Japan Ambassador Hails MJIIX2026 as Catalyst for Malaysia-Japan Innovation Partnership

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA (UTM) KUALA LUMPUR, 28 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

Japan’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Shikata Noriyuki, today called the Malaysia-Japan Industrial and Innovation Expo (MJIIX) 2026 a landmark event demonstrating deepening collaboration between Malaysian talent and Japanese firms, with over 100 innovations on display at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Kuala Lumpur.

The expo, organised by the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), marked a shift toward industry-driven research and practical applications, he said, with participation extending beyond Malaysia and Japan to Southeast Asia and other nations.

Shikata, speaking to Bernama after touring the event, praised the "strong interest among Japanese companies in working with Malaysian talent" and highlighted MJIIX’s role in bridging academia and industry. "What I’m finding is lots of collaboration between Malaysian talent and Japanese companies," he said.

"It’s very encouraging that there are so many innovations being exhibited." The ambassador noted that the expo reflected "increasingly close cooperation" among Japanese firms, UTM, and MJIIT, while positioning MJIIT as a "platform linking academic research with industry"—a function expanding beyond Malaysia to the broader ASEAN region.

The ambassador’s remarks underscored MJIIT 2.0, a new phase for the institute after 15 years of introducing Japanese-style engineering education in Malaysia. Under this framework, Shikata stressed a transition from "learning from Japan" to "creating together", with Malaysia and Japan as "equal partners" in generating knowledge and innovation. "I believe MJIIT is one of the most important institutions that can accelerate this transition," he said.

"And I believe MJIIX is one of the most places where we can put this idea into practice."

MJIIX 2026 featured hundreds of visitors, including students, researchers, industry representatives, and investors, and showcased technologies across multiple sectors. The event was structured as a collaborative platform for technical exchanges, research partnerships, and addressing real-world industrial challenges. Shikata emphasized that success would be measured by concrete outcomes, such as joint research projects, student-industry engagement, and applied solutions for societal needs.

"Universities provide research capabilities and young talent, while companies bring business challenges and the ability to transform ideas into practical solutions," he explained.

The expo’s focus on industry participation—through exhibitions, competitions, and dialogue—represented a deliberate shift from merely showcasing MJIIT’s achievements to directly connecting research with market demands. With Malaysia and Japan positioning themselves as co-creators of innovation, MJIIX 2026 sets the stage for deeper economic and technological integration, particularly as ASEAN seeks to strengthen its innovation ecosystem. The next phase will hinge on translating today’s collaborations into scalable, impactful projects under MJIIT 2.0.

Related: Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT) · Shikata Noriyuki · Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Kuala Lumpur