Industry collaboration has long been integral to Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS' (UTP) approach to education, research and innovation, enabling the University to nurture talent, advance technology and deliver solutions that address evolving industry needs.
This approach was demonstrated through the Petroleum Agreement Contractors (PAC) Engagement Day 2026, hosted by UTP in collaboration with Malaysia Petroleum Management (MPM), bringing together leaders from Malaysia's upstream oil and gas industry to explore strategic partnerships in talent development, research, technology innovation and capability building.
PACs play a vital role in Malaysia's upstream oil and gas ecosystem, contributing to talent development, technological advancement and innovation.
The engagement brought together 98 delegates from 26 PACs, including 14 Country Heads, underscoring UTP's strong industry linkages and providing a platform to strengthen partnerships in education, research, innovation and technology development.
Serving as a platform for knowledge exchange and ecosystem building, the programme convened industry leaders, technical experts, researchers, academics and students to co-create solutions that support the continued growth and sustainability of Malaysia's upstream industry.
UTP President Ir Mohamed Firouz Asnan delivered the welcoming address. MPM Senior Vice President YBhg Datuk Ir (Dr) Bacho Pilong officiated the event, setting the stage for discussions on strengthening collaboration between academia and industry throughout the day.
A key highlight of the programme was the Industry–Academic Leaders Roundtable Discussion, which brought together senior industry and UTP leaders to exchange perspectives on strengthening partnership models, co-creating sustainable talent pipelines, advancing innovation for energy resilience and operational excellence, and expanding initiatives that generate long-term value for the energy sector.
Through the Tech Garage and Capability Building sessions, UTP showcased its multidisciplinary expertise in contaminant management for recovery optimisation, advanced analytics and AI-enabled upstream asset integrity, subsea and topside-less facilities, and future workforce capability readiness. The sessions created opportunities for industry partners to explore collaborative research, technology validation, pilot deployment and solution development to address real operational challenges.
Industry delegates also toured UTP's specialised research laboratories, gaining first-hand insights into the University's research ecosystem, advanced facilities and emerging technologies. The visits demonstrated UTP's capability to translate research into practical solutions that support operational excellence, technology adoption and innovation across the upstream value chain.
Complementing the technical sessions was the "Inspiring the Next Generation: Industry Leaders in Conversation" forum, where industry leaders from Mubadala Energy, PTTEP and ConocoPhillips shared their leadership journeys, industry perspectives and career experiences with UTP students, offering valuable insights into the capabilities required to thrive in the evolving energy sector. The forum also featured a keynote address by Datuk Ir (Dr) Bacho Pilong.
A significant milestone of the engagement was the soft launch of the NUF RAO (Normally Unattended Facilities – Remote & Autonomous Operations) Corporate Lab, a strategic collaboration between UTP and the Technology & Digital division of MPM. The Corporate Lab underscores a shared commitment to advancing remote operations, autonomous systems, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity and reliability technologies that will shape the future of upstream operations.
The programme concluded with the PAC Recognition Ceremony, celebrating the valuable contributions of industry partners towards scholarships, research initiatives, technology development and community programmes, further reflecting the strength of UTP's longstanding partnerships with industry.
The PAC Engagement Day reflects UTP's commitment to integrating education, research, innovation and industry application through meaningful partnerships. By bringing together industry leaders, researchers, educators and future talent on a single platform, UTP continues to strengthen its position as a preferred industry partner, driving sustainable impact through value co-creation and delivering impactful solutions that support the transformation and long-term sustainability of Malaysia's energy sector.
