On 10 February 2026, the School of Research welcomed representatives from the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) and UNSW Sydney for a strategic visit aimed at strengthening research ties and exploring potential collaborations.


Discussion between SDEC, UNSW, and SUTS researchers.

The delegation included Dr. Khairul Hafiz Sharkawi, Head of Research and Product Development at SDEC, Ms. Antionette Goh, Manager of Research and Development at SDEC, and Associate Professor Felix Ter Chian Tan, Associate Dean (International) as well as Founder and Co-Director from UNSW Sydney.

The discussions focused on advancing internationalisation strategy, digital economy collaboration, and industry-embedded research translation. Both parties explored opportunities in business information systems, AI-enabled transformation, and cross-border research partnerships that align institutional capability with Sarawak’s digital development priorities.

Importantly, both parties also exchanged perspectives on models for innovation hubs — including university-industry co-location frameworks, translational research accelerators, digital sandbox environments, and sector-focused capability clusters. These models provide structured pathways to move from research outputs to scalable industry solutions, while strengthening talent pipelines and postgraduate research training. The conversation reinforced the importance of structured global partnerships — anchored in research excellence, industry relevance, and measurable impact.

The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), a public research university based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, was established in 1949. It is globally recognised for its research excellence and strong industry engagement, particularly in digital and information systems disciplines.

The visit marked an important step towards building meaningful partnerships that bridge academia, industry, and digital innovation ecosystems.


Group photo with SDEC, USNW, and SUTS researchers.