JJ-Lurgi Launches New R&D Centre in Malaysia
Driving Innovation Forward Through Strategic Industry-Academia Collaboration
29 April 2025
SHAH ALAM, MALAYSIA – JJ-Lurgi, the life science joint venture between the Jebsen & Jessen Group and Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions announced the launch of its new Research and Development (R&D) Centre in Malaysia today. Located at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam, the JJ-Lurgi R&D Haus marks a strategic milestone in JJ-Lurgi’s continued commitment to advancing the future of the oil and fats industry.
This strategic investment underscores JJ-Lurgi’s focus in driving innovation, advancing process technology and strengthening collaboration with local institutions. The R&D Haus is built on UiTM’s unique Micro-Industry Hub (MIH) model - a pioneering framework that allows industrial operations to be integrated within a university setting. Through this collaboration, JJ-Lurgi leverages on UiTM’s academic expertise, while UiTM can gain valuable insights into real-world industrial practices.
“It gives us exposure to industrial settings, requirements, and perspectives,” said Dr Nornizar Anuar, Associate Professor at UiTM’s College of Engineering. “It’s a type of professional training, and we can use the experience and knowledge from JJ-Lurgi to guide our research direction and enhance our teaching and learning.”
She added:
“The MIH model is unique to UiTM. It allows capital to be contributed by the industry partner, while day-to-day operations are managed by the university. In contrast to other universities that have industry labs with different models - it usually involves in-kind or donated equipment. We believe this may be the first collaboration of its kind among Malaysian universities.”
The centre will aim to build R&D in key areas such as:
- Refining technologies that reduce food safety contaminants like GE and 3-MCPD
- Specialty fats development, modification and crystallisation
- Waste oil pretreatment
- Biodiesel & Oleochemical applications
“The JJ-Lurgi R&D Haus represents a continuation of our heritage and an important step in our innovation journey” said Christian Frey, General Manager – Technology Integrity & Development, JJ-Lurgi. “The term ‘Haus’, meaning “house” in German, pays homage to the original Lurgi haus in Frankfurt, which stood for engineering excellence and innovation since 1987.”
The R&D Haus in Malaysia will put JJ-Lurgi in a position to both help our customers' needs and develop solutions together while developing know-how and capability in Malaysia as the hub of excellence. Thank you to UiTM, we are proud to build this partnership with you.