The emergence of fuel cell technology and challenges to latecomer countries: Insights from Singapore and Malaysia

Presented at GLOBELICS 2009, 7th International Conference, 6-8 October, Dakar, Senegal.Parallel session 6. Innovation for sustainable energyThis article uses the systems of innovation approach (in this case using the technological system framework and analysis of system functions) to provide insights for understanding the challenges that latecomer countries have to face in the development of an emerging technology like fuel cells. It shows that the development of system functions in fuel cells in Singapore is higher than in Malaysia, and this is shaped by four key factors: (1) Diversity of actors and the alignment of their activities; (2) synergy between energy, environment and industrial policies; (3) openness to internationalisation; and (4) responsiveness to demonstration activities. In Singapore the stronger presence of such factors in its policy environment has had a positive influence on the development of fuel cell technology – while the absence or weaknesses of these factors might have contributed to the weaker and more unbalanced development in Malaysia. It is argued that this is because such factors were effective in addressing specific characteristics of the ‘emerging phase’ of fuel cell technology

Unpacking place-based narratives: enhancing campus community participation in watershed conservation

Purpose – The study aims to identify the evoked ‘sense of place’ that the campus community attributes to a watershed area in a Malaysian higher institution, aiming to enhance their participation in watershed conservation. Central to this objective is the incorporation of the concept of a watershed as a place, serving as the conceptual framework for analysis. Design/methodology/approach – This case study explores an urban lake at Universiti Malaya, Malaysia's oldest higher institution. It utilises diverse qualitative data, including document analysis, semi-structured interviews, vox-pop interviews, and a co-production workshop, to generate place-based narratives reflecting the meanings and values that staff and students associate with the watershed. Thematic analysis is then applied for further examination. Findings – The data patterns reveal shared sense of place responses on: 1. Campus as a historic place, 2. Student, staff, and campus identity, 3. In-place learning experiences, and 4. Interweaving of community wellbeing and watershed health. Recommendations advocate translating these narratives into campus sustainability communication through empirical findings and continuous co-production of knowledge and strategies with the campus community. Practical implications – The research findings play a critical role in influencing sustainable campus planning and community inclusion by integrating place-based frameworks into sustainable development and watershed management. The study recommends the process of identifying place-based narratives with implications for the development of sustainability communication in a campus environment. Originality/value – This paper contributes both conceptually and empirically to the sustainable management of a campus watershed area through place-based thinking. It outlines a process for enhancing campus sustainability communication strategies. Keywords Sense of place, Campus sustainability, Sustainability communication, Higher education, Watershed conservation, Malaysia Paper type Research pape

Water Warriors Living Lab: Towards an integrated “Heartware - Hardware – Software” Approach to Water Management

This paper presents the experience of the Water Warriors Living Lab, a bottom-up sustainable campus action research initiative in applying the integrated ‘Heartware - Hardware – Software’ approach for water management at the University of Malaya since the year 2013. It advances the proposition that a heartware approach is needed to enhance campus sustainability efforts, in addition to the more strategic hardware and software approaches. The paper describes how the Water Warrior’s experience in applying the heartware approach has been a strengthening factor in resolving water conservation issues at the university (specifically in lake management), and discusses important lessons learned to date. Our theoretical and empirical insights can hopefully provide renewed appreciation on how local, organic and humanistic factors can be essential ingredients for the long term ‘sustainability’ of campus sustainability efforts.Keyword: Campus sustainability, living lab, water management, heartware, bottom-u

The role of universities in nation catching-up strategies : fuel cell technology in Malaysia and Singapore

One particular idea in the science and technology policymaking arena is to emphasise the role of universities in latecomer countries' catching-up strategies through 'early entry' in the development of emerging technologies. The thesis explores the extent to which universities in latecomer countries could actually assume such a role. The thesis decided to tackle this challenge by Integrating the theoretical ideas of Perez and Soete (1988) with more recent ideas on systems of innovation. The thesis has used a technological system framework to analyse the role of universities. This framework is used to examine the contribution of universities to the development of a set of system functions that are essential during the introduction phase of the technology's life cycle.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Malaysia’s complex multi-level climate governance between institutionalization and non-state actor interventions

As a fast-industrialising emerging economy, Malaysia is highly dependent on fossil fuels – making it an increasingly significant contributor to global warming. Since 2009, the country has made a clear commitment to address the issue by introducing a dedicated climate change policy and multi-level governance strategy with a voluntary reduction target of up to 40 percent in terms of emissions intensity of GDP by 2020 compared to 2005 levels. Despite a promising institutional framework and governance strategy, Malaysia’s low carbon transition has been stymied by various factors. In this chapter, we reveal how Malaysia’s socio-economic and socio-political context has resulted in an uncertain environment to consistently implement the climate change policy and governance strategy as originally planned. However, the proactive response from the sub-national government, non-partisan efforts and cooperation by non-state actors such as the private sector and academia have played an important bridging and initiating role in contributing significantly during this period of political uncertainty. Through a case study of Malaysia’s experience in the implementation of green technology in the State Melaka and low-carbon cities in the State of Johor, we illustrate the dynamic role of state and non-state actors in filling the void and weaknesses in climate change governance

Public policy interventions for grassroots innovations: are we getting it right?

