Propelling research outcomes to market

Transcription

November 2014 - March 2015 | Complimentary Issue
my.linkedin.com/malaysian-technology-development-corporation
Propelling research outcomes to market
compared to other countries.
Basically, the challenges are
in developing the technology
and bringing it to the markethere, the issue of speed maybe
more relevant as compared
to developed countries,
access to and size of markettechnopreneurs need to think
global from the start, as well
as funding opportunities
and risks appetite of funders
especially private funders.
There are also, depending on
industries, some challenges
on the soft infrastructure eg
standards and harmonization
between countries.
The Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) is a global body that supports
and advances academic technology between science and industries. This international
caucus serves as a catalyst to propel research outcomes from the laboratory into
beneficial products to serve humanity. As MTDC is one of the pioneers in the country
to bond the private and the public sector and nurture technology-based companies,
we take this opportunity to interview its CEO, Dato’ Norhalim Yunus (pix). MTDC will be
hosting AUTM Asia 2015 next month in Kuala Lumpur. The conference will see the largest
gathering of academia research institutions, industry, technology transfer professionals
and entrepreneurs in Asia.
Can you provide a brief history of MTDC and
its role in nation building and developing
entrepreneurship in the field of science &
technology?
Malaysian
Technology
Development
Corporation (MTDC), a company whollyowned by Khazanah Nasional Berhad, was
established by the Government in 1992 to be the
intermediary organisation between universities
and industry, and to support the development
of technology-based companies in Malaysia
especially those which commercialised
universities’ technologies.
It has also been entrusted by the Government to
manage various grants and funds for Malaysian
companies to increase their technology content
via commercialisation of local research and
development (R&D) and / or acquisition of
foreign technology. In addition, MTDC also
manages Technology Centres which focus on
various industry clusters located at several
universities and research institutes.
Under the 10th Malaysia Plan, the role of
MTDC had been expanded to create an
integrated ecosystem for commercialisation of
homegrown technologies – providing a range
of funds which are designed to assist companies
across their development stages, several
locations for them to locate their businesses
and a comprehensive list of advisory services
including assistance to go international.
To date how many companies have MTDC
nurtured and what are their socioeconomic
contribution to the country?
Since its inception, MTDC has nurtured over
600 companies under the Commercialisation
of Research and Development Fund (CRDF)
and Technology Acquisition Fund (TAF)
programme. Based on a recent study
commissioned by MTDC, the combined total
sales of a sampling of these companies was RM
1.824 billion. These companies also created a
total of 5,250 new jobs and filed 510 Intellectual
Property Rights.
Can you provide a rough breakdown of the
companies under MTDC and the disciplines
there are involved in?
MTDC funds technology-based companies
- basically we have all disciplines covered,
from advanced material to agriculture to
engineering. Biotech and manufacturing are
the most dominant sectors.
What made you bring AUTM to Malaysia?
We need to increase the technology content
and capability of our SMEs as well as create new
technology companies. The best and relatively
affordable source of technology would be the
local universities and research institutes . To
ensure technology does get transferred out
from the labs to the industries, knowledge
on the technology transfer processes is as
important as establishing the ecosystem for
this to take place. AUTM conference is one of
the avenues where professionals in technology
transfer and commercialisation congregate
to exchange experience and best practices
amongst the community.
AUTM conferences are usually held in USA.
Since the last four years though, AUTM has
started organising AUTM Asia. And this is
great for our community. Bringing AUTM
Asia to Kuala Lumpur makes the cost of
attaining knowledge on technology transfer
and establishing regional networks cheaper to
all Malaysians as well as technology transfer
professionals from ASEAN countries.
The more people understand the importance
of technology transfer and commercialisation
and it’s processes, the more conducive will the
ecosystem be. Everybody will benefit!
In addition to that, being host of AUTM Asia
provides MTDC and Malaysia an opportunity
to foster greater collaborations between
ASEAN organisations. Taking note of the fact
that Malaysia is the Chairman of ASEAN for
2015.
How did you manage to bring this high
profile conference to Malaysia and what were
the pull factors that made Malaysia the host?
MTDC organises an annual conference relevant
to AUTM ie MTDC’s Technology Transfer
& Commercialisation Conference (MTCC)
which has acquired a good footing to attract
local as well as international delegates.
During MTCC 2013, the then President of
AUTM, Mr Sean Flanigan was one of the
plenary speakers. It was a very successful
conference, well attended and vibrant with
good discussions on various topics related
to university technology transfer. We then
received an invitation to submit a proposal for
AUTM Asia 2015. We submitted the proposal
and during AUTM Asia Taipei 2014, MTDC
was announced as the next host.
What are the direct benefits of AUTM to local
researchers, academia and companies?
One of the things we need to do is to increase
the rate of technology transfer from the institute
of higher learnings and research institutes to
the industry. AUTM Asia 2015 Kuala Lumpur
will bring together both groups. Since our
inception in 1992, we have assisted more than
600 local companies to acquire technology. We
have technology centres in five research entities
in Malaysia. The upcoming event will be their
meeting point and the potential of networks
that can be established is tremendous. In
addition to that, there is that opportunity to
be part of the international community of
technology transfer professionals. There are
ideas to be exchanged, lessons to be learnt,
pitfalls to be avoided and best practices to be
emulated amongst participants.
What are the
entrepreneurs
Malaysia?
The challenges
companies in
main challenges faced by
involved in the S&T in
faced by technology-based
Malaysia are not unique
How does MTDC intend to
address these challenges?
We
have
been
doing
a
lot
of
things
to
continuously
improve
the various components
of the commercialisation
ecosystem. In fact we have
evolved continously too, to
adapt and to take the lead in
forging closer collaborations
between all the main players, the Triple Helix
if you like. We started as a purely conventional
venture capital company.
Today we like to see ourselves as an integrated
technology development
organisation
providing a complete range of solutions to
our clients. Of course, some are provided by
MTDC itself and some by our partners. We
strongly believe in inculcating a symbiotic
relationship where everyone benefits from
the partnership. Strong partnership with
universities will assist in speedier technology
transfer as well as bringing a product to the
market. We also work with banks and other
financing bodies to compliment our funding
regime. Besides that we work very closely with
other government agencies who could assist
companies to enter markets both here and
overseas. The final challenge is the quality and
the number of entrepreneurs itself. Because
technology cannot and does not sell by itself,
we need a good number of entrepreneurs who
are willing to take the risk of commercialising
university technologies.
We have started a program which we called
Symbiosis to create new entrepreneurs. We also
work with the Ministry of Education to foster
closer university-industry collaboration via
the recently launched Public-Private Research
Network (PPRN)
How would you describe MTDC’s aspiration
for Malaysia?
We share the vision of the country. We see
Malaysia as a member of the developed
countries community in 2020, driven by its
entrepreneurs and industries that are in turn
powered by technologies developed via local
research, collaborative cross border R&D and
business partnerships, and judicious foreign
technology acquisition . After all, these are the
three things we are working on right now.
2 | MTDC NEWS November 2014 - March 2015
Linking
industry
and
academics
KUALA LUMPUR: The Public-Private Research Network
(PPRN) will be a catalyst for innovation, knowledgesharing and technological advancement for local
companies once it goes into full gear next year.
The PPRN, first announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri
Najib Razak when he tabled the 2015 budget, is currently
in its second pilot test.
He said there were over 40,000 lecturers and researchers
in the country but a lot of research related to technology
and industries was supply-driven.
“We want to shift to more demand-driven research,” he
said, adding that the PPRN would seek to solve specific
issues faced by companies in relation to the application
of technology.
He said that aside from the matching role it played, PPRN
would also create an ecosystem of knowledge in the
country at a cost advantage to local companies.
The government has allocated RM50 million for research
grants, but the cost of each research would be borne by
both the company involved and the government.
Also at the press conference was PPRN advisor Prof Diego
Comin, who said Malaysian companies needed to invest
more in technology in order to be more competitive.
The initiative is a collaboration between the Education
Ministry,
Malaysian
Technology
Development
Corporation, SME Corp and private industries.
Comin said there were three main problems faced
by companies in this respect, such as looking for a
researcher, drawing up a contract to protect intellectual
properties and encapsulating knowledge spillover.
Speaking at a press conference on the project, Education
Ministry secretary-general II Datuk Seri Zaini Ujang said
PPRN would bridge the gap between the needs of the
industries and the knowledge of academics.
He said there were also cases where researchers had
been pushed to develop new products and failed,
as they lacked other skills and knowledge, such as
marketing and management.
This, he said, was where PPRN could play a role, by
bridging the gap between industries and academicians,
and helping draw up contracts between the parties
involved.
Comin predicted that PPRN would act as a catalyst for
companies to work more with academicians in the
future, as well as create job opportunities in which
companies hired academicians to work directly for them.
Bioalpha to raise RM20m from IPO
PETALING JAYA: Bioalpha Holdings Bhd, an integrated
health supplements company, will offer 100 million new
shares at 20 sen each to raise RM20 million from its initial
public offering slated for March 26.
Bioalpha will offer 100 million new shares, of which, 80
million units will be placed to selected investors. The
remaining 20 million shares will be offered to the public.
A major portion of the proceeds will be used for
research and development (R&D) expenditures, capital
expenditures (capex), repayment of bank borrowings as
well as working capital to finance its business expansion.
It will set aside RM3 million for capex to be used for the
setting up of a primary processing plant with a built-up
area of about 10,000 sq ft in Pasir Raja, Terengganu.
The funds earmarked for R&D will be used to upgrade
their laboratory facilities as well as go towards the
development of fermentation processes for four new
medicinal mushroom strains.
The company is expected to have a market capitalisation
of about RM92.7 million upon listing.
The Ministry of Finance Inc owns a controlling 51.4%
indirect stake in Bioalpha, of which, a 22.4% portion is
held via Khazanah Nasional Bhd.
Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd is acting as the company’s
adviser, sponsor, underwriter and placement agent for
the IPO.
Speaking at the company’s prospectus launch yesterday,
its independent non-executive chairman Tan Sri Abdul
Rahmat Mamat said that the health supplement industry
both locally as well as internationally has immense
potential for growth.
Source : New Straits Times
Sentinext Secures US$14
Million For HFMD Vaccine new plant
by DJOHAN SHAHRIN SHAH
by SHARIDAN M. ALI
Asian Scientist (Nov. 13, 2014) Sentinext Therapeutics, a Malaysian
biotechnology company focused on
developing vaccines for infectious
diseases, has successfully completed
a Series B round of financing worth
US$14 million. The proceeds of the
fundraise will advance the development
of Sentinext’s bivalent virus-like
particle (VLP) vaccine against hand,
foot & mouth disease (HMFD), which
will include a Phase I clinical trial
commencing in 2015. In addition, the
Company is advancing its VLP Polio
program (in conjunction with the Bill
and Melinda Gates Foundation) and is
developing other enterovirus vaccine
candidates, including EV68 which has
recently been widely reported in the US.
Ace Market candidate expects to
raise RM20mil from listing
The Picorna VLP “Plug and Prepare”
platform technology developed by
Sentinext permits rapid generation
of VLPs for advancement of vaccine
candidates against any picorna virus
disease of humans and animals. The
new round of financing brings together
new investment from Malaysia Venture
Capital Management Berhad (MAVCAP)
and Agensi Inovasi Malaysia (AIM), as
well as further funding from existing
investors: Malaysian Life Sciences
Capital Fund (MLSCF) and Malaysian
Technology Development Corporation
(MTDC). Messrs. Amiruddin Azahar,
“VLPs
have
several
important
advantages over traditional vaccine
approaches. HFMD continues to be a
significant problem in China, Japan
and SE Asia. Furthermore, our work
on a VLP Polio vaccine provides a
potential medium to long term solution
for the disease.” Read more from Asian
Scientist Magazine at: http://www.
asianscientist.com/2014/11/pharma/
sentinext-secures-us14-million-hfmdvaccine/
(Sentinext is an investee company of MTDC)
Source : Sentinext Therapeutics
Bioalpha is an integrated herbal supplements company
whose subsidiaries are principally involved in the
manufacturing and sales of semi-finished and finished
health supplement products as an original design
manufacturer (ODM) as well as under its house brands.
