{
  "id": 11582147,
  "title": "Malaysia is building a new research corridor across Asia to meet China’s rise: scientists",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/malaysia-is-building-a-new-research-corridor-across-asia-to-meet-11582147",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-03T02:00:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3369619/malaysia-building-new-research-corridor-across-asia-meet-chinas-rise-scientists"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Malaysia is constructing a new research corridor across Asia to keep pace with China's growing influence in scientific research, according to scientists. Chemical engineer Ahmad Zuhairi Abdullah, who joined Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) 22 years ago, noted that Western institutions once dominated the field. However, China now plays a larger role, with more Chinese scientists and students visiting USM for research and collaboration. Zuhairi highlighted China's expertise in materials science, noting the high volume of publications and contributions to scientific journals. As China opens its doors to collaborations, Malaysia is diversifying its research networks to partner with Chinese counterparts in critical domains like semiconductors and sustainable energy materials. The Joint Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering, inaugurated in January, demonstrates this collaboration, with researchers from USM and Huaqiao University in China's Fujian province working to convert agricultural waste into useful products and sustainable energy materials. Malaysia's palm oil sector provides a rich source of biomass, including lignin, which can be transformed into valuable chemicals through the development of specialized catalysts. Advanced semiconductor research is also driving partnerships between USM's Institute of Nano Optoelectronics Research and Technology and Chinese institutions like Chongqing University and Fudan University. The Malaysia-China corridor aims to move beyond back-end chip assembly towards integrated circuit design, high-end manufacturing, and niche equipment. Despite growing trade friction between Washington and Beijing, scientists in both countries emphasize maintaining open collaborations.",
  "summary": "When chemical engineer Ahmad Zuhairi Abdullah joined Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) 22 years ago, Western institutions dominated the field, from global research infrastructure and high-impact publications to the greatest breakthroughs. Two decades later, the centre of gravity has moved eastward, says Zuhairi, now a professor with the USM school of chemical engineering in Penang. “[Not much was…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Reuters Business via SCMP",
        "title": "Malaysia is building a new research corridor across Asia to meet China’s rise: scientists",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/malaysia-is-building-a-new-research-corridor-across-asia-to-meet",
        "published": "2026-10-03T02:00:13.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}