Malaysia Institute for Supply Chain Innovation (MISI)

Located in Shah Alam, Malaysia near Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysia Institute for Supply Chain Innovation (MISI) is the fourth center in the MIT Global SCALE (Supply Chain and Logistics Excellence) Network. The institute was launched as a joint initiative between the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the government of Malaysia on March 22, 2011. The MIT Global SCALE Network is an international alliance of leading edge research and educational organizations, dedicated to the development and dissemination of global innovation in supply chain and logistics.

Modeled after MIT and offering similar programs like the Zaragoza Logistics Center (ZLC), the leading European education and research program for logistics and supply chain management in Europe, the MISI will feature both Master and Doctoral programs in supply chain management and logistics. MISI is an independent, stand-alone degree granting academic institution established under Malaysian law. Additionally, MISI will conduct research and corporate outreach activities for global as well as local firms that operate in the Southeast Asia region.

The stage is set for Southeast Asia to take its place as a world leading trading power. Located in the heart of a vibrant economic zone, the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries have a combined population of 600 million people and a GDP of $1.5 trillion. They generate $1.7 trillion worth of trade annually, a figure that is likely to increase significantly if Southeast Asian countries maintain projected growth rates of 5% to 6% over the next few years.

The Malaysia Institute for Supply Chain Innovation (MISI) brings leading faculty, graduate students, and research staff together with prominent global companies and organizations to engage in cutting edge research. MISI will enable closer cooperation between industry and academia in funding research and using the results of the academic research to rapidly reap commercial benefits. An advisory council made up of leading companies plays a crucial role in helping to shape the work and generate new ideas.

Companies may sponsor research projects directly or as part of larger consortia. Faculty from MISI, the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics, and other leading universities actively participate in the research efforts. Faculty and companies work together to identify relevant and challenging problems.

Faculty members also lead the efforts of graduate students working on doctoral dissertations and master’s thesis projects. Such collaboration provides excellent context for student research and direct benefit to the participating companies. MISI member companies will have special privileges in sponsoring doctoral students and in defining and selecting master’s thesis projects. Final presentations are made to the thesis committee, which includes the participating company representatives.