Professor Alice Gast joins Malaysia's PM to discuss the nation's future growth

Malaysia's Prime Minister speaks at the GSIAC conference. Credit: GSIAC

Imperial's President joined Malaysia's Prime Minister as he set out the country's aspirations for global competitiveness this week.

Speaking ahead of the the annual Global Science and Innovation Advisory Council (GSIAC) meeting – held in London for the first time - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said that his country is nearing its goal of achieving developed nation status by 2020.

“Our achievements have been based on three solid, inter-related principles: innovation, sustainability and inclusivity”, he said.

Professor Gast met fellow GSIAC members at Imperial ahead of the PM's speech

Malaysia needs to harness the “transformative power of science and technology” and “the dynamism of entrepreneurs, innovation and creativity” to compete with the best regionally and globally, he added.

The Global Science and Innovation Advisory Council (GSIAC) was set up to boost Malaysia’s efforts in science and innovation. Chaired by the Prime Minister, it includes global industry leaders, key Malaysian government figures, and academics – including Professor Gast.

Aspirations

Introducing the Prime Minister at the GSIAC meeting, Professor Gast said: “Malaysia is very special to all of us. I have had the good fortune to work with Malaysian partners for many years, both here and in the US. I have seen Malaysia’s high aspirations and its progress toward those lofty goals.”

Earlier in the day, a delegation of GSIAC members – including the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation and the Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment - visited Imperial to hear about some of the College’s many Malaysian collaborations.

The SAFE site, Malaysia

These include the Stability of Altered Forest Ecosystems (SAFE) project – a ten-year research project based in the rainforest of Sabah, Malaysia, led by Dr Rob Ewers in the Department of Life Sciences.

One of the world’s largest ecological experiments, it is providing insights into how forest ecosystems are affected by logging, and deforestation.

“At Imperial, we are working with Malaysian partners to translate research advances into economic benefit and to train the research leaders of the future”, Professor Gast said.

“Imperial’s work with Malaysian partners broadens our impact.  Together we deliver excellence in research and education and we support Malaysia’s aspirations to be an innovative, sustainable and competitive nation.”