Congratulation to UTM on gaining Research status.Proton (Lotus) to have professorship chair.

UTM a Johor (Iskandar region) based public University has just received Research status.
The Managing Director of Proton makes an interesting comment regarding Lotus.
Tony Fernandes received an honorary Doctorate from UTM in the recent past.
I have copied this quote directly from the UTM site.
Dato’ Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir Managing Director, Proton Holdings Sdn. Bhd.


 “Proton and UTM have initiated a professorship chair to further promote research and collaboration between the private sector and public institutions of higher learning. Jointly, Proton and UTM will conduct research to improve current technologies while developing new areas of research for green technology. This would include the involvement of Lotus.”

I have to assume the MD meant Group Lotus. Lotus F1 already has partnership agreements in place with both Petronas University and UTM.
I'd be interested to know what a "Professorship chair" entails exactly.