Speech by the Director
Institute
of Visual Informatics, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Chulin
Kvass Brand Launch, Agency Briefing & Signing Ceremony
29
September 2026
v Distinguished representatives of
Harbin University of Commerce,
Distinguished representatives of Harbin Chulin Beverage Technology Co., Ltd.,
colleagues from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia,
our academic and industry partners,
distinguished guests,
ladies and gentlemen,
Good
morning and a very warm welcome to all of you.
It is my great pleasure and honour, on behalf of
the Institute of Visual Informatics, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, to
welcome our distinguished guests from China and Malaysia to this special
occasion.
Today is
a meaningful day for all of us.
We are here to celebrate the introduction of Chulin
Kvass, to explore opportunities for cooperation, and most importantly, the
signing of a Letter of Intent for Cooperation between Universiti
Kebangsaan Malaysia through the Institute of Visual Informatics, Harbin
University of Commerce, and Harbin Chulin Beverage Technology Co., Ltd.
For me,
today's event represents much more than a signing ceremony.
It
represents a meeting of heritage, knowledge, technology and entrepreneurship.
It
represents a bridge between Malaysia and China.
And it
represents our shared aspiration to transform cooperation into meaningful
outcomes for research, industry and society.
The
future of industry is changing rapidly.
Technology
is transforming the way products are developed, manufactured, distributed and
marketed.
Artificial intelligence, data analytics,
digitalisation, smart manufacturing and intelligent supply chains are
increasingly becoming important components of modern industry.
Therefore,
the challenge before us is not simply how to preserve traditional products and
traditional knowledge.
The
challenge is how we can combine tradition with innovation.
The Role of the University
At the Institute of Visual Informatics, we believe
strongly in the importance of university–industry collaboration.
Universities have knowledge, researchers, students,
laboratories and intellectual capabilities.
Industry has practical experience, production
capabilities, market knowledge and real-world challenges.
When these two worlds come together, research
becomes more relevant, and industrial challenges can become opportunities for
innovation.
This is why I am particularly pleased with the
areas of cooperation identified in our Letter
of Intent.
From Research to Application
Our cooperation also provides opportunities for
joint research in areas such as smart food, food technology and functional halal
beverages.
This is an important direction because the food and
beverage sector sits at the intersection of science, technology, health,
manufacturing, consumer behaviour and international trade.
There are
many questions that can be explored through collaboration.
How can
smart technologies improve production processes?
How can
digital systems support quality control?
How can
data help us better understand consumer preferences?
How can
research support product development and innovation?
And how
can Malaysian and Chinese researchers jointly develop solutions that are
relevant not only to our two countries, but also to the wider ASEAN market?
These are
practical questions.
And practical questions require
practical partnerships.
Developing People
However, ladies and gentlemen, I believe that the
most important outcome of today's cooperation will not necessarily be a
product, a technology or even a research paper.
It will
be people.
People
are at the centre of innovation.
Therefore, I hope this partnership will create
opportunities for our researchers, academic staff and students to work
together.
We can
organise seminars, academic exchanges and industry forums.
We can
develop joint research projects.
We can
explore international research funding.
We can
provide students with opportunities to gain international experience.
And we
can expose young researchers to real industrial challenges.
Through these activities, we can develop a new
generation of graduates and researchers who understand both technology and
industry, research and application, Malaysia and China.
That, in
my view, is one of the most valuable investments that we can make together.
Today's Letter of Intent
The
Letter of Intent that we will sign today provides a foundation for this
journey.
It establishes our shared intention to cooperate in
research, technology, industry, market development, academic exchange and
resource sharing.
But I
would like to emphasise one important point:
The
signing today is not the destination. It is the beginning.
The true
success of this cooperation will be measured by what happens after today's
ceremony.
We are
using a product and its heritage as an opportunity to build a bridge between people,
institutions and countries.
A bridge
between Harbin and Malaysia.
A bridge
between academia and industry.
A bridge
between traditional knowledge and modern technology.
And a
bridge between research and real-world application.
Closing
Distinguished
guests,
On behalf of the Institute of Visual Informatics,
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, I would like to express our sincere
appreciation to Harbin University of Commerce and Harbin Chulin
Beverage Technology Co., Ltd. for your confidence, friendship and
commitment to this collaboration.
We look
forward to working closely with you in the years ahead.
Let us build a partnership based on knowledge,
trust, innovation and mutual benefit.
Today, we have an opportunity to help shape the
next chapter — one that combines heritage with innovation, research with
industry, and Malaysia with China.
So, as we
celebrate this occasion today, let us remember:
A century of heritage has brought us here.
Innovation will take us forward.
And cooperation will take us there together.
Thank you
very much.