Bioalpha’s health supplement products comprise
processed herbs, formulated ingredients, functional
foods as well as herbal and non-herbal supplements.
Their operations includes the cultivation of raw
herbal materials on their herb farms and in their liquid
fermentation plant, right up to the processing and
packaging of the said herbs into semi-finished and
finished formulations.
The company’s herb farms are currently located in
Desaru, Johor and Pasir Raja, Terengganu, while their
liquid fermentation facility is located in Bangi together
with their headquarters.
Bioalpha currently manufactures a variety of different
products under their house brands, Apotec, Nushine,
Alphanex and Bexlimas well as a number of other health
supplement products as an ODM.
(Bioalpha is an investee company of MTDC)
Source : The Sun Daily
Bioalpha plans
representing MAVCAP, and Naser
Jaffar, representing AIM, will also join
the Board of Directors of Sentinext.
Commenting on the fund raise, Mr.
David Lawrence, Chief Executive of
Sentinext, said: “This is a significant step
for our company in the development of
our VLP technology platform which has
the potential to revolutionize vaccines
for several key infectious diseases.”
“Through the strategic expansion plans we have in place,
I believe that Bioalpha will be ideally positioned to take
advantage of these burgeoning market opportunities,
buoyed by the equity capital we now have access to. We
remain committed to ensuring our profitability,
balanced with fiscally responsible growth to continue to
create value for both our shareholders and stakeholders
alike,” he said in a statement yesterday.
BANGI: Bioalpha Holdings Bhd, en
route to listing on the Ace Market of
Bursa Malaysia early next month, is
expected to raise about RM20mil in
proceeds that will mainly be utilised as
working capital, for the construction
of a new factory, research and
development as well as e-payment of
borrowing.
Managing
director
cum
chief
executive officer William Hon Kok
Tian is currently the single largest
shareholder of the integrated health
supplement company.
Other two major shareholders are
Malaysia Technology Development
Corp (MTDC) and Perbadanan
Nasional Bhd. Both have been with
the company since 2008 and 2014
respectively.
Bioalpha is principally involved in
the manufacturing and sales of
semi-finished and finished health
supplement products as an original
design manufacturer (ODM) as well as
under its house brands.
The company, which is launching
its prospectus today, is expected to
maintain its dividend policy of 30% of
its after-tax profit.
Bioalpha’s listing is expected to attract
investor interest as the counter will
be involved in full-value chain – from
farming to retailing – of the lucrative
health supplement products.
The company posted net profit of
RM6.3mil on the back of RM24.5mil
revenue for the year ended Sept 30,
2013.
“Our core business and strength
lie on our ODM segment serving
multinational clients with health
products available in local pharmacies.
“We have our own farms in Desaru and Pasir
Raja planted with local herbs such as roselle,
kacip fatimah and misai kucing. Additionally,
we have two factories in Semenyih and Bangi
and a flagship Lifesprings pharmacy
in Solaris Mon’t Kiara”.
“We plan to add more outlets
throughout the year and currently we
are among eight anchor companies
chosen by Pemandu to do clinical
trials to substantiate two herb-based
medicine products for diabetes and
lessen menopause symptoms.
“Health supplements industry is a
growing and recession-proof industry
and we are targeting to serve more of
the middle-income consumer market
in line with the improving socioeconomic demographic the country, ”
he told StarBiz.
Hon pointed out that Bioalpha also
managed to “clone” expensive herbs
such as quadriceps through its
patented fermentation process that
lowered lthe cost importing of the
once a year harvested plant without
compromising its original health
benefits.
“We also have three of our own inhouse brandnames which feature an
array of more than 100 products.
“Our farms also supply raw materials
to
other
health
supplement
manufacturers,” he said.
Source : The Star
MTDC NEWS November 2014 - March 2015|3
Tapping our niche in Asean Economic Community
This is where entrepreneurship is different. We can
know their aspirations, understand their attitudes
and coordinate their actions. Recent studies have
shown, for example, that Malaysians’ fear of failure
has more than halved since 2009.
Malaysian entrepreneurs are mainly improvementdriven as opposed to necessity-driven, and less
than half see entrepreneurship as a good career
choice (Malaysian GEM Entrepreneurship Report
2013/2014). This information can and should guide
our national entrepreneurship strategies.
For Malaysia to take advantage of the AEC, an
important factor will be entrepreneurship and its
development. An enlarged common market will
require competitive goods and services. Our economy
needs to increase its level of entrepreneurship.
We cannot easily follow or copy what other
innovation-driven nations do. The Malaysian scenario
has its own history, demographics, political and
geographical structure, and values. Instead, we
should follow how
other
innovationdriven nations think
when designing the
means of achieving
their goals.
THERE is much anticipation as Asean moves into 2015
with the avowed single-market and production base
— and, as a consequence, full integration into the
global economy.
Ideally, it should make Asean a more competitive
trading partner, globally. Malaysia will assume the
chair of Asean next year, and the Asean Economic
Community (AEC) will be a centrepiece of much
deliberation.
Based on the economic communities that have
been forged globally, one can envisage the obvious
challenges — wide development gaps, increased
competition and inadequate infrastructure, to name
a few.
Nations should, therefore, prepare for growing pains
or “membership remorse” at being a part of this
community. In other words, it will be a mixed blessing.
We have a situation where, within Southeast Asia,
factor-driven, efficiency-driven and innovationdriven economies will compete for the Asean market.
Advanced economies will be pitted against less
advanced economies. So, what’s a nation to do?
These challenges, from an entrepreneurial
perspective, are opportunities. They represent gaps
that Malaysia can fill within Asean — from electronics,
healthcare, food and agriculture, transportation and
Forward leap
oleh LIM WING HOOI
DNA Laboratories, which does DNA
testing, was set up by a researcher who
wanted to see the application of some of
his work
If American inventor Thomas Alva Edison’s
dictum on research is “I have not failed. I’ve
just found 10,000 ways that won’t work”, then
DNA Laboratories Sdn Bhd’s founder and
chief technical officer Dr Wong Yong Wee’s
elaboration on this would be: Every answer
leads to another 10 questions.
The company, which provides DNA-based
screening and diagnostic services, particularly
for obstetrics and gynaecology (OB/GYN),
was established in 2007 and currently has it
headquarters in the UKM-MTDC Technology
Centre, Bangi, Selangor.
Some of the tests they do include prenatal
tests during pregnancy to screen for specific
inherited disorders in unborn babies.
There are many different types of prenatal
energy, to innovative devices that reduce mosquitoborne diseases, like Aedes and malaria.
We will need to take a Kirznerian approach and
introduce
incremental
improvements
where
needed in uncharted and less developed markets,
while introducing game-changing Shumpetarian
approaches for the more developed ones. This will
require an entrepreneurial mindset and vision.
When these outcomes come to pass, the nation and
its people will enjoy social inclusion, human-skill
enrichment, a good quality of life and, with overall
good governance and transformation, an inclusive
economy.
So, why can’t existing strategies work this
entrepreneurial potion? Usually, existing strategies
within nations have been repeats of old approaches
with new names, akin to management fads.
Unfortunately, economic policy decision-making
involving entrepreneurship development also
succumbs to such a rehash.
They go by many names — growth corridors,
innovation systems and cluster strategies — but they
remain a top down industrial planning design.
The economic players are faceless. We do not know
their aspirations, attitudes, actions and outcomes of
their behaviour.
tests available. These range from non-invasive
ultrasounds and blood tests called “screening
tests”, to more invasive procedures called
“diagnostic tests” that obtain cells from inside a
woman’s uterus for an examination of the baby’s
chromosomes.
The company is the Star Business Awards 2014
Silver award winner for the Best in Marketing
category.
“In this line, understanding the principles
(behind something) is vital, not just applying
the protocols,” Wong tells Metrobiz.
A holistic approach
is called for. All the
components of an
entrepreneurial
ecosystem
must
move in tandem. A
piecemeal, stop-andstart intervention to
grow entrepreneurship
will
only
increase
setbacks and create
frustration.
The Malaysian government has an immense
commitment to entrepreneurship development.
We have the advantage of committed and good
governance by institutions and agencies, including
the National Science and Research Council, MIMOS
(Malaysian Institute of Microelectronic Systems),
Teraju, MTDC (Malaysia Technology Development
Corporation) and SME Corporation Malaysia (Small
and Medium Enterprises Corporation).
Ideally, with their resources, they should spur
revolutionary approaches that are game-changing at
the regional level.
They must set regional targets. Their attempts at
change should have clear demarcations. They should
have verifiable methods of measuring outputs that
will stand up to scrutiny. In an open market scenario,
window dressing will not do. Will they get it right?
Most likely not. It will be a shoot-and-miss attempt.
This is acceptable provided they regauge and keep
shooting. Such reiteration can only lead to further
improvements.
Entrepreneurship
results in positive
spillovers, like
wealth and job
creation. This
leads to taxes for
governments and
appeases digital-age
youths, who expect
jobs.
The recent Universiti
Tun Abdul RazakInternational
Development Reseach Centre Southeast Asia
GEM Entrepreneurial Framework Conditions study
2013/2014 clearly shows where we stand in relation
to our Asean neighbours.
For example, our internal market dynamics (changes
in markets for consumer and business-to-business
goods and services) score the lowest due, in no small
part, to our relatively smaller population.
However, where entrepreneurial finance, physical
infrastructure and research and development transfer
is concerned, we are comparatively ahead of most.
Taken together, the imperatives to grow our markets
and opportunities for exploiting our strengths, and
taking advantage of the AEC becomes all the more
obvious.
In this regard, we should not accept
self-employment or business as
usual as entrepreneurship. To gain
a foothold, be it in branding or
market share within this region,
we must add value. Value addition
can translate into growth and
sustainability.
We need to make quality of
entrepreneurs our aim rather than
quantity. They will need motivation,
strategic funding and expert
attention to build their prototypes
and test them regionally. Ours will
be a market of 600 million, not 29
million.
Established
and
regionalised
corporations can play a critical role.
They can impart big-company skills
for products and services. They may
also become the entrepreneurs’
customers. CIMB, Petronas, Sime Darby, YTL and
AirAsia are examples of such corporations. Many
have started investment initiatives to promote
entrepreneurship, both directly and indirectly.
It should be clear that entrepreneurship is a gain
for all of society. And so, all of society has a role
to play to ensure our entrepreneurial gains. The
enlarged economic community of Asean will be our
marketplace, and we must play to win.
The governmental initiatives are already in place. It
is up to us all, as stakeholders, to avoid forced and
unforced errors so that we may gain and keep our
advantage.
Wong and his partners decided that setting up
shop as a laboratory service provider was the
more feasible route to take.
“While doing post-doctoral research at a
molecular neurobiology centre in Germany,
we came across more accurate ways to look for
diseases using DNA testing,” Wong says.
This procedure would naturally cost more than
the usual blood sample test, but Wong says
a DNA test is definitely more sensitive and
specific.
Wong’s view on research led to him thinking
that there could be no end to scientific inquiry,
and that one could spend one’s whole life in the
labs without ever seeing one’s findings being
applied in society.
