Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) marked a new milestone in its 40th anniversary celebrations by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Space Faculty Pte Ltd, Singapore, and hosting a seminar by its Chief Executive Officer, Lynette Tan, on Asia’s growing role in the global space economy.
The MoU was signed on 26th August 2025 by UBD Vice-Chancellor Dr Hazri Haji Kifle and Lynette Tan, and witnessed by Dr Haji Abdul Hanif Dato Paduka Haji Mahadi, UBD Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Sustainability) at UBD and Cedric Ng, Head of Business Development at Space Faculty.
Co-organised by the Office of Assistant Vice-Chancellor of Research, Innovation and Sustainability (OAVCRIS) together with the Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research (IBER), the seminar was held on 25th August at the Senate Room, Chancellor Hall, UBD. Titled ‘Beyond the Horizon: Building a Future in the New Space Economy’, the seminar explored the evolution of the global space industry and Asia’s rising influence. Present as the guests of honour for the seminar were Dr Hazri and also attended by Shaun Philip Grosse, Deputy High Commissioner of Singapore to Brunei Darussalam.
“I’m excited to meet Brunei’s young talents,” said Tan, “and to share how every person, regardless of background, can play a part in building our shared future.”
UBD is a leading research force in tropical biodiversity, climate, environmental science, and sustainability, and is now broadening its vision to encompass space and technological innovation. One example is IBER’s use of remote sensing technologies, traditionally utilised for Earth observation from space, to advance research on biodiversity and the environment. Beyond research, space-based technologies offer practical applications for Brunei Darussalam, from monitoring climate change and supporting reforestation, to enhancing disaster management and safeguarding the nation’s coastline and marine ecosystems.
This October, a team of UBD researchers and students will participate in the International Space Challenge (ISC) 2025, organised by Space Faculty. This global competition connects young innovators with industry experts, and this year’s theme, ‘Unlocking Space Capabilities Through AI’, challenges participants to design Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based solutions for critical areas of space technology while nurturing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) skills and 21st-century competencies.
As UBD celebrates four decades of excellence and impact, the seminar and MoU highlight the university’s commitment to expanding knowledge frontiers, fostering innovation, and paving the way for Brunei Darussalam’s next generation to actively participate in the global space economy.
About Space Faculty
Charting pathways between earthly dreams to interstellar reality, Space Faculty powers brilliant and bold ideas in space and frontier technologies through training, experimentation, and strategic public-private partnerships. Its expertise includes satellite building and training, supporting space experiments, capability building for corporations and professionals, and STEM engagements through galaxy-class competitions and workshops.