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Malaysia is building a new research corridor across Asia to meet China’s rise: scientists

When chemical engineer Ahmad Zuhairi Abdullah joined Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) 22 years ago, Western institutions dominated the field, from global research infrastructure and high-impact…

By Samantha Johnson / October 3, 2026
When chemical engineer Ahmad Zuhairi Abdullah joined Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) 22 years ago, Western institutions dominated the field, from global research infrastructure and high-impact publications to the greatest breakthroughs.
Two decades later, the centre of gravity has moved eastward, says Zuhairi, now a professor with the USM school of chemical engineering in Penang.

“[Not much was known] about China at that time when I joined the university. I knew that they had quite a number of good universities and I was aware of their publications because some of them I referred to in my research work,” he said.

“But definitely nothing much was heard in terms of collaboration with Chinese counterparts. Now, you see a lot [of scientists and students] coming here,” for studies, research and fostering collaborations, Zuhairi added.

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