Illustrating this point with the example of
checking whether a virus was present in a
blood sample, he says lab technicians would
look for antibodies and antigen which might
exist, meaning that the antibody ‘marked’ the
existence of the virus.
This thought eventually made Wong take the
leap of faith into entrepreneurship. He managed
to get three investors’ backing and then began
looking for business models that could utilise
science to serve society.
“But a virus may take time to replicate or the
antibody may need time to develop, hence if
one were to simply draw from a blood sample,
the virus may not have multiplied enough to
appear in a blood test,” he says.
Some wild ideas, including building new medical
devices, came to mind. But knowing that this
would be capital intensive and that it would
take a long time to recoup the investments,
Simply put, as astronomer Carl Sagan had
it: “Absence of evidence is not evidence of
absence.” Wong elaborates that if testing were
to be done via nuclei acid testing, it would have
a higher chance of detecting the virus using the
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) equipment
which is able to amplify and detect the targeted
DNA from the sample tested.
PCR is a technology in molecular biology used
to amplify a single copy or a few copies of a
piece of DNA to generate thousands to millions
of copies.
“We can then detect the DNA that is specific to
the virus,” he says.
To date, the company has invested over RM3.5mil
in acquiring new technologies and expanding
its staff to 45, including marketing personnel
and laboratory executives with background in
life sciences.
Wong says there is potential here in Malaysia for
such tests as local healthcare companies usually
send their specimens overseas for molecular
diagnostic testing.
“The tests (then) become costly, and the test
results take a longer time to come back. We
can do the same molecular testing and keep it
affordable for all Malaysians,” he concludes.
(DNA Laboratories is CRDF recipient company of MTDC)
PROGRAM RANGKAIAN PENYELIDIKAN AWAM-SWASTA
Jalin inovasi pihak
akademik, industri
oleh BERNAMA
Melalui
platform ini,
peserta daripada
industri akan
membentangkan
permasalahan
berkaitan teknologi
yang dihadapi
Dr Zaini Ujang
Sumber : Harian Metro
Sumber : Berita Harian
Tidak semua hasil R&D
boleh dikomersialkan
keusahawanan,” katanya.
B eliau
berkata
demikian
dalam sidang akhbar selepas
menyempurnakan Persidangan
Komersial
Teknologi
2014
bertemakan ‘Kerjasama Strategik:
Masa Untuk Berfikir Semula’ anjuran
Perbadanan Pembangunan Teknologi
Malaysia (MTDC), di sini hari ini.
Yang turut hadir, Pengerusi MTDC,
Datuk Siti Hadzar Mohd. Ismail dan
Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif MTDC,
Datuk Norhalim Yunus dan Naib
Canselor UiTM, Datuk Prof. Dr. Sahul
Hamid Abu Bakar.
KUALA LUMPUR 11 Nov. –
Tidak semua hasil penyelidikan
dan pembangunan (R&D) boleh
dikomersialkan kerana ada juga
yang dijalankan untuk memenuhi
keperluan bidang ilmiah tertentu.
Menteri Pendidikan II, Datuk Seri Idris
Jusoh berkata, R&D merupakan nadi
utama institusi pengajian tinggi (IPT)
dalam meneroka ilmu pengetahuan
baharu manakala pengkomersialan
produk
daripada
penyelidikan
tersebut hanya sebahagian daripada
peratusan keperluan ijazah.
Katanya, beliau tidak bersetuju dengan
laporan sebuah akhbar tempatan barubaru ini yang mendakwa kurang dua
peratus daripada 27,449 hasil R&D di
15 IPT awam berjaya dikomersialkan
dalam tempoh lima hingga 10 tahun lalu.
“ Ke r a j a a n t i d a k p e r n a h melihat
R&D yang tidak dikomersialkan
itu sebagai satu pembaziran dan
bersifat syok sendiri kerana R&D di
negara ini berada pada kedudukan
yang memuaskan jika dibandingkan
dengan yang berjaya dipatenkan di
Amerika Syarikat iaitu kira-kira empat
hingga lima peratus.
“Di
bawah
Pelan
Pembangunan Pendidikan Malaysia
2013-2025, kerajaan sedang berusaha
untuk menguatkuasakan peranan
universiti tempatan supaya seiring
dengan perubahan industri selain
melahirkan
siswazah
berminda
Penyelidikan di universiti
tempatan bukan pembaziran
– Idris Jusoh
KUALA LUMPUR 11 Nov: Penyelidikan
universiti
tempatan
yang
tidak
dikomersialkan bukan merupakan satu
pembaziran, kata Menteri Pendidikan
Kedua Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh.
Dalam majlis tersebut, Idris turut
menyampaikan cek Anugerah Buku
Inovasi kepada empat institusi
pengajian tinggi awam (IPTA) yang
bekerjasama dengan MTDC dalam
melaksanakan R&D dalam bidang
inovasi.
IPTA tersebut yang setiap satunya
menerima
RM51,500
adalah
Universiti
Putra
Malaysia
(UPM), Universiti Teknologi Mara
(UiTM), Universiti Kebangsaan
Malaysia
(UKM)
dan
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).
Bioalpha disenarai
Bursa Malaysia
Bangi: Bioalpha Holdings Berhad
(Bioalpha)
syarikat
bioteknologi
berstatus BioNexus menjangkakan
untuk disenaraikan di Bursa Malaysia
menjelang suku kedua tahun ini.
Pengarah Urusannya, William Hon
berkata, pihaknya berasakan sudah tiba
masa untuk menyertai pasaran saham
tempatan dalam usaha meningkatkan
keupayaan syarikat untuk terus
berkembang ke pasaran lebih besar.
“Kami perlu akses kepada ekuiti untuk
memastikan kerja penyelidikan dan
pembangunan (R&D) dapat diteruskan
selain mengembangkan operasi dalam
bahagian peruncitan,” katanya selepas
lawatan media ke kilang Bioalpha, barubaru ini.
Dengan penyenaraian berkenaan,
secara tidak langsung dapat memberi
kredit kepada reputasi syarikat
memandangkan
syarikat
perlu
mengamalkan amalan korporat yang
telus.
“Melalui imej dan reputasi yang lebih
baik, ia akan memberi kelebihan
kepada
kami
terutama
dalam
menjalin kerjasama dengan syarikat
multinasional lain,” katanya.
Pemegang saham utama dalam syarikat
berkenaan adalah Perbadanan Nasional
Berhad (PNS) dan Malaysia Technology
Development Corporation (MTDC)
dengan pegangan terkumpul sebanyak
51 peratus.
Sumber : Utusan Malaysia
Sumber : Harian Metro
“Ini kerana penyelidikan di universiti
ini bukan ke arah pengkomersialan
semata-mata,
kerana
peningkatan
ilmu itu mustahak dan pada masa
yang sama bukannya semua kajian
boleh
dikomersialkan,”
katanya
kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan
Persidangan Pengkomersialan Teknologi
MTDC (Perbadanan Pembangunan
Teknologi Malaysia) di sini, hari ini.
“Program ini merupakan contoh
cemerlang
mengenai
perkongsian
strategik dan inovatif yang akan
menggalakkan kerjasama di kalangan ahli
akademik, industri dan kerajaan dengan
memanfaatkan potensi dan kekuatan
masing-masing,” katanya.
Malah, beliau berkata penyelidikan yang
tidak dikomersialkan itu dianggap sebagai
peningkatan ilmu secara lebih mendalam
mengenai bidang-bidang kajian yang
dilaksanakan sesebuah universiti.
Beliau berkata, sebagai langkah peneraju,
kerajaan dalam pembentangan Bajet 2015
baru-baru ini, telah memperuntukkan
RM50 juta untuk usaha penyelidikan di
universiti melalui rangkaian penyelidikan
swasta-awam.
“Baru-baru ini ada surat khabar
mengatakan bahawa penyelidikan tak
guna. Itu satu kenyataan yang tak berapa
kena, kerana ada juga penyelidikan
untuk meningkatkan ilmu universiti…
pengetahuan
meningkatkan
taraf
pengetahuan universiti.
“Melalui inisiatif ini, syarikat-syarikat
berpeluang berkongsi cabaran dan
masalah teknikal mereka dengan
penyelidik universiti dan institut
penyelidikan. Para penyelidik pula akan
menilai masalah dan mendapatkan
penyelesaian kepada syarikat.
Sebanyak 500 orang, terdiri daripada ahliahli akademik, penyelidik, usahawan,
penggubal dasar, pakar dalam bidang
teknologi dan pengurus dana menghadiri
persidangan dua hari anjuran MTDC.
Selain itu, Universiti Putra Malaysia
(UPM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
(UKM), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
(UTM) dan Universiti Teknologi Mara
(UiTM) hadiah buku inovasi MTDC
bernilai RM51,500 bagi setiap universiti.
Sumber : The Malaysian Times
MVETech is a BSF recipient company of MTDC)
Sumber: Utusan Malaysia
Bisnes sumber rezeki
S
IAPA
sangka
minat
untuk menceburi bidang
perniagaan yang tiba - tiba
terbit pada tahun akhir
pengajiannya di Universiti
Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
dalam bidang teknologi kimia
membuka lembaran baharu dalam
hiduo Penolong Pengurus Nourish
Care, Yun Irma Faizul Effendi
Yunal untuk menceburi bidang
perniagaan.
Tidak pernah terlintas dalam
kamus hidupnya untuk menjadi
seorang usahawan apatah lagi
memberi sepenuh perhatiannya
kepada bidang yang kini menjadi
pilihan untuk menyara hidup.
Mengakui
peritnya
untuk
membangunkan
sebuah
perniagaan, Yun Irma Faizul
Effendi tidak akan pernah berasa
selesa dengan kejayaan yang
dikecapinya hari ini walaupun
produk
syarikatnya
yang
menghasilkan makanan kesihatan,
Le’Natura
mula
diterima
masyarakat dan dikenali ramai.
Produk
biskut
serat
yang
menggunakan buah mengkudu
dan stevia yang dikatakan baik
dan berguna untuk membantu
pesakit diabetes, kanser, masalah
hati, tekanan darah tinggi dan
buah pinggang.
Produk tersebut berjaya memasuki
pasaran tempatan termasuk di
pasar raya utama menjadikan
mereka
lebih
bersemangat
meneruskan bisnes tersebut.
Malah pada satu peringkat, Yun
Irma Fazil Effendi dan rakan kongsi
yang juga isterinya, Aisyah Jacklin
Likan Bernabas Baie sentiasa ligat
berfikir mencari kaedah yang
terbaik untuk terus mempromosi
dan menjual produk kesihatan
keluaran syarikat mereka.
Antara cabaran yang perlu dihadapi
termasuk menukar persepsi orang
ramai mengenai diabetes dan
terlalu bergantung kepada ubatubatan untuk merawat penyakit
tersebut.
“Mengubah persepsi itu yang
menjadi cabaran kerana mahu
melihat pesakit diabetes atau
mereka yang mengutamakan soal
kesihatan menikmati rawatan atau
cara hidup sihat secara lebih santai
tanpa perlu menelan pil ubatubatan.
Namun, tiada istilah berputus asa
sebaliknya usaha dan semangat
kental sentiasa menjadi azimat
dalam sanubarinya agar terus
berjuang
membangunkan
perniagaan yang mula disukai itu.
Ini penting bagi memastikan
pengguna mengetahui kebaikan
produk biskutnya itu.
