Multimedia University (MMU) and Shell Malaysia sealed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MoU) to embark on collaboration towards developing talent in energy efficiency using technological and innovative solutions, recently. The agreement was inked on the second day of Shell Eco Marathon Asia (SEMA) 2019 which took place at Sepang International Circuit, Kuala Lumpur.

The MoU documents exchanged between MMU and Shell Malaysia was witnessed by Dr. Zaid Omar, Director of Student Development, Department of Higher Learning, Ministry of Education; Datuk Iain Lo, Chairman of Shell Malaysia; Mr. Shairan Huzani Husain, Managing Director of Shell Timur Sdn. Bhd., and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tio Kek Kiong, Deputy Dean Research & Innovation, Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FET).

The MoU is another international recognition to MMU following the big success of MMU through its MMU Grüne Welt, a team formed by Mechanical and Electronics Engineering undergraduate students from FET and led by Dr. Lim Boon Kian and Dr. Liew Kia Wai when it has won its first victory against over a hundred teams in the new off-track award – Circular Economy Award. The team received the prize money of USD 3000 and a trophy on-stage in recognition of their prototype vehicle which incorporates the design for environment assessment method and integrates the concept of circular economy in design, materials and functionality of the vehicle.

The team had spent enormous efforts and time in developing an innovative and sustainable prototype vehicle with battery-electric as the source of energy. As tradition, MMU Grüne Welt was the first Malaysian team who passed the stringent technical and safety inspection. The team has been awarded with prize money of USD 500 for achieving the best result of 278 km/kWh, which ranked 1st in Malaysia and 6th in Asia among the 23 teams of the battery-electric prototype category. This result has served as the record-breaking mileage achievement for MMU Grüne Welt comparing its performance in previous competition years.

This year, over 100 teams from 18 countries across Asia-Pacific and Middle East participated in SEMA. MMU Grüne Welt has been participating in SEMA since the year 2011. There are definitely more SEMA achievements to unlock in the coming years. MMU Grüne Welt would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the sponsorship from MMU, Infineon Technologies (M) Sdn. Bhd., iRadar Sdn. Bhd., Teknik Metro Sdn. Bhd., CEMA Ceramic Bearing Malaysia. Without continuous financial support from the sponsors, MMU Grüne Welt would never have made it this far.