, produk yang berinovatif di peringkat pra-pengkomersialan tersebut, diharap dapat diterjemahkan kepada output yang dapat dipasarkan seterusnya memacu ekonomi dan memberi faedah kepada masyarakat.	https://sdb.mosti.gov.my/sdbcms/en/	RM 3,000,000.00	open throughout the year
		BGF – DANA BRIDGING	Penyelidikan dan Pembangunan (R&D) dan inovasi memainkan peranan penting dalam memajukan Sains & Teknologi dalam ekonomi berasaskan pengetahuan dan inovasi. Pembangunan teknologi, penciptaan produk dan perkhidmatan baharu adalah penting bagi menjana kekayaan dan kesejahteraan masyarakat serta meningkatkan kelebihan daya saing R&D negara. Menyedari kepentingan R&D dan inovasi, Kerajaan telah memperkenalkan pembiayaan Dana Bridging (BGF) dalam Rancangan Malaysia ke-12 (RMKe-12) yang berperanan mengatasi jurang pembiayaan yang wujud di antara tahap penyelidikan asas dan pengkomersialan. Dana ini akan membolehkan hasil penyelidikan atau produk R&D yang telah siap untuk pasaran dapat melepasi pengesahan piawaian dan standard yang ditetapkan oleh badan regulatori tempatan atau antarabangsa. Selain itu, dana ini juga dapat membantu proses up-scaling dan advanced packaging produk yang akan memberi nilai tambah kepada hasil R&D tempatan bagi menembusi pasaran serantau dan antarabangsa.	https://sdb.mosti.gov.my/sdbcms/en/	RM 4,000,000.00	open throughout the year
		SRF – Dana Penyelidikan Strategik	Dana Penyelidikan Strategik MOSTI (SRF) adalah skim pembiayaan berbentuk geran bagi membiayai penyelidikan strategik dan inisiatif top- down berimpak tinggi kepada negara berdasarkan bidang keutamaan semasa yang telah dikenal pasti. Pelaksanaan Dana Penyelidikan Strategik MOSTI oleh Agensi Pelaksana dan Pemantau (SRF-APP) melalui pendekatan program bertujuan untuk meningkatkan impak skim SRF melalui penyelarasan dan pengurusan projek-projek yang lebih berkesan. Agensi Pelaksana dan Pemantau (APP) adalah agensi yang dilantik oleh MOSTI bagi menyelaras pelaksanaan SRF melalui program berimpak tinggi berdasarkan bidang keutamaan dan pengkhususan yang telah dikenal pasti. Senarai APP yang telah dilantik adalah seperti di berikut: i. Agensi Angkasa Malaysia (MySA) ii. Agensi Nuklear Malaysia (ANM) iii. National Institute of Biotechnology Malaysia (NIBM) iv. Nano Malaysia Berhad (NMB) v. MIMOS Berhad vi. Cradle Sdn. Bhd. vii. Akademi Sains Malaysia (ASM) viii. Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia (YIM) ix. Technology Park Malaysia x. MRANTI

Grant Category	Funder	Type of Grant	Brief Description	Link to Website	Ceiling	Expected Grant Call
NATIONAL (GOVERNMENT)	Akademi Sains Malaysia (ASM)	Dr Ranjeet Bhagwan Singh (RBS) Research Grant	The late Dr Ranjeet Bhagwan Singh was a prominent medical research scientist and had made many invaluable contributions to the field of medical and scientific research specifically in the development of diagnostic laboratories in Malaysia. His Medical Research Endowment Fund was primarily established to promote education of the poor and needy irrespective of race, colour and religion. The Ranjeet Bhagwan Singh Research Grant is an annual programme under the RBS Medical Research Trust Fund to be awarded to one (1) young Malaysian scientist to undertake medical/biomedical research.	https://www.mytopscientists.org/v3/info/RBS.aspx	RM 50,000.00	Q1 2024