Kuala lumpur: The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing (FMM) has signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with four universities to encourage local manufacturers to transition from original equipment manufacturers (OEM) to original brand manufacturers (OBM). FMM president Jacob Lee Chor Kok emphasized the importance of Malaysian manufacturers advancing in the value chain by adopting smart manufacturing and advanced engineering capabilities.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, MoUs were signed with UCSI University, Monash University Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, and Sunway University as part of efforts to strengthen academic-industry collaboration. This strategic move aims to enable competition through technology and innovation, moving away from reliance on low-priced products. The signing ceremony was attended by Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong.

Lee highlighted that FMM had previously established MoUs with six other universities. With the addition of these four institutions, the academia-industry partnership is expected to bolster Malaysia's research, development, and innovation ecosystem. He also mentioned the potential for further collaboration with universities to integrate industry needs into academic curricula.

Furthermore, FMM aims to engage university students, lecturers, and professors with industries to ensure that the education system becomes more aligned with industry demands.