Kota bharu: Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) today signed two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to strengthen the integrated, strategic and high-impact development of the country’s rare earth elements (REE) industry. Its vice-chancellor Prof Dr Arham Abdullah announced that the first MoU involves a Triple Helix synergy-based collaboration between UMK, the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT), and Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, REE is now recognised as one of Malaysia’s five strategic minerals and plays a key role in modern technologies, including renewable energy, electronics, defence and healthcare. In Malaysia, particularly in Kelantan, there are significant deposits of non-radioactive rare earth elements (NR-REE). However, geological features such as ion-adsorption clay make the extraction process more challenging and require a sustainable, innovative and environmentally friendly approach.

The collaboration underlines that the development of the REE industry cannot be done in isolation. Its success depends on strong synergy among research institutions, government agencies, and industry players to ensure the technologies developed are sustainable, relevant, and scalable at the national level. Prof Dr Arham added that UMK also has a group of young, proactive and competent researchers capable of developing REE solutions across the value chain, which further enhances the value of the signed MoUs.

Prof Dr Arham further commented that the second MoU involves bilateral cooperation between UMK and Upstream Downstream Process and Services Sdn Bhd, focusing on technology transfer and direct industry testing. As an entrepreneurial university, UMK strives to balance academic research needs with industrial application. This collaboration reflects UMK’s commitment to driving the development of the local REE ecosystem in Kelantan.