Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) joined forces with the Malaysian Research Management Association (MyRMA) on 21 June 2025 to present a full‑day forum, Navigating and Managing Global and National Funding Opportunities. 

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Held on APU’s campus, the event convened grant specialists from leading organisations worldwide, offering academics and research managers a rare, panoramic view of the funding landscape. 

Opening the proceedings, Professor Dr Angelina Yee Seow Voon, APU’s Director of Research Management, extended a warm welcome to the 200‑strong audience, while Dr Tan Hsiao Wei, Vice‑President of MyRMA, underlined the association’s mission: “A vibrant research ecosystem is the bedrock of national competitiveness, and partnerships such as ours with APU are crucial to nurturing it.” 

Keynote: Innovating Tomorrow 

The keynote address was delivered by Professor Ts Dr Murali Raman, APU’s Deputy Vice‑Chancellor (Academic Development and Strategy). In Innovating Tomorrow: Pioneering Research at APU, he mapped out the university’s research trajectory and urged delegates to “align vision with opportunity—because innovation thrives where preparedness meets possibility”. 

Global Perspectives on Funding 

A swift succession of expert briefings broadened horizons further. Ms Prabha Sundram, Head of Education at the British Council, detailed fresh avenues for UK–Malaysia collaboration, while Ms Sophie Horgan of the Australian High Commission showcased bilateral mechanisms designed to accelerate joint discovery. 

Industry and National Priorities 

Attention then turned to local imperatives. Mr Jaffri Ibrahim, Chief Executive Officer of Collaborative Research in Engineering, Science & Technology (CREST), championed industry‑academia synergies, stressing that “co‑creation delivers faster, better solutions than any siloed approach”. 

Ms Shirley Kuan Chien Hui from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) set out priority areas for national digital‑research investment, and Professor Dr Mohammad Falahat Nejadmahani, Director of the Strategic Research Institute at APU, offered an insider’s guide to winning the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS). 

Hands‑On Horizon Europe Workshop 

After lunch, Dr Tatas H. P. Brotosudarmo, EURAXESS Worldwide Representative for ASEAN, led an intensive two‑hour workshop decoding the 2025 Horizon Europe calls. Participants learnt how to craft competitive EU proposals, assemble multinational consortia and avoid common compliance pitfalls. 

Vision for the Future 

Bringing the programme to a close, Organising Chair Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Ehsan Rana of the School of Computing (SoC), APU, reflected on the day’s achievements. 

“Today marks a pivotal step in empowering our research community. The collaborations forged and the knowledge shared—particularly during the workshop—are invaluable,” he observed. 

He added with conviction: “The insights gained from our esteemed national and international partners will catalyse a new wave of high‑impact proposals, propelling Malaysia onto the global stage.” 

As delegates departed, clutching fresh contacts and sharper strategies, it was clear that the APU–MyRMA partnership had delivered more than information—it had instilled confidence. 

Equipped with practical guidance and renewed motivation, Malaysia’s researchers are now better placed than ever to navigate the complex funding terrain and transform visionary ideas into world‑class breakthroughs.