Curtin Malaysia and QBeep Intelligent Systems to partner in advancing digital technology, academia and student development

Miri – 3 October 2022 – Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) and QBeep Intelligent Systems Sdn. Bhd. signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recently to facilitate collaboration in digital technology research, knowledge transfer, student development and course development.

The focus of their joint research will be Diabetic Retinopathy Detection and Grading for Eye Diabetes and Fall Detection Technology by researchers from Curtin Malaysia’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) led by Dr. Wong Wei Kitt, and their counterparts at QBeep Intelligent Systems led by Chief Technology Officer Dr. Brendan Khoo Teng Thiam.

Representing QBeep Intelligent Systems in the virtual signing ceremony were Dr. Khoo and Chief Executive Officer Francis Chung Chee Ngam.

Curtin Malaysia was represented by Pro Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive Professor Simon Leunig, Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Vincent Lee Chieng Chen, Dean of Faculty of Engineering and Science Professor Tuong-Thuy Vu, Dean of Research and Development Professor Ramasamy Nagarajan, Dr. Wong and Associate Dean of External Engagement at the Faculty of Engineering and Science Ir. Dr. Lim Chye Ing.

In his speech during the ceremony, Professor Leunig expressed confidence that the collaboration with QBeep Intelligent Systems would be the catalyst for an exceptionally strong partnership between the two organisations.

He said that it has been very apparent that QBeep Intelligent Systems’ industry experience in providing high-end IoT solutions to a wide range of clients and Curtin Malaysia’s strengths in related research, as well as in academia could be leveraged for their mutual benefit and the wider communities in which they operate.

“As Curtin University’s largest global campus and hub in Southeast Asia, majority owned by the Sarawak Government, and coupled with our broad expertise and modern and well-developed research and teaching facilities, we are well placed to be a strong partner in these collaborations,” said Prof. Leunig.

He added that Curtin Malaysia’s research endeavours are underpinned by its strong partnerships with industry, business and government that allow it to find new avenues of innovation to provide mutually beneficial outcomes for society. Therefore, Curtin Malaysia truly values its partnership with QBeep Intelligent Systems.

In addition to joint research, the two organisations will collaborate to create industrial-relevant learning experiences for Curtin Malaysia’s engineering students through industry talks, site visits, field projects, and technical workshops, as well as provide internship, industry immersion or Work Integrated Learning (WIL), and full-time employment opportunities.

The collaboration will also involve the appointment of QBeep Intelligent Systems representatives to the Faculty of Engineering and Science’s Industrial Advisory Panel, and the supervision of ECE students’ capstone unit projects, career guidance and mentoring sessions and speaking engagements for students by QBeep Intelligent Systems staff.

Meanwhile, Dr. Khoo said QBeep Intelligent Systems was thrilled to collaborate with Curtin Malaysia and the technical collaboration will strongly contribute to increasing both parties’ skillsets and know-how.

“This MoU comes at an important juncture in our relationship, further advancing our partnership and mutual support. Through this MoU, we will reaffirm our relationship with  modalities, cooperation and different types of activities including collaborating to build industry-relevant learning experiences for students and joint research and development activities,” he said.

“Furthermore, we will work together to maximise our respective strengths and competitive advantages, and compliment each other’s strategic goals.”

QBeep Intelligent Systems Sdn Bhd specialises in providing high-end IoT solutions, specifically IIOT (Industrial Internet of Things), enabling its clients to connect their enterprise operations with IoT technology through secure and reliable platforms. This includes designing IoT backend architecture to equip companies to be IoT-ready, developing and customising IoT solutions based on customers’ needs, connecting legacy equipment and machinery with IoT-based software solutions, analysing data from sensors and machines from the Cloud via IoT connectivity and providing contextual information to stakeholders.

Curtin Malaysia is Curtin University’s earliest and largest global campus and hub in ASEAN, established as the first foreign branch campus in East Malaysia in 1999. It is majority-owned by the Sarawak Government and managed and operated in partnership with Curtin University. Curtin Malaysia offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses identical to those offered at its parent campus in Perth. It also offers courses at pre-university level that feed directly into its undergraduate programmes, as well as professional training and short courses. It currently has about 4,000 students from over 50 countries and teaching staff from 15 countries further strengthen its international outlook.

Prof Simon Leunig (left) and Prof Vincent Lee with signed copies of the MoU

Dr Brendan Khoo (right) and Francis Chung with their copies of the MoU