1. NEW INITIATIVES TO ENHANCE
RESEARCH & INNOVATION
COLLABORATIONS AT IIUM
Prof. Dr. Ahmad Faris Ismail
Deputy Rector (Research and Innovation)
International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)
Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

2. INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA (IIUM)
LOCATION:
– Main Campus: Kuala Lumpur (283 hectares)
– Centre for Foundation Studies Campus: Petaling Jaya &
Nilai
– Kuantan Campus: Bandar Indera Mahkota (404 hectares)
– International Institute of Islamic Thought & Civilization
(ISTAC) Campus: Kuala Lumpur (8 hectares)
– Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance (IiBF)
Campus: Kuala Lumpur

3. POPULATION
 STUDENTS:
• Undergraduate: 16,522 Students
(Malaysian: 14,108, Internationals: 2,414)
• Postgraduate: 4,509 Students
• International students come from over 90 countries
 STAFF:
 Academic Staff: 1,798 Lecturers
 Administrative Staff: 1,713 Staff
LANGUAGE
 Medium of instruction:
• ENGLISH
• ARABIC (for faculty of Laws & Islamic Revealed
Knowledge)
FACULTY
 No. of faculties: 15 (Some of them include; Laws, Economics &
Management Sciences, Engineering, Architecture, Medicine, Allied Health
Sciences, Dentistry and Pharmacy)
(As of Oct 2009)
(As of Jan 2010)

4. The Malaysian New Economic
Model: Goals and
characteristics

5. MALAYSIAN BUDGET 2010:
INTENSIFYING RESEARCH,
DEVELOPMENT AND
COMMERCIALISATIONCurrently, expenditure on R&D activities (in Malaysia) is at 0.6% of GDP, well below the United
States
at 3%, South Korea 3.5% and Taiwan 2.4%. To shift towards a high-income economy, we need
a strong foundation in research, development and commercialisation (R&D&C) activities.
Therefore, to strengthen R&D&C activities, the Government will undertake the following
measures:
First: Rationalising all research funds and grants to be more effective to achieve set targets;
Second: Establishing a National Innovation Centre supported by a network of innovation
excellence centres under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and in
collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education;
Third: Integrating R&D activities with patents, copyrights and trademarks registration to
ensure R&D&C processes are implemented more effectively. The cooperation between patent
and research agencies will expedite the commercialization of research findings; and
Fourth: Providing small and medium enterprises with tax deduction on expenses incurred in
the registration of patents and trademarks in the country.

6. MALAYSIAN BUDGET 2010:
LEVERAGING FULLY ON NICHE
AREAS
• Intensify efforts to fully leverage on the potential of sectors in which we have
the advantage, including the services sector. To date, the contribution of the
services sector to GDP is 58% and has the potential to be developed
further.
• Focus on niche areas with potential and move up the value chain as well as
generate higher returns.
• The areas include tourism, information technology and communication
(ICT), finance and Islamic banking, halal and green technology industries.

7. National Higher Education
Strategic Plan
The seven strategic thrusts of the National
Higher Education Strategic Plan are:
1. Widening Access and Enhancing Equity,
2. Improving the Quality of Teaching and
Learning,
3. Enhancing Research and Innovation,
4. Strengthening Institutions of Higher Education,
5. Intensifying Internationalization,
6. Enculturation of Lifelong Learning, and
7. Reinforcing the Higher Education Ministry’s
Delivery System

8. Widening Access and
Enhancing Equity
Targets:
• 50% 17-23 years old cohort enrolled in tertiary education
• 33% workforce with tertiary education
• Human Capital Development Fund for Higher Education
• Prestigious Scholarship and Special Scholarship

9. Improving the Quality of
Teaching and Learning
Targets:
• National policy on student training and staff attachment
with the industry
• Periodic curriculum review, interactive teaching, and use
of english language
• Employable graduates
• 100,000 PhD or equivalent

10. Enhancing Research and
Innovation
Targets:
• Critical mass of researchers (50 RSE per 10000 work
force)
• 6 research universities
• 20 internationally recognised centre of excellence
• Innovation culture among students
• 10% commercialization of research products

11. Strengthening Institutions of
Higher Education
Targets:
• One or two APEX Universities
• 3 public universities in Top 100 and one university in Top
50 in the world
• Autonomy according to KPIs
• 75% lecturers with PhD
• University rating according to KPIs

12. Intensifying
Internationalization
Targets:
• Networking with international universities
• Average of 10% international student enrolment
• 5% international student enrolment in competitive
programmes
• Average of 15% international faculty members in
research universities
• Student mobility and transfer of credits

13. Enculturation of Lifelong
Learning
Targets:
• Recognition of life long learning in the MQF
• Recognition of past learning and experiences
• Increase in adult/matured students
• Alternative paths of education and programme mobility

