KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has taken a proactive step to further strengthen its geological knowledge.
UMS vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Taufiq Yap Yun Hin said UMS had received five academic software licences (PaleoScan) along with technical support and application training worth RM3 million from a France-based company, Eliis Sdn Bhd.
"The UMS-Eliis collaboration is a proactive step in adding value and strengthening knowledge of geology, petroleum exploration, and subsurface modelling that will provide mutual benefits, especially to undergraduate and postgraduate students.
"Through its expertise in data processing and computer engineering, the France-based company has successfully produced a new generation of software known as PaleoScan which is now used by oil and gas-based multinational companies.
"In line with the development of revolutionary industrial technology 4.0 (IR4.0), PaleoScan owned by Eliis has a good capacity to be an intermediary in combining artificial intelligence (AI) with human intelligence.
"On behalf of the university management, I am very proud and grateful to Eliis for its willingness to make UMS a strategic partner in technology sharing and research cooperation," said Taufiq.
His speech was delivered by UMS deputy vice-chancellor (Student and Alumni Affairs) Associate Professor Dr Raman Noordin at UMS Bankuasi Chancellor Hall today.
The licence was presented by the vice president of Eliis Southeast Asia Region (SEA), Jusmila Baharom to the Dean of the Faculty of Science and Natural Resources (FSSA) UMS, Professor Dr Jualang @ Azlan Gansau.
At the ceremony, Raman also witnessed the signing of the Letter of Intent (LoI) between UMS and Eliis which were represented by Jualang and Jusmila respectively.
Taufiq added that PaleoScan would indirectly benefit the teaching and learning (PdP) of courses in the Geology Programme including Petroleum Geology, Geophysics, Formation Assessment, Structural Geology and Regional Geology.
"It will also benefit the lecturers' research projects as well as the FSSA postgraduate students, especially Geology lecturers.
"The university management will always support the noble efforts that will be implemented by Eliis with UMS through FSSA.
"We also hope that through this collaboration, there will be an opportunity for any research collaboration that will not only have an economic impact but also a social impact in the future," he said.
Also present was UMS assistant vice-chancellor (Strategic), Associate Professor Dr Mohd Rahimie Abd Karim.