Dalam pada itu, beliau amat
bersyukur terpilih sebagai antara
peserta program FMBioSis kerana
pengalaman yang diterimanya
“Kita
mahu
orang
ramai amat bernilai dan sukar diperoleh.
mengetahui walaupunpun biskut
kesihatan syarikatnya tidak boleh Menurutnya, program tersebut
mengubati penyakit tersebut perlu terus dijalankan bagi
secara keseluruhan, namun boleh memberi peluang kepada golongan
mencegah penyakit penyakit siswazah menceburikan diri dalam
diabetes dengan menjadikannya perniagaan .
suplimen,” katanya ketika ditemui
Beliau percaya, inilah peluang
baru-baru ini.
bagi siswazah untuk mempelajari
Pun begitu, beliau mengakui mengenai bidang keusahawanan
minatnya dalam bidang perniagaan secara keseluruhan dan hanya
mustahil dipupuk sekiranya tidak boleh diterima melalui FMBioSIs.
diterima menyertai program
FMBioSis pada 2008.
Berbekalkan kepercayaan, usaha
serta dibantu oleh teknologi
bermutu tinggi dari FRIM, Impian
untuk bergelar usahawan berada
dalam genggaman dan tidak
musthail negara ini pada satu hari
nanti dikenali sebagai pengeluar
produk berasaskan mesra alam
yang utama.
Mereka yang ingin mendapatkan
maklumat
lanjut
boleh
menghubungi Yun Irma Effendi
di talian 03-62610753 atau emel
[email protected].
Menerusi
program
tersebut,
beliau mempelajari selok-belok
pernigaan menerusi bantuan
teknologi yang disediakan oleh
FRIM serta dana daripada MTDC.
Bantuan tersebut membolehkan
beliau memanfaatkan peluang
mengasah bakat berkomunikasi
dengan orang ramai atau pelabur
bagi memperkenalkab produk
keluaran syarikatnya.
Sebagai salah seorang perintis
dalam program pertam FMBioSis,
Yun Irma Faizul Effendi mengakui
beliau pada mulanya berdepan
masalah
untuk
memulakan
perniagaan, apatah lagi hanya
berlatar belakangkan pendidikan
sains.
YUN IRMA
FAIZUL EFFENDI
menunjukkan
produk biskut
kesihatan keluaran
syarikatnya.
Sumber: Utusan Malaysia
Raja papan buluh
oleh AHMAD FIESAL OTHMAN
penduduk luar bandar, BBCSB
berusaha
mendapatkan
pembiayaan untuk membina
kilang dan membuka ladang
buluh secara pajakan dan kontrak
perladangan yang diusahakan
masyarakat luar bandar.
KAPTEN (B) Kamarunsaman Awang bersama kakitangan syarikatnya.
- Foto Salhani Ibrahim
Detik peralihannya untuk bergelar
usahawan bermula selepas beliau
menamatkan
perkhidmatannya
sebagai pegawai tentera pada tahun
1995.
Mulanya, Kapten (B) Kamarunsaman
Awang berkhidmat sebagai Ketua
Pegawai Eksekutif Gerik Timber
Industries Sdn Bhd (GETI), anak
syarikat KUB Malaysia Bhd (KUB)
yang terbabit dalam industri kilang
papan.
Berikutan bekalan kayu balak yang
semakin berkurangan dan sukar
diperoleh, GETI yang 60 peratus
kepentingannya dimiliki oleh KUB
dan bakinya oleh Maju Kastera Sdn
Bhd (MKSB), kemudian beralih arah
dengan meneroka industri hiliran
buluh.
Syarikat itu menjalin kerjasama
dengan Universiti Putra Malaysia
(UPM) dan Institut Penyelidikan
Perhutanan Malaysia (FRIM) untuk
membangunkan projek hiliran
industri buluh.
Selepas beberapa tahun, KUB
menarik diri daripada projek
berkenaan dan MKSB meneruskan
usaha itu hingga membawa kepada
penubuhan
anak
syarikatnya,
Bamboo Bio Composites Sdn Bhd
(BBCSB) pada 29 Oktober 2004, yang
diasaskan oleh Kamarunsaman.
Ia memfokus kepada penyelidikan
dan
pembangunan
(R&D),
pengeluaran,
pemasaran
dan
pengedaran produk pepapan buluh.
menjadikan
daripada
berkenaan.
mereka sebahagian
keluarga
syarikat
Kamarunsaman berkata, pada masa
ini BBCSB boleh berbangga kerana
kawasan konsesi buluh seluas 1,900
hektar di Gerik, Perak, mengeluarkan
buluh tempatan yang dijadikan
bekalan untuk produk nilai tambah
yang dihasilkan di kilangnya
termasuk juga dari Sik, Kedah dan
Jeli, Kelantan.
Ia akhirnya berjaya mendapatkan
pembiayaan untuk membina kilang
bernilai RM30 juta di Grik, Perak
daripada Kementerian Kewangan
dan geran daripada Kementerian
Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi
(MOSTI) bagi mengeluarkan produk Sebagai
persediaan
untuk
pepapan buluh untuk kegunaan memastikan bekalan buluh yang
lantai buluh dan perabot.
mencukupi pada masa hadapan,
katanya, syarikat juga membuka
Kilang yang siap dibina pada ladang buluh seluas 402 hektar di
2011 itu ketika ini berkeupayaan Kelantan yang diusahakan oleh
mengeluarkan
18,000
meter penduduk kampung untuk
persegi lantai buluh sebulan dan
Kamarunsaman berkata, pihaknya
mengambil masa kira-kira tujuh
tahun melakukan R&D bersama
dengan UPM dan FRIM untuk
mewujudkan
kepelbagaian
penggunaan buluh.
Katanya, buluh terutama digunakan
dalam menghasilkan pepapan
buluh untuk kegunaan sebagai
bahan asas pengeluaran komponen
perabot dan bahan binaan yang
mempunyai nilai tambah tinggi
serta untuk produk lain.
“Projek buluh bersepadu digalakkan
oleh kerajaan Malaysia dan secara
proaktif bermula pada tahun 1996,
yang mana kerajaan menekankan
keperluan untuk membangunkan
secara
menyeluruh,
terutama
dalam pengeluaran produk yang
mempunyai nilai tambah tinggi
seperti pepapan buluh.
“Industri hiliran buluh amat
berpotensi dimajukan, yang mana
pasaran global kini dianggarkan
bernilai kira-kira AS$7 bilion (RM25
bilion) setahun.
“Menerusi industri ini, kami juga
berharap dapat mewujudkan kesan
positif terhadap pembangunan
sosioekonomi penduduk luar bandar
yang mana ia akan membangunkan
pusat pemprosesan bersepadu,”
kata Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif BBCSB
itu dalam temubual di Kuala Lumpur,
baru-baru ini.
Demi merealisasikan matlamatnya
untuk membangunkan industri
hiliran buluh dan membantu
meningkatkan
sosioekonomi
PRODUK papan buluh keluaran BBCSB.
produk berkenaan dipasarkan
dalam
kalangan
syarikat
pembinaan dan pemaju hartanah,
sambil giat berusaha untuk
mengembangkan
pasaran
di
dalam dan luar negara.
membantu meningkatkan sumber
pendapatan mereka.
“Kami juga sedang menjalin
usaha sama dengan Koperasi
Pembangunan Negeri Kedah (KPNK)
dan kerajaan Kedah untuk memajak
BBCSB juga menandatangani tanah dan diusahakan sebagai
perjanjian tertutup (NDA) dengan ladang buluh,” kata anak bongsu
syarikat perabot serta perkakasan daripada lima beradik itu.
rumah antarabangsa, IKEA bagi
memasarkan produknya di semua BBCSB
menyasarkan
jualan
rangkaian pasar raya berkenaan di sebanyak RM266 juta dalam
seluruh dunia, selain menyasarkan tempoh lima tahun akan datang
syarikat berkaitan kerajaan (GLC) dan meningkat kepada RM585 juta
sebagai pelanggan utama.
apabila ladang buluhnya matang
serta mengeluarkan hasil.
Ia turut menjalin hubungan erat
(Bamboo Bio Composites Sdn. Bhd. adalah pemerima
dengan Jabatan Perdana Menteri dana CRDF di bawah Rancangan Malaysia ke-9)
(JPM) dan Lembaga Perindustrian
Kayu Malaysia (MTIB) untuk
mewujudkan Koperasi Ladang
Buluh dan Pusat Pemprosesan di
beberapa lokasi di Malaysia bagi
membangunkan
sosioekonomi
penduduk
tempatan
dan
Sumber :The Star
(From left) Ibrahim, deputy group MD RHB Banking Group
Datuk Khairulssaleh Ramli, Norhalim director of advisory &
value MTDC Mohammad Farish Nizar Othman signing the
collaboration agreement - Picture by Fikry Yusof
Sumber :The Malay Mail
1 Fast-forward with fibre
by LIM WING HOOI
When the Asean Free Trade Area
(AFTA) took effect in 2010, domestic
tobacco growers, particularly in
major growing areas in Kelantan,
Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis were
affected when the Government
decided to terminate subsidies on
tobacco farming to comply with AFTA
and the World Health Organisation
regulations.
Additionally, they were less competitive
compared with their lower-cost peers
in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and
the Philippines.
The government, recognising this,
dissolved the Malaysia Tobacco Board
and replaced it with Malaysia Kenaf
and Tobacco Board or Lembaga Kenaf
dan Tembakau Negara (LKTN) with a
focus on kenaf becoming an alternative
cash crop for tobacco growers.
The fast-growing kenaf (it matures
in 100 to 200 days) is a fibrous plant
with the scientific name hibiscus
cannabinus. It has the potential to
be used as construction material and
to be turned automotive components
where weight and environmental
concerns are an issue.
KPC Manufacturing Sdn Bhd used
kenaf to manufacture ceiling and wall
panelling.
KPC Manufacturing’s co-founder and
managing director Zulfairis Zulkifli
said he was looking for opportunities
in the green industry when he thought
of exploring the possibilities with
Malaysian Agricultural Research and
Development Institute (Mardi).
“We wanted different products, going
beyond solar panels and biofuel and
found our niche in green construction
material,” he said.
In 2010, after speaking with the
Mardi researchers, he decided to
set up a company to specialise in
manufacturing ceiling and panelling
products from kenaf with five
partners.
Kenaf polymer composite or KPC
is a combination of kenaf fibre with
other materials to create a polymer
composite, as opposed to wood-based
polymer composite (WPC) which
consist of saw dusk from sawmills or
sometimes rice husk.
Both can be turned into boards and
panels for construction and industrial
use.
Zulfairis said the kenaf was sourced
from LKTN and the final product
is stronger, more reliable and
environmental friendly.
“It is environmental friendly because
it is from sustainable material. Kenaf
Zulfairis showing the flexible kenaf polymer composite (KPC) final product
The fast-growing kenaf
(it matures in 100 to 200
days) is a fibrous plant
with the scientific name
hibiscus cannabinus. It
has the potential to be
used as construction
material and to be turned
automotive components
where weight and
environmental concerns
are an issue.
Kenaf polymer composite
or KPC is a combination
of kenaf fibre with other
materials to create a
polymer composite.
is known to mature fast and also, if
there are defects in the final product,
we can recycle it and re-manufacture
the product,” he said.
As a polymer, the material allows
for custom shapes and sizes to be
produced and fitted in curvy areas in
houses and buildings.
To ensure its reliability and safety, he
said their products are certified by
Sirim and also sent for Restriction
of Hazardous Substances Directive
(RoHS) and formaldehyde testing
by TÜV Rheinland in Malaysia, a
product-testing company that does
work on behalf of the European Union
and other localities.
Such collaboration between Mardi
and him had brought out the best
of
Malaysian
researchers
and
entrepreneurs. Mardi retains the
intellectual property rights while the
company is able to manufacture the
products and market them with the
brand name ‘dayham panels’.
