Answer for Oral Question PL283

QUESTION

Yang Berhormat Awang Lau How Teck

YANG BERHORMAT AWANG LAU HOW TECK requested MENTERI PENDIDIKAN to state the extent to which research and innovation outcomes developed by local institutions have successfully been translated into high-value economic activities, and what the main challenges are that continue to constrain their commercialisation process.

ANSWER

Yang Berhormat Menteri Pendidikan

Overall, several research and innovation outcomes from local institutions have successfully been translated through technology licensing, product development, technology transfer and entrepreneurial activities. However, outcomes that have proven capable of generating high-value economic activities on a large scale remain limited and need to be further strengthened.

Among the progress achieved is that UBD has filed and obtained protection for more than 70 patents locally and overseas, particularly in the fields of biosensors, advanced materials, clean energy and healthcare. One example of commercialisation is the licensing of UBD technology to Smart Coating Technologies (B) Sdn. Bhd. for the production, marketing and export of antibacterial and antifungal coatings. Public Higher Education Institutions (IPTA) also support the development of start-up companies and research collaborations with industry to create opportunities for technology testing and adoption.

However, patents, prototypes and research collaborations do not in themselves demonstrate commercial success. The main commercialisation challenges identified include the gap between prototypes and market-ready products, insufficient funding for testing and certification, delays in industry involvement from the early stages, limited market access, and intellectual property governance issues. The limited size of the domestic market also requires local innovations to be developed with regional and international market potential in mind.

The commercialisation of innovation requires a Whole of Nation Approach and close cooperation among IPTA, government agencies, industry, investors and financial institutions. Kementerian Pendidikan and IPTA will continue to focus on relevant research, talent development, intellectual property protection and the enhancement of technology readiness, while strategic cooperation will be strengthened to support funding, testing, certification, scaling and market access.