• Event Title: Strengthening Grant Writing Excellence: IRDI Talk on Securing the GET Research Grant
• Organiser: Institute for Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI), IMU University
• Date: 6 March 2026
• Location: IMU University Bukit Jalil Main Campus
• Speaker: Prof Dr Mohd Shahir Shamsir Omar
• Target Audience: Researchers and postgraduate students
• Aim: Enhancing researchers’ capabilities in securing competitive research funding

The Institute for Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI) at IMU University recently organised an insightful session aimed at enhancing researchers’ capabilities in securing competitive research funding on 6 March 2026, at IMU University Bukit Jalil Main Campus.

The session featured invited external speaker, Prof Dr Mohd Shahir Shamsir Omar, who shared practical strategies on developing high-quality, fundable proposals for the Exploratory and Transformative Research Grant (GET).

Prof Dr Shahir is a highly experienced academic leader and innovation strategist, having previously served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) and Director of the Innovation and Commercialisation Centre at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).

A Registered Technology Transfer Professional (RTTP) and current Vice President of the Innovation and Technology Managers Association (ITMA), he brings extensive expertise in research governance, innovation ecosystems, and commercialisation.

He has also contributed to national research frameworks such as the Malaysia Research Assessment (MyRA) and High Centre of Excellence (HiCoE), reflecting his strong involvement in shaping Malaysia’s research landscape

During the session, participants gained valuable insights into what differentiates a winnable proposal from a conventional one.

A key message emphasised that while most proposals merely describe the research, successful proposals must make a compelling case for why the research matters.

The speaker highlighted several practical strategies for strengthening proposals:

• Researchers were encouraged to lead with the real-world problem and human impact, rather than beginning with background or definitions.
• Identifying a clear institutional or governance gap—such as policy limitations or system-level shortcomings—was also emphasised as critical in demonstrating relevance.

Another important takeaway was the need to signal urgency in a credible and evidence-based manner, avoiding exaggerated claims while clearly showing why the issue requires immediate attention. Participants were also advised to articulate the downstream impact and broader value of the research, including who stands to benefit and how the outcomes can be scaled or translated into practice.

In addition, the session underscored the importance of aligning the research narrative with the intent of the grant. For the GET grant, proposals should emphasise novel knowledge generation and transformative potential, positioning the research as something Malaysia must lead rather than follow.

The Exploratory and Transformative Research Grant (GET), introduced by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia, is designed to support high-impact and innovative research at early stages of development. The grant prioritises bold, interdisciplinary ideas with strong potential for transformation, societal benefit, and alignment with national priorities.

Participants found the session highly beneficial, as it provided actionable insights into crafting persuasive research narratives and avoiding common pitfalls. The session also served as a valuable platform for discussion and knowledge exchange among the audience who were researchers and postgraduate students.

This initiative reflects IMU’s ongoing commitment to fostering a strong research culture and supporting its academics in securing competitive funding. Through such capacity-building efforts, IRDI continues to empower researchers to develop impactful, high-quality proposals aligned with Malaysia’s innovation agenda.

Written by Dr Lai Pei Kuan

The Institute for Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI) at IMU University hosted a grant writing session on 6 March 2026 to strengthen researchers’ ability to secure the Exploratory and Transformative Research Grant (GET). Led by Prof Dr Mohd Shahir Shamsir Omar, the session provided practical strategies for developing compelling, high-impact research proposals aligned with national priorities. Participants gained insights into framing research around real-world impact, demonstrating urgency, and articulating scalable outcomes. The initiative reflects IMU’s commitment to empowering researchers and advancing a strong, innovation-driven research ecosystem in Malaysia.

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