“We are the licensed technology
partner where we pay an upfront fee
and an annual 3% royalty based on our
annual revenue,” he said.
Starting
with
RM2mil
capital
and subsequently a soft loan of
RM3mil from Malaysian Technology
Development Corp (MTDC), the
manufacturing engineering graduate
said the initial capital was spent mostly
on procuring the manufacturing
machines from overseas.
A lot was spent on promoting
the brand, especially via overseas
exhibitions, where the company had
participated over 20 exhibitions, both
local and foreign.
Operating with 12 staff in a rented
18,000 sq ft manufacturing plant in
Semenyih, the company focused on
producing ceiling and wall panel for
the first three years before diversifying
to outdoor decking and flooring
products early this year, with a total
of four product lines and four colour
choices.
Although a polymer, it comes in
a wood-based colour that gives it
a wood-like appearance with no
additional repainting needed.
Manufacturing the product is one
phase of the business, and as the
saying goes what you make you
must sell. To address that aspect of
the business, Zulfairis incorporated
another company, DS Decor Sdn Bhd,
to deal directly with retail clients.
DS Decor does design, supply, and
installation of the product. Zulfairis
says clients these days like to see the
finished product installed in their
dream home before deciding on what
to purchase.
“We have 3D designs which we are
able to show our clients to help them
make an informed decision,” he said.
They also supply directly to
architecture firms and contractors. He
said these transactions occur often at
the early stage where they play a major
role in educating the public about the
potential of using KPC over wood.
“We would then guide them on how
they could install the products in their
clients’ home,” he said.
To date, the products had been used
in over 500 individual houses and
including
government
buildings
such as the National Museum to
resorts, with each contract value
from RM2,000 for retail customers to
over RM700,000 for developer-based
projects.
(KPC Manufacturing is a BSF recipient company of MTDC)
Source : The Star Online
PPRN to optimise innovation, Bioalpha Marks Opening Of
maximise productivity
IPO With Prospectus Launch
KUALA LUMPUR - The Public-Private
Research Network (PPRN) will be a
catalyst for innovation, knowledgesharing and technological advancement
for local companies once it goes into full
gear next year.
The PPRN first announced by Prime
Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak when
he tabled the 2015 Budget, is currently in
its second pilot test.
The initiative is a collaboration between
the Ministry of Education (MOE), the
Malaysian Technology Development
Corporation (MTDC), SME Corp and
private industries.
Speaking at a press conference on the
project, Education Ministry Secretary
General II, Datuk Seri Zaini Ujang
said that the PPRN will bridge the gap
between the needs of the industries and
the knowledge of academics.
Zaini said that there were over 40,000
lecturers and researchers in the country
but a lot of research related to technology
and industries were supply driven.
“We want to shift to more demand driven
research and the PPRN will do just that.”
He explained that the PPRN will seek to
solve specific issues faced by companies in
relation to the application of technology.
“As an example, a company may be
producing a single item at rate of one per
minute, and would like to improve this by
six fold.”
“They could then seek our help and we will
match them with the right academician to
help them achieve this.”
Zaini said that this was necessary as
industries may not know where to look
for the right researcher to solve their
problems or researchers may not know
the specific problems faced by industries,
hence the gap.
He added that aside from the matching
role it played, the PPRN will also create an
ecosystem of knowledge in the country at
a cost advantage to local companies.
KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 (Bernama)
-- Bioalpha Holdings Bhd, an integrated
health
supplements
company
principally involved in manufacture
and sales of semi-finished and finished
health supplement products, has
launched its prospectus in conjunction
with the company’s listing on the ACE
Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities
Bhd.
Bioalpha’s initial public offering (IPO)
involves an offering of 100 million new
ordinary shares of RM0.05 each, at an
issue price of RM0.20 per share payable
in full upon application, comprising 20
million shares available for application
by the public and 80 million shares by
way of placement to selected investors,
it said in statement here Thursday.
Bioalpha Managing Director and
Chief Executive Officer William Hon
said: “It is a testament to the efforts of
the team at Bioalpha, as well as our
business partners, IPO advisers and
the regulatory authorities that we have
reached this point in our IPO for which I
am truly thankful.”
Bioalpha aims to raise proceeds of RM20
million from the IPO, a major portion
of which will be used for research and
development
(R&D)
expenditures,
capital expenditures, repayment of bank
borrowings as well as working capital to
finance business expansion and enhance
growth strategies.
The earmarked capital expenditure of
RM3 million is planned to be used for the
setting up of a herb processing plant in
Pasir Raja, Terengganu.
The funds earmarked for R&D on the other
hand will be used to upgrade laboratory
facilities as well as go towards the
development of fermentation processes
for four new medicinal mushroom strains.
Bioalpha is expected to have a market
capitalisation of about RM92.7 million
upon listing.
(Bioalpha is an investee company of MTDC)
Source : Bernama
MVE Technologies banking on Petronas’s VDP for future growth
by AZMI JAMIL
So, we don’t see any impact to revenue
growth with the capex cut,” he said
adding that the replacement of choke
valves cannot be deferred.
“The products are non rubbing ball
valve and lift plug valve and customer
could save up to 40% with the ball
valve,” said Zullkarnain.
Zullkarnain owns 60% of the 100%
Bumiputera company said that
the choke valves are critical to
reduce pressure and ensure that oil
production are not disrupted.
Petronas implemented its VDP in 1993
and appointed its first vendor in April
1994.
“The price is dependent on the
complexity of the design but ranges
from RM25,000 to RM1.5 million each,”
he said.
According to Zullkarnain, MVE’s
competition in Malaysia are from
three other companies, from the USA,
Canada and Netherlands.
MVE Technologies Sdn Bhd plans
to grow under Petroliam Nasional
Bhd (Petronas) Vendor Development
Programme (VDP) so it will be able
to compete with its peers within four
years.
The choke and control valves supplier
joined the VDP on December 2, 2014
after a six to seven months of stringent
audit process to qualify for exclusive
contracts for appointed scopes within
the stipulated time period, in this case
three years.
So, far the company has received
orders for the supply of choke valves
from Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd and its
project in Turkmenistan.
But, the three year exclusive contracts
with Petronas ensures that only valves
“Last year our revenue was about RM40 from MVE will be used in Production
million. It has fallen by about 30% this Sharing Contract (PSC) in Malaysia
year due to fewer projects but we are where Petronas is the operator.
confident we would get more revenue
next year than our revenue this year,” In the fourth year MVE would have
CEO Zullkarnain Jamri told media in built up its reputation considerably
enough to work with other PSCs
Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
operators such ExxonMobil, Talisman
Petronas has announced up to 20% and Shell.
capital expenditure (capex) cut
next year but Zullkarnain does not
expect MVE which is involved in both MVE’s VDP is for choke and control
upstream and downstream sector valves but Zullkarnain said the
of the oil & gas (O&G) industry to be company has also two other patented
products it will launch in February
impacted by the capex cut.
“Our business strategy is not just 2015.
capturing new projects, but on the
replacement of existing units of choke
valves and control valves.
The objective of VDP is to assist in
the development and monitoring of
Bumiputera vendors for manufacturing
products and providing services to
the O&G industry.
Currently there are close to 90
companies under VDP including a
subsidiary of a public listed company.
According to Petronas, most of its VDP
vendors have successfully grown their
business and moved on to become
independent and able to compete
with their peers in bidding for jobs or
contracts in the industry
(MVE Technologies Sdn. Bhd. is a BSF recipient)
Source : The Malaysian Reserve
GREEN
RIDERS
Eclimo Sdn Bhd has come up with the
country’s first electric motorcycle, which
can travel up to 100kmon a full charge
minus the noise and pollution. It already
ranks KFC Malaysia and the Royal Malaysia
Police among its customers, and has
attracted the attention of the United
Nations and the Iranian goverment. What
makes this company so special? Turn to
Page 8 to find out.
RIDING DOWN THE
GREEN HIGHWAY
Eclimo Sdn Bhd, the producer of Malaysia’s first electric motorcycle, is looking
to introduce its environmentally friendly products all over the world
We cannot put a
hefty price tag on
our motorbikes
just because it is
‘green’. Green may
be an advantage,
but a client also
has to consider
the financial
implication.
- Chuah
(Eclimo Sdn. Bhd. is a CRDF recipient under
the10th Malaysia Plan)
Source : The Edge
Electric vehicles are the face of future mobility
by LIM CHIN YING
Ahmad Hadri says the intangible
benefits are evident in the long run.
“ This migration (to electric mobility)
will
potentially
help
reduce
Malaysia’s carbon contribution
from the transportation sector
by 1.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide
equivalent, based on our analysis.
Cities and densely-populated areas
already suffer from high levels of
air and noise pollution contributed
by vehicles running on internal
combustion engines.”
Cleaner drive: Ahmad Hadri — in a Renault Twizy — says the government’s Electric Mobility
Flagship programme aims to have 100,000 electric cars on the road by 2020. Photo:
GreenTech Malaysia
But there is also the argument that
electric cars might not necessarily
be greener as the electricity could
have come from coal-fired power
plants, which produce carbon
emissions. In response, Ahmad
Hadri says the energy burnt at power
plants (to generate electricity) is An electric vehicle charging station that
more efficient than energy burnt the public can use for free is located at the
Petaling Jaya City Council headquarters.
by internal combustion engines.
(Filepic)
Malaysia goes down the electric “ The charging stations can
path for a smaller carbon footprint. be installed in your home. It’s
IMAGINE driving a car without
needing to pump petrol or diesel,
or having your engine oil changed
at the workshop. The advent of
electric vehicles has made this
possible, and is redefining the face
of conventional transportation.
Electric vehicles are taking overseas
markets by storm as more users
embrace the eco-friendly path
advocated through the design of
these cars – no tailpipe emissions
means no pollution and no carbon
releases. This green mobility,
however, is still very much in its
infancy in Malaysia.
The database of the Road Transport
Department shows only 1,024
electric cars and motorcycles were
sold from 2011 until September
2014. To turn things around, the
Malaysian
Green
Technology
Corp (GreenTech Malaysia), a
government agency under the
purview of the Energy, Green
Technology and Water Ministry,
is pushing for electric-powered
mobility this year.
Its chief executive officer Ahmad
Hadri Haris says the corporation
has secured a RM3mil funding from
the Malaysian Electricity Supply
Industry Trust Account, a division
under the ministry, for building
300 charging stations nationwide
by 2016.
“We have about 40 (charging
stations) currently in the Klang
Valley, Malacca, Pahang, Penang
and Sarawak. These were built by
our partner First Energy Networks
(the provider of charging systems
for electric vehicles in Malaysia),”
he says.
liberating, as your car can be left
to charge overnight while you are
asleep. This saves time from having
to go to petrol stations.”
He admits however, that the main
challenge to purchasing electric
vehicles is the cost. An electric
vehicle without tax costs about
RM130,000 but with tax, the price
exceeds RM180,000.
Ahmad Hadri hopes the government
will review the import tax and
excise duty for such vehicles as the
high charges have deterred more
people from owning them.
“ The electric vehicle market in
Malaysia took off just last year
though historically, it had started
in 1998 when then Prime Minister
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad initiated
a venture between Proton and
Tenaga Nasional.
However,
the
initiative
didn’t
take off as we
were ahead of our
time in usage of
electric vehicles.”
Under
the
agency ’s Electric
Mobility Flagship
programme, the
goal is to have
2,000
electric
buses,
100,000
electric cars, and
100,000 electric
scooters
and
motorcycles
on
the road by 2020.
In addition, some
125,000
public
charging stations
are to be installed.
