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Healthcare & Precision Medicine
Diagnostics, therapeutics, genomics and health systems for Asia’s populations.
Asian Universities Research Alliance
AURAGlobal Network
From research to impact, together across Asia and the world.
Official launch
Thursday 19 November 2026 · Festival of Ideas Putrajaya · Putrajaya International Convention Centre
About AURA
A lasting network for research collaboration
AURA is an Asian-rooted research collaboration platform. It brings universities across Asia and the world together in ten Flagship Research Consortia, each working on a challenge that no single university or country can solve alone.
Many university links are one-to-one agreements that are hard to keep alive. AURA turns them into lasting multinational teams with shared goals, shared students and shared funding.
- Joint researchMultinational teams built around shared challenges.
- Shared PhD talentCo-supervision, secondments and joint postgraduate training.
- Researcher mobilityVisiting researchers and staff exchange between members.
- Shared facilitiesAccess to complementary laboratories and specialist equipment.
- Joint international fundingStronger applications to national, regional and global funders.
Where AURA works
Ten Flagship Research Consortia
Each consortium is a multinational team of universities working on a shared challenge. Members may join one or more.
2
Advanced Materials, Manufacturing & Industry 4.0
New materials, smart manufacturing and automation for industry.
3
Energy Transition & Green Technology
Renewable energy, storage and low-carbon technology.
4
Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture
Resilient crops, agri-technology, food safety and supply.
5
AI, Digital Technology & Cybersecurity
Trustworthy AI, data science and secure digital systems.
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Blue Economy, Ocean & Water Security
Marine resources, coastal communities and freshwater security.
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Advanced Mobility & Aerospace
Electric and autonomous mobility, transport systems and aerospace.
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Climate Change, Environment & Sustainability
Climate adaptation, biodiversity and disaster resilience.
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Inclusive Society, Governance & Public Policy
Social inclusion, governance and evidence for public policy.
10
Education, Talent Development & Future Workforce
Skills, higher education innovation and the future of work.
How AURA supports collaboration
Two grants, two kinds of partnership
AURA funds new regional teams and builds the international capability of each consortium.
Regional seed funding
AURA SEA NEXUS Grant
Seed funding for new research teams spanning at least three Southeast Asian countries.
Consortium capability
AURA International Flagship Grant
Funding for each consortium to build international capability through:
- postgraduate secondments
- joint supervision
- visiting researchers
- access to specialist facilities
Calls, eligibility and rules are published by the AURA Secretariat.
Official launch
Thursday 19 November 2026
Halls 1–3, Putrajaya International Convention Centre, as part of the Festival of Ideas Putrajaya 2026.
- OpeningOpening ceremony
- Forum 1Universities for Health and Wellbeing: Building Talent and Research Capacity across Asia
- Forum 2From Lab to Industry: Advanced Technology for Asia's Next Growth
- Forum 3Harnessing Asia's Demographic Dividend: People, Skills and a Sustainable Future
- Founding MembersAURA Founding Members Meeting and signing of the AURA Resolution 2026
- LaunchOfficial launch by the Minister of Higher Education Malaysia
Programme subject to confirmation.
AURA Secretariat
Membership of AURA is by invitation.
Division of Research & Innovation, Level 6, Chancellory, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Penang, Malaysia
Tel: +604-653 3108
Email: azzah@usm.my
Web: research.usm.my/auraglobalnetwork