14. Reinforcing the Higher Education
Ministry’s Delivery System
Targets:
• MOHE as a facilitator
• Effective implementation and monitoring
• Performance based KPIs
• Prudent Spending
• Selection of Public HEIs top management based on
merit

15. NEW INITIATIVES TO ENHANCE
RESEARCH & INNOVATION
COLLABORATIONS AT IIUM

16. Business
Innovation
IIUM 2015 Strategic Direction: Towards becoming a Research-Intensified University
S1.
Produce well-
rounded
personalities
and
employable
graduates
Customer
Stakeholder
Financial
Learning
&Growth
InternalProcess
Research & Academic
Excellence
C1.
Achieve status as a
leading international
academic & research
institution imbued
with Islamic values
L1.
Strengthen staff
development and
competency
F1.
Achieve
budgetary
sufficiency
and efficiency
P1.
Strengthen
quality
integrated
curriculum
P8.
Increase income
contribution from
SBUs/RMC/IHSB
S2.
Become centre of
reference in niche
areas of research
P6.
Secure bigger
research grant
P5.
Have a significant
pool of distinguished
scholars
P2.
Intensify quality research
output and publication
P4.
Increase academic staff who
are engaged in high impact
research
L2.
Ensure quality of
research facilities
through key compliance
P3.
Strengthen
postgraduate
studies
P7.
Enhance quality service
L3.
Improve library
facilities to support
research
L4.
Enhance morality
within the university
community
IIUM Strategy Map 2007-2015IIUM Strategy Map 2007-2015

17. NEW STRUCTURE OF RESEARCH OFFICES
AT IIUM

18. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF MUSLIM
WORLD
ISLAMIC KNOWLEDGE & PRODUCTS
FUNCTIONS
 To develop and enhance research culture
 To encourage research activities to the academic staff
 To ensure the incoming of funding for the interdisciplinary research
 To ensure the sustainability of the research activities of the University
 To promote the University’s expertise to the external bodies

19. INNOVATION & COMMERCIALIZATION
OFFICE
FUNCTIONS
 To establish linkages and solicit contracts for consultancy, sponsored
projects & collaborative funding
 To manage Intellectual Property Rights of researchers
 To promote innovation and commercialization arrangements
 To encourage commercially viable research projects
 To act as secretariat for the Research Exhibitions

20. INTERNATIONAL FUNDING OFFICE
FUNCTIONS
 To secure international grants for the University
 To assist academic staff to apply for international grant
 To build strong network with international bodies in obtaining grants

21. IIUM PRESS
FUNCTIONS
 To encourage faculty members to produce scholarly works
 To publish scholarly works (English, Arabic and Bahasa Malaysia)
 To promote IIUM Publications
 To participate in books exhibitions

22. RESEARCH MANAGEMENT OFFICE
FUNCTIONS
 To administer and coordinate research activities
 To disseminate research findings to relevant parties
 To organize seminars on the presentation of research findings
 To manage the Research databases
 To provide specialized training for the researchers

23. Research Clusters

24. 24
LIST OF APPROVED RESEARCH CLUSTER (2004-
2008)

25. 25
LIST OF APPROVED RESEARCH CLUSTER 2009

26. Engineering Research Groups
1. Biomolecular Engineering Research Unit
2. Intelligent Mechatronics System Research Unit
3. Bioprocess Engineering Research Group
4. MEMS / NEMS Research Group
5. Experimental and Computational Thermo-Fluid Mechanics Research
Group
6. Autonomous Agent Research Group
7. Wireless Communication and Signal Processing Research Group
8. VLSI and System Design Research Group
9. Computer Networking Research Group
10.Structural Mechanics & Dynamics Research Group
11.Advanced Materials and Surface (AMSE) Engineering Research Group.
12.Precision Manufacturing Engineering Research Unit
13.Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Research Group
14.Bioenvironmental Engineering Research Unit (BERU)
15.Information Assurance Research Group (IARG)
16.Software Engineering Research Group
17.Biomedical Engineering Research Group (BME)

27. Research/Innovation Funding
• FRGS – Fundamental Research Grant
Scheme
• Science Fund
• TechnoFund
• Specific Funds – Biotech, ICT