According
to
the
Energy
Commission, gas and coal are
the most-used fuels for power
generation,
at
49.4%
and
42.6% respectively, followed by
hydroelectric at 4.8% and oil/
distillate at 2.5%.
Therefore, coal is poised to
remain as the main fuel for power
generation in light of an additional
5,000 megawatts of coal-fired
capacity that will be commissioned
from 2015 to 2019.
“ To really walk the sustainable
path, electric vehicle users could
opt to install solar panels at home
to draw on that power for charging
an electric vehicle. At our office,
we power up our electric cars via
solar energy.”
GreenTech vice-president (built
environment)
Mohamed
Azrin
Mohamed Ali says there are various
types of charging station available –
each designed for different locations
such as the home, office buildings,
malls and public spots.
Car dealers will offer the option of
installing a charging station at home
to purchasers of electric vehicles.
The agency is also collaborating
with Amdac (producer and supplier
of tailor-made vehicles) while BYD
(an automobile manufacturer from
China) to deploy 55 electric buses in
the Klang Valley and Malacca, as well
as with Eclimo to introduce more
electric scooters in the country.
Currently, KFC and Pizza Hut are
using 150 electric scooters in their
delivery fleets while the police’s
Armanita Patrol Unit have 33.
(Eclimo Sdn. Bhd. is a CRDF recipient under
10th Malaysia Plan.)
During the Melaka Go to Green campaign, an electric bus was used as a sightseeing bus in Malacca. (Filepic)
Source : THE STAR
MTDC sees opportunity to provide
funding for Sarawakian tech firms
by ADRIAN LIM
“Besides, with their businesses growing,
it will also value add to the economic
growth of Sarawak,” he told The Borneo
Post during an interview yesterday.
He cited one of the companies which
MTDC funded is Malaysian Phosphate
Additives Sdn Bhd (MPA) who is currently
building one of the biggest phosphate
projects in Samalaju.
(From left) MTDC Director of technology ventures Mohammad Hazani Hassan, MTDC director
Christina Foo, MTDC CEO Norhalim and MTDC Director of corporate services Mariamah
Daud pose for a photo after the roadshow here yesterday.
KUCHING: Malaysian Technology
Development Corporation Sdn Bhd
(MTDC), a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Khazanah Nasional Bhd and an
agency under the Ministry of Science
Technology and Innovation (MOSTI)
foresees opportunities to provide
funding for Sarawakian technologybased companies in particular those
which are involved in downstream
businesses.
MTDC chief executive officer (CEO)
Datuk Norhalim Yunus believes that
downstream businesses in the state
have huge potential to grow as industry
players move up the value chain of their
respective industries to further enhance
their operations.
“There is a lot of potential in downstream
businesses. The most obvious one for
instance in the palm oil industry will be
(the supply of ) fertiliser.
“As companies need to grow and
innovate to move up the value chain
of the industry, they may require more
funds for expansion.
MTDC provides various types of funds
to local companies which are promoting
the adoption of technologies through
commercialisation of local research and
development or acquisition of foreign
technologies.
Norhalim said among the funds
offered include the Commercialisation
of Research and Development Fund
(CRDF), Technology Acquisition Fund
(TAF), Business Startup Fund (BSF)
Business Growth Fund (BGF) and
Bumiputera Expansion Fund (BEF) to
assist companies and entrepreneurs at
different level of business undertaking.
On another note, he revealed that the
technologies which the companies
use can be from their own researches,
outsourced
from
the
research
departments from public universities as
well as private universities in Sarawak.
He said with the increasing number of
institutions of higher learning in the
state, there is more opportunities to
work with the researchers here and
market their technologies to local
businesses.
Thus, he encouraged local companies
especially technology entrepreneurs in
the state that is seeking capital to take
up commercialisation of indigenous
technology and innovation for the
mass-market roll out to leverage on the
facilities provided by MTDC.
Besides, he said MTDC is also looking at
exploring the possibility to collaborate
with certain state government agencies
to organise discussion and dialogues
with businesses as well as technology
entrepreneurs on ways to assist them.
In the meantime, MTDC organised a halfday roadshow at a hotel here yesterday
with the aim to create more awareness
among the business community here to
enable them to get more information
about the assistance and facilities
provided by MTDC.
It was attended by researchers,
entrepreneurs, members of business
chambers and business associations
as well as state government officials in
charge of entrepreneur development.
Source : Borneo Post
MTDC, RHB Islamic join hands to finance
Bumiputera tech-based SME
by BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR, March 6 —
Integrated venture capital solutions
provider Malaysia Technology
Development Corporation Sdn Bhd
(MTDC) has signed a collaboration
agreement with RHB Islamic Bank
to provide financing for Bumiputera
technology-based
small
and
medium enterprises (SMEs) under
the Bumiputera Expansion Fund
Scheme.
RHB Islamic is the Islamic banking
arm of RHB Banking Group.
MTDC chief executive officer Datuk
Norhalim Yunus said under the
agreement, RHB Islamic would be
the custodian of a RM150 million
fund entrusted by the government
via
Unit
Peneraju
Agenda
Bumiputera (Teraju) and placed
in the RHB Islamic’s commodity
Murabahah deposit-i account.
He said the fund is expected to raise
funds of at least RM300 million for
eligible Bumiputera companies.
“The maximum financing provided
by MTDC for each application is
RM15 million while RHB Islamic will
provide additional financing with
at least the same amount of MTDC
financing,” he told reporters after
signing the agreement here today.
Signing on behalf of RHB Islamic
was RHB Banking Group deputy
group managing director Datuk
Khairussaleh Ramli.
Islamic will achieve its aspiration
in becoming one of the top Islamic
banks in Malaysia by 2017,” he said.
Khairussaleh said the collaboration
is the right platform to drive growth On RHB Islamic business outlook,
of its Islamic business domestically he said the bank anticipated a
slower financing growth of 20 per
and regionally.
cent this year compared with 37
He said the banking group recently per cent last year on account of
embarked on a transformation softer loan demand.
programme aimed at positioning
the group as a leading multinational He said the bank would focus on
financial service provider by 2020 the financing of SMEs this year as
and lifting the bank as the country’s the key area of growth.
leader in Islamic banking.
“With innovative product offerings
and an enhanced distribution
model, we are confident that RHB
Source : Malay Mail
RHB Islamic, MTDC bantu PKS teknologi
bumiputera
sehingga RM300 teknologi
juta bagi syarikat mengembangkan perniagaan
bumiputera yang mereka.
layak.
“Di
bawah
program
ini,
syarikat“Di bawah BEF pembiayaan
yang diumumkan syarikat yang kita bantu telah
kerajaan, MTDC berjaya merekodkan jualan
RM1.8
bilion,
m e n g u r u s k a n sebanyak
dana
sebanyak mewujudkan 250 pekerjaan
RM150 juta yang baharu dan memfailkan lebih
d i a m a n a h k a n 500 hak harta intelek,” katanya.
k e r a j a a n
MTDC
akan
melalui
Unit Ujarnya,
komited
membantu
Peneraju Agenda terus
kecil
dan
B u m i p u t e r a perusahaan
( T e r a j u ) , sederhana (PKS) bumiputera
jadi
dengan dalam bidang teknologi untuk
kerjasama
kita menjadi lebih inovatif sesuai
pada hari ini ia dengan kehendak pasaran.
dapat membantu
s y a r i k a t “Justeru, kami berbesar hati
terbabit
untuk menjalinkan kerjasama dengan
Norhalim YUNUS (dua dari kanan) bertukar-tukar dokumen dengan Khairussaleh Ramli pada Majlis
m
e
n
i
n
g
k
a
t k a n RHB Islamic bagi membantu
Menandatangani Perjanjian Kerjasama antara RHB Islamic dan MTDC di Kuala Lumpur, semalam. – utusan/
pembiayaan bagi PKS menjadi lebih maju dan
Farid Janudin
mengembangkan berdaya saing,” katanya.
perniagaan
KUALA LUMPUR 6 Mac - RHB Timbalan Pengarah Urusan me
r eka,” katanya selepas Sementara itu, RHB Banking
Islamic Bank (RHB Islamic) RHB
Banking
Group, menandatangani perjanjian Group
mengunjurkan
dan Perbadanan Pembangunan Datuk Khairussaleh Ramli tersebut di sini hari ini.
pertumbuhan bagi segmen
Teknologi Malaysia (MTDC) berkata, menerusi perjanjian
pembiayaannya sebanyak 10
menandatangani
perjanjian berkenaan, RHB Islamic akan Yang turut hadir, Ketua peratus bagi tahun ini.
usahasama bagi menyediakan menjadi penjaga dana yang Pegawai Eksekutif MTDC,
pembiayaan kepada syarikat akan diletakkan di dalam Datuk Nurhalim Yunus.
bumiputera yang berteraskan akaun Commodity Murabahah
teknologi di bawah Dana Deposit-I.
Sementara itu, Nurhalim
Pengembangan
Perniagaan
berkata, sejak ditubuhkan
Bumiputera (BEF).
Ujarnya, dana tersebut bakal pada 1992, MTDC telah Sumber: Utusan Malaysia
meningkatkan
pembiayaan membantu lebih 600 syarikat
Teknologi
Sawit Untuk
Masyarakat
Kampar
Sumber :Tempo.co
Kejayaan FMBioSis
Lahirkan usahawan bioteknologi hasil p eng komersi a l an R&D FRIM
Strategi
pemasaran
yang
berkesan penting bagi mengenal
pasti kumpulan sasaran selain
pengguna
perlu
diberikan
pengetahuan
mengenai
keunikan produk baharu.
Menurutnya, sambutan terhadap
produk hasil teknologi FRIM
amat positif dan pengguna
amat yakin dengan keluaran
tersebut apabila turut mendapat
tempahan daripada beberapa
syarikat besar di negara ini.
Tiada apa yang mematahkan
semangat usahawan tersebut
walaupun terpaksa bermula
dengan modal sederhana dan
dari bawah.
SEBANYAK 10 syarikat yang pernah
menerima latihan atau mengikuti Program
Pembangunan Usahawan Siswazah FRIMMTDC (FMBiosis) yang dikelolakan oleh
Institut Penyelidikan Perhutanan Malaysia
(FRIM) dan Malaysian Technology
Development Corporation (MTDC) telah
menjadi usahawan yang berjaya dan
cemerlang dalam bidang masing-masing.
Program tersebut yang dilancarkan pada
21 Mei 2008 bertujuan untuk melahirkan
usahawan elit dalam kalangan siswazah yang
disokong oleh teknologi serta kepakaran
daripada FRIM dan pembiayaan serta
bimbingan perniagaan MTDC.
Program tersebut turut menggalakkan proses
pengkomersialan hasil penyelidikan FRIM.
Dalam masa sama membuka peluang kepada
graduan menceburi bidang bioteknologi.
Meskipun baru setahun jagung berjinakjinak dalam bidang keusahawanan, peserta
menganggap ia merupakan peluang yang
terbentang luas mencapai impian selepas
bergelar graduan.
Berdepan cabaran mengetengahkan produk
bukan penghalang untuk meneruskan usaha
tersebut.
Sebaliknya graduan tersebut sentiasa mencari
jalan menghasilkan inovasi berkonsep mesra
alam dan memasuki pasaran sejak 2013
merupakan satu kejayaan besar yang boleh
dibanggakan.
Menurut Ketua Unit Inkubasi dan Syarikat
Terbitan, Bahagian Pengkomersialan dan
Inovasi FRIM, Dr. Fadhilah Zainuddin,
program yang julung kali diadakan itu
diharap
dapat
melahirkan
golongan
biousahawan siswazah yang berjaya dan
menjadi kepada pemangkin pertumbuhan
industri bioteknologi negara.