This paper examines the socio-technical elements of Grassroots Innovations (GRIs) cases in Malaysia and draws lessons for public policy intervention by accounting for the contextual nature of the GRIs. Our findings on the four successful Malaysian rural GRIs indicate the following. First, carefully formulated level-specific policy instruments are needed to facilitate the smooth transition of the various stages of GRIs. Second, given the heterogeneity nature of GRIs, policymakers should avoid generalized, oversimplified and one-fit policy approaches. In turn, public policy intervention should be flexible and clearly suited to the aspiration of the founders and their missions. More importantly, attempts to commercialize, similar to the business-oriented innovation policy and in the name of creating value defeats the purpose of GRIs thus jeopardizing the true value of GRIs. Instead, the evidences suggest that strengthening the stakeholder-innovator partnership in co-developing and co-delivering adds value to the grassroots innovators and society at large. It also has larger benefits of application in providing greater social benefits especially in solving communal problems. © 2019, © KOSIME, ASIALICS, STEPI 2019

Agriculture and food security challenge of climate change: a dynamic analysis for policy selection

This study presents an empirical examination of climate change related to vulnerability impacts on food security and remedial adaptation options as a suitable strategy by prioritizing needs over a 50-year period. An Empirical Dynamic Commutable General Equilibrium Model for Climate and the Economy (EDCGECE) is applied using future strategies for Malaysia against a baseline scenario of existing conditions, following the top-down options. The model takes into account various climatic variables, including climatic damage, carbon cycle, temperature and rainfall fluctuation, carbon emissions, vulnerability and carbon concentrations, which were adapted from national observational predictions of climatic changes caused by global warming from 2015 to 2065. The results prioritize climate change mitigation for the future. Specifically, this study estimates Malaysia’s food sustainability prospects without adaptation actions and with 5 % to 20 % adaptation actions overtime in different adaptation scenarios, as contrasted with the baseline. The results indicate that food sustainability cost in the baseline in 2015 is 859.3 million US Dollar (USD), which is about a 30-35 % shortage compared with the national targets, and that the shortage will rise over time to USD 987.3 million in 2065. However, the cost of applying different levels of adaptation for food sustainability over time is rising considerably. However, the residual damage also decreases with all adaptation actions in the different scenarios. Thus, adaptation shows a positive sign for Malaysia’s agricultural sectors. As growth values are positive and show rising trends, therefore the projected adaptation policy can be effective for food sustainability for sustainable future strategies in Malaysia

A science framework (SF) for agricultural sustainability

The significance of Science Framework (SF) to date is receiving more acceptances all over the world to address agricultural sustainability. The professional views, however, advocate that the SF known as Mega Science Framework (MSF) in the transitional economies is not converging effectively in many ways for the agricultural sustainability. Specially, MSF in transitional economies is mostly incapable to identify barriers in agricultural research, inadequate to frame policy gaps with the goal of strategizing the desired sustainability in agricultural technology and innovation, inconsistent in finding to identify the inequities, and incompleteness to rebuild decisions. Therefore, this study critically evaluates the components of MSF in transitional economies and appraises the significance, dispute and illegitimate issue to achieve successful sustainable development. A sound and an effective MSF can be developed when there is an inter-linkage within principal components such as of (a) national priorities, (b) specific research on agricultural sustainability, (c) adequate agricultural research and innovation, and (d) alternative policy alteration. This maiden piece of research which is first its kind has been conducted in order to outline the policy direction to have an effective science framework for agricultural sustainability

Eco-Heart Index as a tool for community-based water quality monitoring and assessment

This study aimed to develop an economical, user-friendly, policy-relevant and impactful community-based water quality monitoring and assessment tool called Eco-Heart Index. Simple and economical water quality monitoring tools, such as Pact Test and LAQUAtwin, were used for Eco-Heart Index. The data was validated by comparing with those obtained using standard methods. Eco-Heart Index is a novel water quality indicator that draws a heart shape based on a result of 6 water quality parameters (pH, heavy metals, chemical oxygen demand, transparency, ammonia nitrogen and dissolved oxygen), which then indicates the water quality (i.e., a full heart stands for clean water, while a broken heart stands for polluted water). This simplified tool was applied to the Langat River basin in Malaysia to generate a water quality map and to categorize the pollution trend based on the drawn figures. The water quality map showing the results of Eco-Heart Index clearly visualized the occurrence and distribution of the water pollution in the whole river basin. Specifically, a full heart shape appeared in upstream areas, whereas various broken heart shapes appeared in mid-stream and downstream areas, particularly in populated and land development areas. Eco-Heart Index was strongly correlated with the National Water Quality Index for Malaysia, suggesting that it could also be utilized as an alternative tool for water quality categorization. In conclusion, Eco-Heart Index has the great potential to be a community-based water quality indicator that could be understood through the universal symbol of peace and love