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Assistance to Start-Ups and SMEs in Low-Carbon Innovation

In 2024, Universiti Sains Malaysia provided direct assistance to local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups to foster low-carbon innovation through a research-driven initiative led by Associate Professor Dr. Ng Theam Foo under the Renewable Energy and Green Technology Transdisciplinary Research (RUTRANS IV) programme.

This initiative focuses on assisting local industries in transitioning toward sustainable practices by integrating energy conservation, efficiency enhancement, renewable energy monitoring, ESG digital reporting, and carbon prediction technologies. It is designed to help SMEs that face challenges in adopting real-time energy data analysis and carbon tracking systems, thereby strengthening their role in Malaysia’s low-carbon economy.

The programme offers practical assistance through several key components:

  • Energy Efficiency Profiling and Monitoring – enabling start-ups and SMEs to measure and optimise energy use to reduce operational carbon footprints.
  • Renewable Energy Integration – developing monitoring mechanisms and hybrid systems for efficient renewable energy utilisation.
  • Carbon Emission Strategy Development – providing digital tools and algorithms for predicting and managing carbon emissions using advanced analytics and machine learning.
  • ESG Digital Platform Development – creating frameworks for sustainability reporting and compliance tracking tailored to small-scale industries.

Conducted in collaboration with academic researchers, industry experts, and start-up innovators, the programme produces measurable outcomes such as energy profiling reports, renewable energy monitoring mechanisms, carbon emission strategies, and ESG digital toolkits. These outcomes help industries strengthen sustainability performance while driving innovation in low-carbon technology.

Through this initiative, USM demonstrates its commitment to providing free, practical assistance to start-ups and SMEs that contribute to a low-carbon economy. The programme encourages the adoption of cleaner technologies, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and promotes sustainable entrepreneurship in Malaysia’s industrial ecosystem.