Berbekal dana sebanyak RM 14.7 juta pada
ketika itu, beliau yang juga bekas Ketua
Pegawai Eksekutif FMBioSis berkata, peserta
program bukan sahaja menjalankan kajian
dan menghasilkan produk, sebaliknya
mereka perlu memahami dunia perniagaan.
Sehubungan itu peserta perlu mengikuti
kelas perniagaan, pemasaran, akaun dan
sebagainya memastikan mereka mengetahui
tentang aspek keusahawanan.
``Program tersebut turut menawarkan
pendekatan yang komprehensif dalam
bidang
keusahawanan,
pendedahan
kepada teknologi, pembentukan syarikat,
pemindahan
teknologi,
pembangunan
produk, khidmat teknikal yang berterusan
serta bimbingan keusahawanan dan
pembangunan perniagaan,’’ujarnya.
Komponen lengkap yang ditawarkan itu
mampu melahirkan seorang usahawan
berdaya maju yang akan menjayakan usaha
pengkomersialan hasil penyelidikan dan
pembangunan (R&D).
Menurut Dr. Fadhilah, meskipun baharu
dalam bidang keusahawan, mereka mula
semakin mengetahui selok belok perniagaan.
Peserta juga memahami kehendak pelanggan
serta pasaran yang sentiasa dahagakan
sesuatu yang baharu.
Tambahnya, oleh kerana kesemua syarikat
tersebut telah bergraduasi, FRIM tidak lagi
memegang saham terbesar dalam syarikat
tersebut.
Ini bagi memberi peluang kepada syarikat
berkenaan berdikari sekali gus membolehkan
usahawan berniaga dan mempromosi produk
melalui cara tersendiri.
“Langkah ini juga membolehkan mereka
lebih memahami kehendak pelanggan dan
sentiasa membuat penambahbaikan dari segi
pembungkusan, teknik pasaran, promosi
atau menambah variasi pada produk ciptaan
mereka.
“Pelepasan kepentingan FRIM daripada
syarikat itu juga bertujuan memberi peluang
kepada syarikat untuk mencari pelabur
baharu yang berminat dalam syarikat
FMBioSis,” katanya.
Tambah Dr. Fadhilah, kesemua syarikat
tersebut sedang memasuki fasa pemasaran
produk dan sedang meraih keuntungan
daripada hasil jualan produk.
Namun katanya, perkara itu tidak semudah
yang dijangka memandangkan teknologi
atau produk yang dihasilkan itu bukanlah
jaminan untuk melariskan sesuatu produk di
pasaran.
Satu kejayaan besar apabila
syarikat
FMBioSis
turut
mencatatkan kejayaan daripada
sebuah kilang pengekstrakan
aktif herba kepada bertaraf
Amalan
Pengilangan
Baik
(GMP), dibangunkan oleh PolyXtract Sdn. Bhd. yang memberi khidmat
pengekstrakan kepada pengusaha tempatan.
Dalam pada itu Dr. Fadhilah memberitahu,
program FMBioSis dijangka diteruskan pada
tahun hadapan .
Program tersebut dihentikan sementara
pada tahun ini bagi membolehkan FRIM
memfokus kepada usaha menambah baik
pembangunan produk dan teknologi sedia
ada.
Menerusi
pengalaman
mengendalikan
program sebelum ini, FRIM mengenal pasti
beberapa kelemahan yang perlu diperbaiki
bagi memudahkan proses pengkomersialan.
Terdapat teknologi atau produk yang
dihasilkan di makmal masih belum bersedia
untuk dipasarkan menyebabkan syarikat
terpaksa mengambil masa yang agak lama
untuk membangunkan.
FRIM yakin sekiranya usahawan yang
mengikuti program itu menggunakan
teknologi atau produk sedia untuk dipasarkan
sudah pastinya akan menarik lebih banyak
syarikat untuk mengkomersialkannya sekali
gus mengurangkan risiko kegagalan.
Oleh itu, menerusi bahagian tersebut, FRIM
mengatur strategi untuk merapatkan jurang
di antara R&D dan pengkomersialan bagi
menjamin teknologi tersebut sedia diambil
oleh syarikat atau usahawan yang berminat.
FMBioSis yang merupakan program perintis
untuk membangunkan usahawan teknologi
di negara ini turut mengorak langkah dengan
membuka peluang bagi universiti tempatan
untuk menjayakan program seumpama itu .
Program yang dikenali sebagai Symbosis
melibatkan antaranya Universiti Kebangsaan
Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Teknologi
Malaysia (UTM), Universiti Putra Malaysia
(UPM) Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
dan Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP)
yang merupakan kesinambungan program
tersebut.
Dr. Fadhilah Zainudin
Syarikat-syarikat FMbIOsis peringkat awal
1. Agriclone Tech Sdn. Bhd.
Produk: Anak benih kultur tisu, spesies
karas, kelapa sawit dan Eucalpytus.
2. Bio Blooms Sdn. Bhd
buluh, aglaonema, orkid dan nepenthes.
3.Unibio Plants Sdn. Bhd.
Produk: Anak benih, kultur tisu, spesies
vanila, pisang dan tongkat ali.
4.PhyTotech Sdn. Bhd.
nanas MD2, sesenduk dan Jatropha (pokok
karas).
5. Bio-Nature Formula Sdn. Bhd.
Produk: HOMe-Spa berasaskan ekstrak
tumbuhan dan minyak pati, mandian badan
beraroma terapi, skrub badan, losen tangan
dan badan serta pencuci peribadi wanita
jenama Forestra.
6. Nature Profusion Sdn. Bhd.
Produk: Pengkomersialan anti MRSA
antiseptik dan disinfektan berasaskan bahan
semula jadi jenama Ci’era.
7. Nourish Care Sdn. Bhd.
Produk: Pengkomersialan produk untuk
diabetes dalam bentuk makanan, minuman
dan suplemen jenama Le’Natura.
8. Ligni-Energy Sdn. Bhd.
Produk: Pengkomersialan bahan api
biojisim, pelet dan briket beraroma terapi.
9. Xtract Tech Sdn. Bhd.
Produk: Penghasilan biodiesel dari bahan
mentah biji Jatropha.
10. Poly-Xtract Sdn. Bhd.
Produk: Pengeluaran ekstrak berasaskan
air dan aktif fraksi daripada spesies herba
tempatan dan perkhidmatan pengekstrakan.
Program pembangunan keusahawan
berasaskan
produk
penyelidikan
Usaha melahirkan usahawan bertujuan
memanfaatkan teknologi tempatan dan
aplikasi kaedah penyelidikan dalam
menghasilkan inovasi, produk dan
perkhidmatan untuk memenuhi pasaran
dalam bioteknologi industri.
bukan perkara baharu dan ramai
dalam kalangan mereka menempa
kejayaan. Antara program yang
telah mula menampakkan hasil ialah
Program Pembangunan Biousahawan
Siswazah FRIM-MTDC (FMBioSis)
yang merupakan inisiatif Malaysia
Technology Development Corporation
(MTDC) dengan Institut Penyelidikan
Perhutanan Malaysia (FRIM).
Menurut Wan Sabariah, minatnya dalam
bidang perniagaan tidak mungkin dapat
direalisasikan sekiranya tidak mendapat
sokongan dan bantuan daripada pihak
FRIM dan kesediaan MTDC memberikan
bantuan modal dalam bentuk geran.
Program
FMBioSis
diperkenalkan
pada 2008 bagi mencungkil bakat
keusahawanan dalam kalangan siswazah
yang
sedang
mengintai
peluang
menceburi bidang yang mereka inginkan.
Bagi program pertama, sebanyak 10
syarikat terbitan telah diwujudkan dengan
asas perniagaan mereka berdasarkan
penyelidikan yang pernah dijalankan
oleh saintis FRIM. Ini termasuk herba,
makanan kesihatan dan penjagaan serta
dandanan diri.
Dua syarikat yang mula menapak
kukuh dalam pengeluaran produk hasil
penyelidikan FRIM menerusi program
tersebut ialah Nature Profusion Sdn. Bhd.
dan Nourish Care Sdn. Bhd.
Nature Profusion dibangunkan oleh
Pengarah Eksekutifnya, Wan Sabariah
Shuib dan telah enam tahun terlibat
menghasilkan produk pembersih serba
guna berasaskan tumbuhan dan herba.
Pada dasarnya, usaha beliau tidak sebegitu
mudah tetapi berbekalkan prinsip tidak
takut gagal dan semangat yang cekal,
Wan Sabariah, 30, mampu membina
perniagaan tersebut dan menjadikan
syarikatnya berdiri teguh sehingga ke hari
ini.
Menurut Wan Sabariah, berbekalkan
minat mendalam, beliau berusaha gigih
dan menjadikan dirinya lebih matang dan
berpengetahuan luas dalam bidang yang
baru diterokainya itu.
Selain itu, beliau lebih memahami potensi
pasaran dengan menghasilkan produk
yang mempunyai permintaan, berkualiti
dan menarik minat pengguna.
Menjadikan tokoh korporat, Tan Sri Syed
Mokhtar Albukhary sebagai idola, beliau
mengakui bahawa keberanian melibatkan
diri dalam bidang perniagaan bukan
sahaja perlu memiliki kesungguhan,
kesabaran dan bijak malah kejujuran
dan amanah dalam melaksanakan
tanggungjawab juga perlu disemai dalam
hati.
Malah katanya, menjadi satu cabaran
besar untuk menerokai pasaran yang
banyak persaingan dengan nama-nama
yang gah di pasaran.
Beliau yakin
syarikatnya
pembersihan
transformasi
selamat.
dengan produk keluaran
yang membawa konsep
rumah dan diri ke arah
yang lebih bersih dan
Katanya, menerusi program selama
setahun itu, beliau bukan sahaja berjaya
menubuhkan sebuah syarikat yang
berdaya saing malah mempelajari selokbelok perniagaan serta pengurusan
sesebuah syarikat dan bagaimana
memastikan produk tersebut diterima.
Ceburi
industri herba
Wan Sabariah tidak gentar tewas
dalam perniagaan
oleh MOHD KAMARULBAID
Ini
kerana,
pembersihan
rumah
menggunakan pencuci konvensional
mengundang risiko akibat penggunaan
bahan kimia yang terkandung di
dalamnya.
Pembelajaran yang ditawarkan amat
berkesan dan secara menyeluruh daripada
mula kajian sehingga teknik memasarkan
sesuatu produk.
“(Justeru), tawaran tersebut amat sayang
dilepaskan oleh mana-mana pelajar yang
ingin menceburi bidang perniagaan,’’ kata
Wan Sabariah.
Jelasnya, walaupun masih baru bertapak
dalam industri, namun berkat usahanya,
beliau
menerima
pengiktirafan
Sementara itu, menurut Pengarah
Teknologinya, Dr. Mastura Mohtar, bahan
aktif unik daripada ekstrak lidah buaya
dan teh hijau bukan sahaja membersih
malah mengharumkan serta membasmi
99.9 peratus bakteria kebal dan rentan
antibiotik dengan lebih berkesan.
Bahan utama itu juga melindungi seisi
keluarga daripada jangkitan kuman.
Justeru, tanpa sumbangan FRIM dalam
membekalkan teknologi dan MTDC yang
membekalkan dana dalam bentuk geran,
mustahil impiannya memiliki syarikat
sendiri, tercapai.
Jelasnya, FRIM dan MTDC amat
membantu syarikatnya untuk berdiri
teguh dalam menyediakan platform yang
selesa untuk memulakan perniagaan serta
membantu dari segi latihan perniagaan
dan promosi produk secara berterusan.
