Peer Reviewed

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has won a total of 11 prizes for its multi-faceted innovations presented in the 42nd International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva. Not only have these breakthroughs brought glory to Hong Kong, but they've also extended the frontiers of knowledge and enhanced the well-being of our society.

In recent years, the relationship between Asia and Africa has assumed an unprecedented significance in the political and economic as well as the social and cultural spheres. The bonds between the two continents are projected to grow even stronger and have a decisive impact on the 21st century.

Kathmandu, Nepal, April 30, 2014: Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) announced today the Asian institutions that would be part of four new multi-partner research consortia for tackling the impacts of climate change in Africa and Asia.

A brand new Centre for Islamic Business and Finance Research (CIBFR) has been established at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus.

Read about breakthroughs in graphene, photonics and energy research, the impact of global migration, secret lives of elephants, 3000-year-old tombs, robots destroying breast cancer cells, the world’s first synthesizer for traditional bamboo instruments, a new heavy ion accelerator, gender bias in health systems and more in Asia Research News 2014

The University of Toronto (U of T) has signed an important agreement with China’s Fudan University, which will see the two institutions develop joint activities to build education capacity in primary health care and public health.

Researchers at Japan's National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) have synthesized a novel superconductor, SrAuSi3, which contains gold as a principal constituent element.

Researchers at the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in Malaysia have conducted a study on the mangrove ecosystem to search for actinomycetes bacteria. The mangrove ecosystem is known as a highly productive habitat for isolating actinomycetes, which has the potential of producing biologically active secondary metabolites.

A high-performance ‘photonic transistor’ that switches light signals instead of electronic signals could revolutionize optical signal processing

A semi-analytical model can compute electromagnetic interference on an electronic circuit board ten times faster than existing commercial software

Computer modeling is assisting the design of optical modulators with low losses to improve optical communications

The new unit will provide research and consultancy services to organisations worldwide. It takes an integrated approach, dealing with both finance and with a range of other Syariah compatible products and services worth USD 2 billion (RM6.52 billion) annually to a market of over 1 billion people globally.

Professor Scully is a laser physics pioneer who is best known for his contributions to quantum optics, quantum coherence and laser theory.

Researchers in Malaysia have developed a 3D biodegradable material for treating gum problems and rejuvenating teeth-supporting structures.

Two groups of researchers have recently advanced the field of solar cells with a cheaper and efficient replacement for platinum and better synthesis of zinc oxide.

UiTM researchers are modernising the 'Rebana Ubi', a traditional Malaysian musical instrument by infusing it with a modern computer aided technology.

Tourism is bringing rapid development to the islands of Langkawi, which puts pressure on the marine ecosystem. This research records the diversity and will be a useful baseline record for biomonitoring studies in Malaysia.

UiTM researchers have developed a modified photocatalyst which is economical and effective at transforming organic pollutants into harmless end products.

A*STAR’s Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R)'s innovations will be at IoT Asia and A*STAR SME Day. This includes toilet cleanliness, taxi queueing, outdoor carpark and ready-to-go technologies for SME's

Researchers in Hong Kong have developed a new computer tool to ensure faster care and treatment for stroke patients.

Researchers at Japan's National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) and Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR) have achieved the first successful atomic-level observation of growing strontium titanate thin films.

Japanese researchers have successfully developed the world's first imaging method for visualising the behaviour of nicotine-adenine dinucleotide derivative (NAD(P)H), a key coenzyme, inside cells. This feat could ultimately facilitate the diagnosis of cancer and liver dysfunction and help to elucidate the mechanisms of neurological disorders.

Researchers at Japan's National Institute for Materials Science have discovered a new photocatalyst, Sn3O4, which facilitates the production of hydrogen fuel from water, using sunlight as an energy source.

Multidisciplinary research at A*STAR is producing new technologies to improve safety and efficiency in the aviation industry

KAIST researchers have developed a light and flexible glass fabric-based thermoelectric (TE) generator that produces electricity from body heat. It is so flexible that the allowable bending radius of the generator is as low as 20 mm, with no change in performance even if the generator bends upward and downward for up to 120 cycles.

A clever chemical transformation yields surface-bound microstructures that efficiently drive away oil- and water-based contaminants

A passive method for sorting and fixing microbeads of different sizes could lead to cheaper and more functional biological assays

A landmark experiment on wave interference from the early 1800s is revisited using gold nanoparticles

Flexible plastics that turn mechanical vibrations into electrical energy could spur the development of self-powered sensors and devices

NMC also announced an RCA with Mogas Flow Lab (MFL) to establish a R&D lab to develop bunker fuel-based Primary Liquid Flow Standard and a Heavy Hydrocarbon Calibration Rig (HHCR).