KAO Malaysia and Universiti Malaya (UM) have announced the successful completion of the “Skin Protection, Life Perfection” campaign with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), formalising their joint commitment to advancing public health through skincare education and research.
As part of this collaboration, KAO Malaysia, through its leading skincare brand Bioré, is contributing RM50,000 in funding across two flagship initiatives led by Universiti Malaya. The first initiative is a community engagement programme titled “Beautiful Change Begins with Us,” managed by the Universiti Malaya Community Engagement Centre (UMCares). This programme focuses on hygiene awareness, environmental sustainability, and positive mental wellness for teenagers, adults, and children. The second initiative is a research collaboration titled “Innovative Clean Skincare Formulations for Skin Protection and Healthy Living,” which will be conducted by the Faculty of Science at Universiti Malaya. Both projects are part of KAO Malaysia’s 1% pledge of Bioré product sales to support local skin health research.
Mr. Yamazaki Hirobumi, President of KAO Malaysia, highlighted the significance of the collaboration, stating that the partnership reflects KAO’s commitment to going beyond product innovation to create meaningful, science-driven impact in the communities it serves. He emphasised that skin protection is not just a personal care choice but a public health responsibility, and expressed pride in working with Universiti Malaya to advance this vision for the benefit of all Malaysians.
This MoU marks KAO Malaysia’s first academic partnership with an educational institution in the country. Through this collaboration, KAO and UM aim to bridge science and public awareness to position skincare as a fundamental pillar of community health. Guided by the shared vision of “Skin Protection, Life Perfection,” the campaign initially began as a community awareness initiative and has now been extended through KAO’s funding support. This will enable Universiti Malaya to strengthen its community engagement programmes and enhance its research efforts with new resources and equipment for long-term impact in skin health and wellness education.
Associate Professor ChM. Dr. Noraini Ahmad, Director of UMCares, expressed her gratitude for the collaboration, noting that the MoU opens new opportunities to translate academic research into practical solutions. She added that the partnership will drive advancements in clean formulation development while fostering greater community engagement.
The MoU was officially signed between Mr. Yamazaki Hirobumi, President of KAO Malaysia, and Professor Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Noor Azuan Abu Osman, Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Malaya. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Watsons Malaysia and included a symbolic donation handover to mark the shared commitment of all parties toward meaningful collaboration.
The “Skin Protection, Life Perfection” campaign was originally launched in May 2025 in partnership with Watsons, championing skin protection as the key to confidence. Powered by Bioré’s “Cleanse. Protect.” philosophy, the initiative combined expert education, engaging consumer experiences, and a pledge of one percent of product sales to support local research. With Universiti Malaya and skincare professionals lending their expertise, Watsons helped bring the campaign to life nationwide with exclusive rewards and member perks.
With the signing of the MoU, the partnership now moves forward with a long-term commitment to advancing skin health, ensuring that the collaboration between KAO Malaysia, Universiti Malaya, and Watsons will continue to benefit communities across Malaysia for years to come.