Siapa sangka dalam tempoh sesingkat
enam tahun, Nature Profusion Sdn. Bhd
berjaya mengembangkan empayar dan
berjaya menebusi pasaran tempatan.
Wan Sabariah turut menasihati peniaga
khususnya golongan muda yang berminat
untuk menceburi bidang perniagaan agar
memupuk minat dalam bidang tersebut.
Buat masa kini, produk pencuci serbaguna
telah berjaya memasuki pasaran tempatan
serta mendapat permintaan yang amat
menggalakkan.
“Mereka jangan mudah putus asa dengan
rintangan dan cabaran selain belajar
memahami kehendak pengguna dalam
memastikan produk diterima pasaran’’
ujarnya.
Dengan sokongan rakan perniagaan dan
melalui pembacaan serta kajian mengenai
produk yang ada di pasaran, beliau
yakin produk pencuci serba guna, Ciera
yang berasaskan bahan aktif daripada
tumbuhan seperti ekstrak lidah buaya
dan teh hijau boleh diterima ramai.
Malah, beberapa syarikat besar selain
FRIM dan Universiti Sains Malaysia turut
menggunakan produk tersebut.
Ini kerana bahan utama yang digunakan
itu tidak mempunyai kesan buruk jangka
panjang kepada kesihatan manusia atau
alam sekitar.
Dalam pada itu, Wan Sabariah berharap
syarikatnya akan terus melakar nama
dalam menghasilkan lebih banyak variasi
produk bukan sahaja berasaskan bahan
semula jadi sebaliknya turut
menghasilkan produk organik.
Jelas graduan Universiti Malaysia
Terangganu (UMT) itu, pengguna perlu
menyedari tahap kebersihan rumah
selepas melakukan kerja-kerja tersebut.
antarabangsa
untuk
pertumbuhan
perniagaan yang lebih agresif dan
membina rangkaian perniagaan di dalam
dan luar negara.
Tambahnya, program FMBioSis yang kini
diperluaskan di kebanyakan universiti
perlu disahut oleh golongan pelajar
yang mempunyai impian untuk berjaya
terutamanya bagi mereka yang memasang
cita-cita
untuk
menjadi
seorang
usahawan.
Dalam masa sama rangkaian produk
pembersihan diri dijangka memasuki
pasaran dalam masa terdekat.
Pada masa akan datang, beliau berharap
syarikatnya akan meneroka pasaran
Oleh itu, FMBioSis wajar dilihat sebagai
satu usaha kerajaan melihat lebih ramai
graduan bergelar usahawan bioteknologi
dengan memanfaatkan penggunaan hasil
penyelidikan FRIM.
Program tersebut antara lain bertujuan
membangunkan graduan muda yang
berpotensi dibentuk sebagai usahawan
bioteknologi dengan mengkomersialkan
teknologi penyelidikan tempatan.
Program FMBioSis juga boleh dianggap
sebagai platform bagi pelajar yang
bercadang untuk bekerja sendiri pada
masa hadapan.
serta memenangi pelbagai anugerah
antarabangsa termasuk Ciptaan Terbaik
untuk kategori Sanitasi atau Kebersihan
dari Persatuan Tandas Hong Kong (HKTA)
dan Anugerah Pingat Perak Ekspo Reka
Cipta Teknologi Antarabangsa (ITEX)
2009.
Baru-baru ini, syarikat itu juga telah
dianugerahkan Persijilan Label Eko
SIRIM daripada SIRIM QAS International
dan sijil halal daripada Jabatan Kemajuan
Islam Malaysia (Jakim) yang sekaligus
mampu
mencetus
peluang
bagi
mengembangkan produk keluarannya.
Mereka yang ingin mendapatkan
maklumat lanjut boleh hubungi
03-62625776 atau layari www.ciera.my
Berfikiran global, perkukuh rangkaian
Cara berniaga,
ketahanan
usahawan
bukan
Bumiputera
jadikan contoh
Menteri Sains,
Teknologi dan
Inovasi, Datuk Dr
Ewon Ebin (tengah) ketika
penyerahan dana CDRF
kepada syarikat pada majlis
oleh Haryani Ngah
Pelancaran
MOSTI
Commercialisation Year di
Shah
Alam, Selangor
Shah Alam - Usahawan Bumiputera
perlu berfikiran global dan terbuka untuk
terus maju dalam perniagaan dan tidak
boleh terus bergantung dan berharap
dengan bantuan kerajaan semata mata.
Untuk mencapai kejayaan dalam
bisnes juga bukan sesuatu yang mudah
sebaliknya, usahawan perlu melalui jatuh
bangun dalam perniagaan dan belajar
daripada kegagalan sebelum berjaya
menjadi usahawan cemerlang.
Dalam
memperluaskan
perniagaan
perkara paling penting perlu dilakukan
usahawan adalah membina rangkaian bagi
memastikan perniagaan dapat berjalan
dengan lancar.
sebaliknya, kualiti produk yang kita
hasilkan,” katanya.
Norhalim turut memberi contoh,
untuk membangunkan sesuatu produk,
usahawan yang mempunyai jaringan
tidak mempunyai masalah kerana mampu
mendapatkan bahan melalui rakan niaga
mereka.
Dana kembang perniagaan
Sebagai sebuah badan yang menyediakan
dana kepada usahawan yang mempunyai
produk berasaskan teknologi, MTDC
menyediakan dana buat usahawan untuk
mengembangkan perniagaan mereka.
Sambil terus memberi penekanan kepada
kepentingan membina rangkaian atau
networking, Ketua Eksekutif Perbadanan
Pembangunan
Teknologi
Malaysia
(MTDC), Datuk Norhalim Yunus berkata
usahawan Bumiputera perlu menjadikan
cara berniaga usahawan bukan Bumiputera
sebagai contoh.
“Usahawan
Bumiputera
memang
mempunyai jati diri untuk berkembang
maju tetapi kalau kita hanya menjalinkan
hubungan sesama kita saja, maka kita tidak
akan ke mana.
Kalau kita lihat cara usahawan bukan
Bumiputera berniaga, mereka mempunyai
rangkaian perniagaan yang luas dan tidak
bergantung kepada kerajaan.
Sebagai usahawan kita tidak boleh
bergantung kepada status usahawan
Bumiputera kerana kalau kita ke luar
negara untuk memperluaskan perniagaan,
orang luar tidak memandang status kita
Dana
pembiayaan
realisasi
cita- c ita
yang dulunya dikenali sebagai Madura
Industries Sdn Bhd mengembangkan
perniagaannya untuk menjadi syarikat
Bumiputera pertama mengeluarkan air
jus sparkling sehingga berjaya menembusi
pasaran antarabangsa.
Istimewanya sparkling yang dikeluarkan
syarikat ini adalah menggunakan buahbuahan eksotik hasil jalinan kerjasama
penyelidikan dan pembangunan bersama
MARDI.
Dalam membangunkan produk itu,
syarikat ini turut berdepan kekangan
dalam mendapatkan modal, bagaimanapun
dengan bantuan dana daripada
MTDC ia mampu untuk
kembali bernafas.
“Apa dilakukan oleh syarikat
ini
adalah
satu
contoh
teknologi yang dibangunkan
dalam
bidang
perniagaan
makanan menghasilkan produk
berkualiti dan diterima pada
peringkat global.
Menteri Pendidikan II, Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh (kanan) diiringi Norhalim melihat hasil R&D
yang berjaya dikomersialkan selepas sidang media MTDC Technology Commercialisation
Conference di Kuala Lumpur (FOTO NUR ADIBAH AHMAD IZAM/BH)
Menurut Norhalim, MTDC tidak
hanya melahirkan usahawan Bumiputera
dengan memberi bantuan dana sematamata sebaliknya, agensi ini turut memberi
bimbingan kepada usahawan dan turut
sama
membantu
membangunkan
perniagaan mereka.
Inovasi dan pasaran
“Untuk membangunkan produk
berteknologi tidak semestinya
ia berteknologi tinggi tetapi produk
dihasilkan mesti mempunyai inovasi dan
pasaran,” katanya.
Usahawan perlu bersikap lebih terbuka
dalam menghasilkan produk pada masa
kini kerana banyak produk berteknologi
mampu dibangunkan dalam negara.
Malah, beliau turut mengambil contoh
kemampuan MGV Industries Sdn Bhd
Bagi mengalakkan golongan muda
menceburi sektor perniagaan, MTDC turut
memperkenalkan Program Symbiosis.
Kuala Lumpur
- menerusi dana
pengkomersialan yang diwujudkan sejak
Rancangan Malaysia Ketujuh (RMK-7) di
bawah Kementerian Sains, Teknologi dan
Inovasi (MOSTI), ratusan produk R&D
sudah dikomersialkan dan ada yang sudah
berjaya mendapat tempat di luar negara.
dana pembiayaan arah merealisasikan
cita-cita itu menerusi penggabungan dan
penyelesaian komersial dengan menyediakan
geran kepada syarikat berasaskan teknologi,
dana, dan ruang untuk inkubasi menjadi
sokongan kepada nilai tambah.
Menerusi pelan transformasi negara,
Malaysia dijangka mencapai tahap negara
berpendapatan tinggi dan mampu menjadi
pengeluar teknologi menjelang tahun 2020.
Ini termasuk Dana Sains, Dana
Tekno, Dana Inno (Inovasi) dan Dana
Prapengkomersialan yang merangkumi
Dana Pemerolehan Teknologi (TAF) serta
Dana Biotechnology Corporation.
Sedia geran
Dalam usaha ini, kerajaan memperuntukkan
Selain itu, Dana Pengkomersialan dan
Penyelidikan dan Dana Pembangunan
‘‘ Sebagai usahawan kita tidak
boleh bergantung kepada
status usahawan Bumiputera
kerana kalau kita ke luar
negara untuk memperluaskan
perniagaan, orang luar tidak
memandang status kita
sebaliknya, kualiti produk
yang kita hasilkan” .
Norhalim Yunus,
Ketua Eksekutif MTDC
Semenjak
program
diperkenalkan,
lebih daripada 70 syarikat ditubuhkan
membabitkan kira-kira 100 usahawan
muda dengan separuh daripada jumlah
syarikat tersebut berjaya memasarkan
produk mereka. Dengan bantuan khidmat
nasihat daripada MTDC, syarikat sedang
berusaha untuk menembusi pasaran
antarabangsa.
Program ini turut membabitkan enam
universiti, iaitu Universiti Kebangsaan
Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Teknologi
Malaysia (UTM), Universiti Putra Malaysia
(UPM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM),
Universiti Malaysia Perlis (Unimap),
Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) dan
satu institusi penyelidikan iaitu Institut
Penyelidikan Perhutanan (FRIM). Di
samping itu, untuk meningkatkan bilangan
syarikat berteknologi di kawasan Utara,
MTDC juga bekerjasama dengan Pihak
Berkuasa Pelaksanaan Wilayah Ekonomi
Koridor Utara (NCIA).
Program ini juga membabitkan lebih
daripada 100 penyelidik tempatan dan
ia secara tidak langsung mengeratkan
hubungan kerjasama antara industri dan
universiti.
(CRDF), Dana Pengembangan Perniagaan
Bumiputera (BEF), Dana Permulaan
Perniagaan (BSF) dan Dana Perkembangan
Perniagaan (BGF).
Jalankan projek
Dana ini ditawarkan kepada syarikat
perusahaan kecil dan sederhana, institusi
penyelidkan dan institusi pengajian tinggi
untuk menjalankan projek yang meliputi
sektor teknologi maklumat dan komunikasi,
bioteknologi, industri, teras sains dan
teknologi.

Propelling research outcomes to market

Transcription

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