BAC's Mr Thillai presents at TopInTech Awards 2023

The TopInTech Innovation Award ceremony was an event that began in 2021, organised by Malaysiakini and Digital News Asia. Inspired by the tremendous toll that the Covid pandemic had taken on society, the organisers wanted to bring back some spark of gratitude and appreciation into the world of technology and innovation.

Recipients of the awards are given a multitude of rewards for their efforts including trophies, access to a variety of business programmes offered by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), and advertisement grants of up to RM30,000. These awards are also endorsed and acknowledged by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI).

The Top in Tech Innovation award 2023 on Thursday, 12th January 2023, was an evening to remember, as industry leaders and innovators came together to celebrate the achievements of those pushing the boundaries of technology. There were many categories of awards to be celebrated. One highlight of the evening was the presentation of the award for Most Impactful Academia-Industry Collaboration, which was presented by none other than Mr. Thillai Raj, the Chief Technology Officer of the BAC Education Group. 

Mr Thillai Raj with representatives from Wawasan Open University

Mr Thillai Raj with representatives from Wawasan Open University

In his speech, Mr. Thillai Raj highlighted the importance of academia-industry collaboration in driving innovation. He also acknowledged the presence of the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Datuk Chang Lih Kang, for his support in the industry. He emphasized the importance of the collaboration in creating innovative products and services for the future. Afterall, to build and educate a generation of future innovators, the process of incorporating innovation into education must begin today.

Mr Thillai Raj also highlighted that one of the biggest challenges the participants of this category faced was securing funding for commercialisation. However, with help from SMEs and local companies sponsoring these researchers, there seemed to be hope for the future of this sector.

Mr Thillai Raj with representatives from UMCH

Mr Thillai Raj with representatives from UMCH

The winners for the Most Impactful Academia-Industry Collaboration were split into two categories: commercial and R&D. The nominees were beaming as they received their awards from Mr Thillai Raj, beginning with Wawasan Open University, who received a Merit Mention for the commercial category. UMCH for WeHealth received a Merit Mention for the R&D category. UTAR won the award for the R&D category with their collaboration with ProGreen Rubber.

Mr Thillai Raj presenting the award to UTAR for their collaboration with ProGreen Rubber

Mr Thillai Raj presenting the award to UTAR for their collaboration with ProGreen Rubber

The Top in Tech Innovation Awards are a testament to the exciting and ever-evolving tech sector, and the winners of this year's awards should be commended for their contributions to this industry. With the support of industry leaders like Mr. Thillai Raj, and the government, we can look forward to even more innovative products and services in the future.