UMT CORPORATE BODY TO COMMERCIALISE RESEARCH FINDINGS

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 (Bernama) — Universiti Malaysia Terengganu
(UMT) will forge closer ties with industry players by setting up a holding
company that will function as a management centre for its research
projects.
In a statement here today, the East Coast Economic Region (ECER)
secretariat said through the company, UMT would seek collaborations
with international industry players and provide consultancy services.
“UMT has been earmarked under the ECER masterplan to be a centre
of excellence for industry-academia collaboration.
“The centre will foster more research activities which can be brought to
market,” it said.
UMT Vice-Chancellor, Prof Datuk Dr Sulaiman Md Yassin, said the
company would be a platform to boost research and development (R&D)
while helping to market R&D products locally and overseas.
“R&D is important to us as it will boost our reputation as an innovative
higher learning institution. At the same time, it will provide income to
further boost research which can be marketed commercially.
“To take our R&D to higher levels, we have signed a memorandum of
agreement with 10 universities including institutions from France, UK,
Germany, Japan, US, Australia and South Korea,” he said.
Sulaiman said out of 54 R&D products from local public universities,
UMT has successfully introduced Sea Gold, or Pati Gamat brand of
products.
“We are also currently working with industry players to market the
products,” he said.
The secretariat said while the proposed project would strengthen UMT’s
reputation, such efforts would also develop the potential of students and
create high quality graduates for the employment market.Zuhayati Yazid, a graduate student from a local university, said
commercial R&D projects would have a positive impact on universities
as well as students
“These R&D projects will enhance the reputation of an institution, as well
as provide exposure to students as potential employers will find them
better skilled,” she said.
Meanwhile, Izhan Ali, a graduate, agreed that commercial R&D would
enhance education standards at local institutions to be on par with
international institutions, giving a boost to the university as well as
students’ reputation.
Commenting on commercial R&D, Izhan said: “The work of commercial
R&D will be well recognised at various levels due to the involvement of
both local and overseas groups.”
The government has allocated RM200 million through the Fundamental
Research Grant Scheme under the Ninth Malaysian Plan to encourage
public institutions to undertake R&D projects.
According to Deputy Higher Education Minister, Dr Hou Kok Chung, a
total of 54 products from R&D projects have been successfully
commercialised, while 64 products are currently in the process of being
commercialised.
He also said 242 more products showed potential.