KUALA LUMPUR, August 17 — Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Elanco Malaysia Sdn Bhd recently formalised a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening collaboration between academia and industry in veterinary education, research, innovation, talent development and animal health.
The MoU was signed at Elanco Malaysia’s office in Kuala Lumpur, bringing together representatives from Elanco Malaysia and UPM’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
The partnership is intended to provide a framework through which both organisations can identify and develop collaborative initiatives that combine UPM’s academic and research capabilities with Elanco’s animal health expertise, industry experience and global resources.
Speaking at the ceremony, Tang Chee Ping, Country Director (Malaysia and Singapore), Elanco, said the agreement should serve as the starting point for tangible collaboration rather than simply a formal document.
“This MoU provides us with a framework, but the real value will come from what we do together after today.
“We want this partnership to be more than an MoU that sits in a file. We want it to become a living partnership with activities, projects, students, researchers, technical experts, and measurable outcomes.”
He highlighted research and innovation, student development, knowledge exchange, and stronger connections between Malaysia’s animal health ecosystem and the global industry as key areas of opportunity.
The animal health sector is evolving rapidly amid changing animal production systems, increasing expectations around food safety and sustainability, emerging diseases, anti-microbial stewardship, new technologies, and a growing demand for preventive health care for companion animals.
At the same time, the sector requires a new generation of veterinarians and animal health professionals who combine scientific knowledge with practical understanding of challenges faced in the field.
Under the collaboration, Elanco and UPM intend to explore opportunities in areas including animal health and disease prevention, nutrition, animal production, diagnostics and emerging research areas. Opportunities for students could include internships, industry sharing, technical programmes, career exposure, case studies and other educational initiatives.
Prof Dr Goh Yong Meng, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, UPM, welcomed the partnership and emphasised the importance of bringing together the two ecosystems represented by academia and industry.
Prof Goh highlighted the significant potential for greater collaboration as Malaysia’s veterinary, livestock and companion animal sectors continue to develop.
He noted that universities contribute talent, knowledge and research capabilities, while industry brings resources, market experience, and channels through which new knowledge and innovation can reach veterinarians, animal health professionals, farmers, and pet owners.
He also underscored the importance of extending collaboration beyond research and knowledge transfer towards education and advocacy across the wider veterinary ecosystem.
“There are a lot of synergies that we can harness when we work together. We need to identify areas where we can make an impact and continue to contribute.”
Among the potential areas highlighted were improving access to meaningful animal health innovations, anti-microbial resistance and stewardship, antiparasitic management, veterinary education, and other areas where academia and industry can jointly address emerging needs.
The partnership also aims to strengthen two-way knowledge exchange. Elanco’s technical and commercial teams will have opportunities to engage with UPM academics, researchers and students, while academic expertise can contribute to addressing real-world challenges encountered by industry.
For Elanco, the collaboration reflects its purpose, “Making Life Better for Animals, Makes Life Better,” and its commitment to bringing global animal health knowledge and experience together with local expertise.
The two organisations will subsequently identify priority initiatives and opportunities that can translate the MoU into practical programmes and measurable outcomes.
“The MoU we exchange today is not the destination, it is the starting point,” Tang said.
“We hope that when we look back a few years from now, we will see this day as the beginning of successful research projects, stronger industry-academia collaboration, talented students developed, new knowledge created and meaningful contributions to animal health and veterinary science in Malaysia and beyond.”
This press release was provided by Elanco Malaysia.
