Focus on marine biotech

KOTA KINABALU, April 6 (Daily Express) -- Sabah can expect huge allocations from the Federal Government under the Tenth Malaysia Plan (10MP) next year to develop its marine bio-technology.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus J. Ongkili said this is due to the potential in Sabah's marine sector.

He said the waterfronts surrounding the State from Sindumin up to Kudat and southward to Semporna and Pulau Sebatik are rich in marine life.

"So, under the Tenth Malaysia Plan, the Government would be setting aside allocations for the development of marine bio-technology in Sabah," he said at the Research and Innovation Competition 2010 (Pereka2010) cum signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) with Sirim and MyIPO.

He said priority is given to Sabah because of its strength in marine bio-technology, an effort largely undertaken by the UMS.

He said the State's marine wealth is largely under-tapped and thus bio-technology could be the platform to exploit its potential.

On the allocation of RM500,000 for the UMS under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP), Dr Ongkili said the fund is to support some of the research carried out by the institute of higher learning.

He said there was hardly anything left from the allocation of RM1.7 million from last year for science projects. Hence, he said the remainder of the funds could be converted to technology funds.

Nevertheless, Dr Ongkili said his Ministry wants to look at the bio-technology research carried out by the UMS before channelling the funds.

Some of the research are like the upscaling of the light-emitting algae in marine bio-technology and to convert it as an energy source.

Sabah, he said, has huge potential in this and, thus, was among the reasons why the State is given priority in bio-technology in the 10MP next year.

Other states would also be allocated with funds for the development of their respective bio-technology sector.

On the establishment of the National Innovation Centre (MyNIC), Dr Ongkili said it is at the final stage of completion. "The centre would be ready hopefully by end of this month or in May," he said.

He said the role of the MyNIC is to bring the research into market or into contact with the market.

"While the ultimate aim is for the private sectors to take up investments, MyNIC will provide the platform and ecosystem for these matching," he said.

He stressed that the centre's role is not merely as a business facilitator but in line with the New Economic Model (NEM) of less government in business.

The MyNIC, he said would be the powerhouse for innovation in the country.

Currently, he said the government is well focused on R&D but added there are legitimate concerns on the inadequacy of downstream policy, strategy and activities, namely in innovation and commercialisation and entrepreneurship.

Therefore, he said they need to re-strategise the current focus and further enhance the other end of the R&D spectrum.

The MyNIC, he said is to focus on the development of ideas, prototype or pilot plants and the commercialisation aspects of these innovations.

"MyNIC will power ideas into the commercial market, thus contributing to the economic prosperity," he said.

Dr Ongkili said the innovation centre would be the central engine that drives the innovation agenda, through a network of innovation centres of excellence (i-coes).

The i-coes, he said would be the platform where research, innovation, development and commercialisation are being pursued in the universities, research institutes and the industry.

"This framework would enable innovation activities to nurture and thrive while avoiding duplication of human capital, wastage of resources and infrastructure.

"They will have a viable industry linkage thus allowing facilitated commercialisation of R&D products to the global market," he said.