28. RMGS Projects
Addition of Essential Heavy Metal to Bioactive Components of Aqucous Carica Papaya L.
Extract for Improved Wound Healing
Sultan Qaboos University, Oman & University of Queensland
University, Australia
Intelligent Autonomous Small Helicopter for Disaster Monitoring Konkuk University, Seoul Korea
Real-Time Sign Language Analysis, Recognition and Synthesis Based on Image Processing
and Multimedia
Messy University, New Zealand
Access Audit In Religious Buildings and Public Spaces in Syria Damascus University, Syria
Studies on Carotenoids From Local Sources for Food and Nutraceutical Applications
Hokkaido University, Japan
Prediction of Failure Mechanism of Polylactic Acid-Kenaf Fibre Biocomposites Using
Acoustic Emission Parameters
Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary
Management Commitment to Service Quality: A comparative Case in Conventional
Banking in New Zealand and Islamic Banking in Malaysia
Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
Global Metabolite Analysis of Cho Cells Cultured in T-Flasks and Bioreactor using Gas
Chromatography Mass Spectrometry
University College Dublin, Ireland
Development of Inorganic Membrane for Microbattery Applications
Centre for Technology of Process Industry, Agency for the
Assessment and Application of Technology, Jakarta
An Investigative Analysis of the use of Road Topography Data to Enhance Truck
Performance along Roadways
Virginia Polytechnic & State University Blacksburg, USA
Genetic, bio-chemical and behavioral determinants of neurodegenerative diseases-a
multicentre study
Aleppo University, Syria
Zakat Collection, Disbursement and Expenditure: Case Studies of Federal Territory of Kuala
Lumpur (FDKL), States of Selangor and Kelantan in Malaysia
King Abdul Aziz University
Distribution of Heavy Metals and their Pollution Effects on Fishes, Green Mussels and
Sediments of Coastal Water Pahang, Langkawi Malaysia and Gulf of Oman
Sultan Qaboos University, Oman

29. Malaysia ranked 30th in global paten
Malaysia: Patent Filed : 218 (+6.0% change)

30. IIUM Patents Filed in 2009Method for Preparing Sherical Shaped Polous Ceramic microcarrier using Sago As Porgens
Method and Apparatus for Recognizing Arabic Handwritten Characters
Electromagnetic Actuated CVT System for Vehicles
A Novel Method for Producing Porous Ceramic Bodies
Synthesis of Carbon Nanofibers (CNFs) on Powdered Activated Carbon
Synthesis of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) on Powdered Activated Carbon for Water Treatment
A Dementia Brain Solution
Unique Class (Quranic Al-Muqataat) Encryption Cryptograph)
Development of Ceramic Membrane Chromatography for Biologics Purification
Microstrip Patch Antenne with Unsymmetrical Feedline
Method for formulating a Culture Medium to Provide Maximum Number of Viable Cell Concentration
A Multipurpose Bag
An Improved Folding Mechanism Used As A Reading Material Support
An Improved Wheel Chair
Surface Active Extracts From Clove for Preparation of Vegetable Oil Emulsions
Method for Preparing Sherical Shaped Polous Ceramic microcarrier using Sago As Porgens
Secure Encrypted Envelop
An Intelligent Shoe guard or Alarm or the Like System
Hexapod Robot
Method for determining amount of electric current to a fowl prior to slaughter
Method for producing recombinant bromelain
Vegetable Oil Emulsion Drug Delivery System and Method for Making Thereof
An Acrylic Die For Hipbone Joint Casting
Method for Producing Citric Acid from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches using Aspergillus Niger
A Novel Process development to produce bioactive Compounds From Palm Oil Mill Effluent by Using Liquid-State
Fermentation and A Novel Strain
A Process for Producing Glucoamylase from NonFood Starch
A Process for Producing Carbon Nanotubes (CNTS)
A Process for Removing Protein from Skim Latex
Sonication Technique for Improvements of Recovery Process of High Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) Titer
Bioactive Dence Hydroxyapatite for Load Bearing Bone Implant Applications and Effect of Manganesse Doping on
Mechanical Improvement
New Glass Ionomer Cement With Boron

31. IIUM Patents Filed in 2010
Novel MEMS Biosensor with Integrated Impedance and Mass-Sensing
Capabilities
A Method of Producing Nanofluids Comprising Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs)
A Method of Producing Cross-Linked Nanocomposite
Method for Isolating Virus
Method for Virus Propagation in A Bioreactor
Palm Oil Sludge - A Novel Source for Biosurfactant Production by Using A New
Strain
Production of NP-AIV Using Different Process Control
System and Method for Locating Subjects in an Indoor Environment With Speech
Recognition
Transesterification Process from Producing Methyl Ester From Crude Palm Oil
A Thermoelectrically-Controlled MEMA- Based Nozzle

32. IIUM Research and
Innovation: The Way Forward
• Research University
• World Renowned Research Institutes or
Research Centres
• Attract High Quality Researchers and
Postgraduate Students
• Generating Income through
Commercialization of Research Products

33. Conclusions
IIUM has decided to focus on two main research niche
areas, namely the Islamic Products and Knowledge as
well as the Sustainable Development in the Muslim
World.
Various research clusters formed at IIUM are aligned in
these new directions. The Research and Innovation
Office has recently been restructured to include new
offices that look after the niche areas as well as the
international funding, IIUM press, and the innovation and
commercialization.
In addition, the Research Matching Grant Scheme
(RMGS) is enhanced further to promote international
research collaborations.