Prof. Dr. Ong Wee Jun Wins National Young Scientist Award 2025 from MOSTI

Published on December 4, 2025

On 20 November 2025, Prof. Dr. Ong Wee Jun from the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering at Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM) was honored with the National Young Scientist Award (Anugerah Saintis Muda Negara, ASMN) 2025 in the "Engineering" category.

Prof. Ong Wee Jun receives the National Young Scientist Award 2025 (Engineering) from YB Tuan Chang Lih Kang.

Established in 1985 and administered by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), the ASMN recognizes outstanding scientists under 40 for their contributions to research, innovation, and national development. The selection process involves rigorous scientific merit reviews, assessments by national-level panels, and detailed impact evaluations. Each year, only one award is given per major discipline.

Prof. Ong Wee Jun now serves as the Director of the Center of Excellence for NaNo Energy & Catalysis Technology (CONNECT) and Assistant Dean of the School. He has an H-index of 75 and over 27,500 citations, and has been named a Clarivate Top 1% Highly Cited Researcher for seven consecutive years.

The award ceremony in Kuala Lumpur was attended by YB Tuan Chang Lih Kang, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, who presented the certificates to five outstanding young scientists from five different fields - Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Medicine.

Prof. Ong Wee Jun's research focuses on clean energy, climate mitigation, and sustainable resource use. He develops "Solar-to-X" technologies, designing atomically precise nanocatalysts and highly efficient solar-driven systems - known as "artificial leaves" and "solar refineries" - that can convert waste such as carbon dioxide, plastics, and biomass into hydrogen, sustainable fuels, and useful chemicals.

He is involved in national initiatives including the Biomass Innovation Circular Economy Programme (BICEP) and collaborations with PETRONAS on carbon conversion technologies. These projects, supported by more than RM 10 million in research funding, contribute to Malaysia's energy transition and the development of sustainable industrial processes.

Looking ahead, Prof. Ong Wee Jun's vision aligns with Malaysia's long-term national objectives, including the Thirteenth Malaysia Plan (RMK-13) and the ASEAN 2045 agenda. He aims to integrate solar technologies and hydrogen-based circular systems into the national energy infrastructure, positioning Malaysia as both a user and a global leader in sustainable energy innovation.

"Our mission is to transform challenges into opportunities through science. From solar-to-hydrogen systems to waste-to-wealth technologies, we aim to create real impact for Malaysia and the world," Prof. Ong Wee Jun said.

Reflecting the award, Prof. Ong Wee Jun emphasized that the recognition belongs to all who contributed to the journey: "This achievement is not mine alone. To my research team members, collaborators, sponsors, advisors, family, friends, and XMUM management - thank you for believing in our mission."

He also acknowledged key partners, including NanoMalaysia Berhad (NMB), PETRONAS, MOSTI, Merdeka Award, and other collaborators supporting the advancement of clean energy technologies with national and global impact.