Excellence in Research
Pioneering research that pushes the boundaries of big data.
About UTM BDC
A centre of excellence in data science and AI
Established in March 2014 under the Ibnu Sina Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (ISI-SIR), UTM Big Data Centre accelerates digital transformation through research, training and collaboration in data, analytics and emerging technologies.
01 Our Story
Twelve years of turning data into intelligence
The UTM Big Data Centre (UTM BDC) was established in March 2014 under the Ibnu Sina Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research. Its role is to accelerate digital transformation through the strategic use of data, analytics and emerging technologies.
Our work brings together artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data analytics, IoT and predictive technologies across healthcare, finance, manufacturing, smart cities, agriculture, education and sustainability.
Milestones
- 2014
Centre established in March under ISI-SIR, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, with Prof. Dr. Siti Mariyam Shamsuddin as founding Director. First public project: social network analytics of public responses to the MH370 incident (April).
- 2014
Benchmarking visits to the University of Oxford and Imperial College London (November). Public seminar “Big Data Tsunami: Big Analytics for New Information Economy” (December).
- 2015
Kolokium Big Data (February). First cohort of the Professional Certificate in Data Science.
- 2017
ADiBA (Accelerating Digital Transformation Through Big Data Adoption) introduced to build big data capability in organisations (August).
- 2019
BDC appointed to lead the Malaysia Big Data Research Excellence Consortium (BIDaREC), with an initial RM500,000 grant from the Ministry of Higher Education (October). Prof. Dr. Siti Zaiton Mohd Hashim becomes Director.
- 2020
Prof. Dr. Azlan Mohd Zain appointed Director (April).
- 2022
ADSCI 2022: BDC organises the International Conference on Applied Data Science & Computational Intelligence with UniMAP.
- 2023
Professional Certificate in Data Science 2.0 launched (February). Prof. Dr. Naomie Salim appointed Director, succeeding Prof. Dr. Azlan Mohd Zain.
- 2023
UTM Data-Driven Blueprint delivered (June). ADiBA moves from research into public-sector big data policy work.
- 2024
MyJalan analytics for the Ministry of Works' national construction data platform. First ADiBA certificate cohort completes.
- 2025
Six grants and contracts announced, worth about RM0.84 million. Agency AI and analytics training expands (KPDN, KPKT, JPK).
- 2026
I-FIKR 3.0 Shariah decision-support tools with ISRA Institute, INCEIF University. Studies for NFCC (financial-crime graph analytics) and JKKP (OSHConnect integrated OSH data blueprint). TVET big data programme with JPK. Director reappointed to August 2027.
Sources: research.utm.my/bdc, the UTM BDC Facebook page (2021–2026), and 2014–2020 milestones and past directors supplied by BDC (October 2026).
02 Mission & Role
What BDC exists to do
Vision
Regional referral centre for Big Data Analytics.
Mission
Excellence in research, innovation and talent development in Big Data.
Vision and mission as confirmed by BDC, October 2026.
Innovation Leadership
Leading in innovative practice, turning research into tools, frameworks and solutions.
Talent Cultivation
Cultivating talent through comprehensive training and professional certification.
Research niche areas
Big DataData ScienceArtificial IntelligenceMachine LearningData GovernanceData Management
Our role within UTM
One entry point
Brings UTM academics with data and AI expertise together, so partners have a single route to that expertise.
A national partner
Supports public-sector data policy and capability, from ADiBA to agency training.
UTM's own data capability
Advises and trains UTM units, including the Registrar, SRAD, PPDU, UTMSPACE and CTLD.
03 Leadership
Centre leadership
Director
Prof. Dr. Naomie Salim
Director, UTM Big Data Centre · Expertise: information retrieval, databases, data science and cheminformatics
“…we are shaping a smarter and more informed future through the power of data.”
Prof. Naomie has led BDC since April 2023 and was reappointed Director for 13 August 2026 – 12 August 2027. She leads many of BDC's agency engagements, including ADiBA, the Ministry of Works' MyJalan analytics and the TVET programme with JPK.
Read the full welcomeDeputy Director
Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Mohd Shahizan bin Othman
Management Committee
BDC's Management Committee meets during the year (e.g. Meetings 1/2024, 2/2024 and 1/2025).
Past Directors
- Prof. Dr. Siti Mariyam binti Haji Shamsuddin, 2014 – 2019 (founding Director)
- Prof. Dr. Siti Zaiton binti Mohd Hashim, 2019 – Feb 2020
- Prof. Dr. Azlan bin Mohd Zain, Apr 2020 – Apr 2023
04 People
Fellows and research staff
BDC brings together UTM academic fellows, supported by a research administration team.
Full Members (8)
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Adham bin Isa
- Dr. Noor Hidayah binti Zakaria
- Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Mohd Shahizan bin Othman
- Dr. Seah Choon Sen
- Ts. Dr. Chan Weng Howe
- Dr. Pang Yee Yong
- Dr. Nor Azizah binti Ali
- Dr. Muhammad Zafran bin Muhammad Zaly Shah
Associate Members (13)
- Prof. Dr. Siti Zaiton binti Mohd Hashim
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Norma binti Alias
- Dr. Haslina binti Hashim
- Prof. Dr. Anazida binti Zainal
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Noorminshah binti A. Iahad
- Dr. Ahmad Najmi bin Amerhaider Nuar
- Prof. Ts. Dr. Nor Azman bin Ismail
- Dr. Sharin Hazlin binti Huspi
- Ts. Dr. Mohd Zamri bin Osman
- Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Masitah binti Ghazali
- Ts. Dr. Nur Haliza binti Abdul Wahab
- Dr. Nies Hui Wen
- Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Nor Erne Nazira binti Bazin
Director (1)
- Prof. Dr. Naomie binti Salim
Research administration
- Encik Farizie bin Abdul Razak, Research Officer
- Cik Noorzalifah Izzati binti Tongal, Assistant Engineer
Full Members
Researchers and academics who actively contribute to the centre's big data research, grants, publications, talent development and strategic initiatives.
Associate Members
Industry experts, government officers, external researchers or UTM staff who collaborate with the centre on specific projects, training programmes, consultancy work or research activities.
Source: research.utm.my/bdc/our-people, accessed 10 Oct 2026, with membership and category definitions confirmed by BDC in October 2026.
05 Governance
Where BDC sits and how it is run
Reporting line
Universiti Teknologi MalaysiaResearch university
Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation)DVCRI UTM
Ibnu Sina Institute for Scientific & Industrial ResearchISI-SIR, the parent institute for UTM research centres
UTM Big Data CentreDirector · Management Committee · Fellows
Structure as shown in the navigation of the BDC and ISI-SIR websites.
Governance in practice
2023 – 2026- Aug 2026Director reappointed
Term 13 August 2026 – 12 August 2027, announced by ISI-SIR.
Appointment - Dec 2025Strategic Planning & IP Workshop 2025
Two-day workshop on strategic direction and more systematic intellectual-property governance.
Strategy - May 2025Pre-workshop for Strategic Planning 2025
Direction and key initiatives to strengthen BDC's role at university level.
Strategy - Mar 2025Management Committee Meeting 1/2025Committee
- 2024Management Committee Meetings 1/2024 and 2/2024Committee
- Oct 2023Strategic Planning Workshop
Two-day planning workshop with BDC research fellows.
Strategy
Source: UTM BDC Facebook page (facebook.com/utmbigdatacentre), posts dated as shown.
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