Dr Wong Soon Kai Chair embraces all ideas, igniting innovation in healthcare, says deputy VC

SIBU: The Datuk Patinggi Dr Wong Soon Kai Chair welcomes all ideas, regardless of their perceived size, says University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) deputy vice-chancellor Prof Dr Mohammad Shahril Osman.

According to him, any idea, no matter how small, has the potential to spark significant innovations that could shape the future of healthcare.

“The establishment of this research chair is not merely a financial investment but a strategic initiative to propel research and development within UTS.

“It represents an exciting opportunity for collaboration and innovation, echoing our shared vision of bridging the gap between private and public research institutions,” he said.

He said this in his speech at the Medical Innovation Seminar featuring 10 experts as its speakers organised by UTS’s School of Engineering and Technology (UTS SET) in collaboration with Twin Catalyst Sdn Bhd at the UTS’s campus here yesterday (Jan 13).

The seminar was officiated by Deputy Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister cum chairman of the university’s Board of Governors Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee.

Mohammad Shahril said the chair is a platform open to all visionaries, including researchers, innovators, healthcare professionals, inventors, and engineers.

“One of the key pillars of our vision is to foster a dynamic ecosystem that bridges the gap between private and public research institutions.

“We envision a seamless collaboration where research developed in our universities can be seamlessly tested by hospitals and commercialised by the private sector,” he said.

He added that the synergy between academia, healthcare providers, and the private industry is crucial for transformative advancements in medical technology.

“As we move forward, I want to emphasise that no idea is too insignificant to start. We encourage researchers, innovators, healthcare professionals, inventors, engineers, and anyone with a dream to approach any of our engineering faculty academic staff.

“Our doors are wide open to exploration and discovery. This grant (through Datuk Patinggi Dr Wong Soon Kai Chair) provides a platform for turning dreams into reality and ideas into impactful innovations,” he said.

In its commitment to advancing medical research, the state government has allocated RM2 million to funding Datuk Patinggi Dr Wong Soon Kai Chair which aims to to allow research to be done, especially pertaining to medicine and technology.