From Labs to Creative Arts: EURAXESS ASEAN Mission Catalyses Transdisciplinary EU–ASEAN Partnerships
EURAXESS ASEAN undertook its first mission to Malaysia in 2026, with a programme of activities in Greater Kuala Lumpur and Penang aimed at gently opening new avenues for scientific collaboration between Europe, Malaysia and the wider ASEAN region. The visit introduced researchers and institutional leaders to opportunities available under the Horizon Europe 2026–2027 Work Programme, with a particular focus on building long-term partnerships rather than one-off engagements.
The mission was closely linked to the International Conference on Molecular Biology and Biotechnology 2026 (ICMBB 2026), hosted by UCSI University in Kuala Lumpur and organised by the Malaysian Society for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (MSMBB). Over three days, more than 150 delegates from across the globe met under the theme “Transdisciplinary Innovation: Advancing Science Through Responsible Use of AI for Human and Planetary Well-being”. With over 100 presentations, the conference offered a collegial setting for researchers, industry representatives and students to exchange ideas on how artificial intelligence can be applied responsibly in molecular biology and biotechnology.
At ICMBB 2026, EURAXESS ASEAN was represented by Dr Tatas Brotosudarmo, who delivered a featured session on “Horizon Europe for ASEAN–EU Research Partnership: Opportunities in the 2026–27 Work Programme.” He outlined a number of forthcoming Cluster 1 (Health) calls open to ASEAN participation, including topics related to vaccines, antivirals, monoclonal antibodies, pandemic preparedness, surveillance and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). He also introduced RAISE (Resource for Artificial Intelligence Science in Europe), a European Commission initiative designed to coordinate AI research resources in Europe and provide selected health consortia with access to high-performance computing for advanced in silico studies and predictive modelling.
The conference’s broad scientific scope—covering agriculture, aquatic and environmental sciences, medicine, food sciences, multi-omics and bioinformatics—closely reflects the themes of Horizon Europe Cluster 1 (Health) and Cluster 6 (Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment), including several topics identified for ASEAN cooperation. This alignment created a natural space for researchers and institutional representatives to consider how Malaysian expertise might connect with European priorities and consortia.
Beyond the conference, the mission included more focused outreach. At Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in Penang, EURAXESS ASEAN organised an information session on the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) and Pillar II instruments under Clusters 1, 4 and 5. Around 40 senior researchers joined in hybrid mode. During the visit, Dr Brotosudarmo met Prof Dr Habibah A Wahab, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation and the principal investigator of an MSCA Staff Exchange project, to reflect on ongoing cooperation and explore ways for USM and European partners to deepen their engagement under Horizon Europe.
In Kuala Lumpur, a workshop at the Faculty of Creative Arts, Universiti Malaya (UM), focused on Cluster 2 (Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society). With 25 participants onsite, including scholars, artists and practitioners, discussions touched on cultural heritage, creative industries, social inclusion, democratic governance and the social dimensions of digital and green transitions. The presence of Mr Samuel Wejchert from the Delegation of the European Union to Malaysia added a diplomatic perspective and signalled the EU’s continued interest in supporting Malaysia–EU cooperation in research, higher education and culture.
Taken together, the conference and related activities helped raise awareness of Horizon Europe 2026–2027 among Malaysian and ASEAN stakeholders, while also offering space for informal networking and mutual learning. For researchers, scientists and the diplomatic community, the mission illustrated how EU–ASEAN collaboration can evolve in a balanced way—combining scientific excellence, mobility opportunities and careful attention to the ethical and societal implications of AI and advanced technologies for both people and the planet.
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