Kuala Lumpur, 25 October 2025: ERIA and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen collaboration in evidence-based research, policy design, and capacity-building initiatives across ASEAN and East Asia.

The signing ceremony was held in Kuala Lumpur and attended by H.E. Tetsuya Watanabe, President of ERIA, and Prof. Dr Sufian Jusoh, Vice-Chancellor of UKM. The event took place one day before the AZEC Leaders Meeting on 26 October 2025, underscoring the growing momentum for regional collaboration towards achieving the Asia Zero Emission Community vision.

The MoU reflects both institutions’ shared commitment to advancing innovative and sustainable policy research that contributes to inclusive growth and regional cooperation. The collaboration builds on Malaysia’s leadership in regional energy and sustainability dialogue, reaffirmed at the 3rd Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Ministerial Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur on 17 October 2025. During that meeting, ministers underscored the importance of knowledge sharing, capacity building, and joint research to accelerate sustainable and inclusive growth across the region.

Under the MoU, ERIA and UKM – through the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies (IKMAS) – will collaborate across several areas, including regional economic integration, trade and investment, the energy transition, sustainability, and the digital economy. Both parties will also pursue practical initiatives such as joint research projects, professional training and certification programmes, academic exchanges, and joint publications. In addition, ERIA and UKM will co-host conferences, seminars, and workshops to share best practices and connect research findings with regional policy discussions.

Through these initiatives, the MoU establishes a long-term framework for translating academic knowledge into actionable policy insights and strengthening the interface between research and policymaking in areas critical to the region’s future – from decarbonisation and innovation to regional connectivity and human capital development.

This partnership marks a concrete step towards deepening institutional collaboration and fostering synergies between academic and policy communities. It lays the groundwork for joint initiatives that will advance the region’s sustainable and inclusive development in the years ahead.