RM434m allocated since 2006 to boost tech-based firms
JOHOR BARU, June 23 — A sum of RM434 million has been allocated by the government to finance 238 projects through the Commercialisation of Research and Development Fund (CRDF) and Technology Acquisition Fund (TAF) from 2006 to May this year.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said this is to encourage the growth of technology-based companies through the commercialisation of research and development (R&D) and local innovation as well as acquisition of technology from overseas.
“Of the 238 projects, 153 or 64 per cent local companies had succeeded in commercialising their products both at home and overseas,” he added.
He said this in his speech when officiating Phase Two of the UTM-MTDC Technology Centre at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in Skudai here today.
Muhyiddin (picture) said apart from this, up to December 31 last year the companies concerned had generated RM817.73 million in sales with an export value of RM206 million and sales value of RM612 million in the local market.
He said to date, a total of 304 intellectual properties had been registered, while 92 projects involving co-operation with local universities as well as educational institutions had been agreed to, and 3,348 jobs created by those companies receiving funds from MTDC.
The government he said, had allocated RM30 million under the “Market Validation” programme managed by the MTDC with the co-operation of the Innovation Agency Malaysia.
“This fund was specially allocated to fund and implement a method of market validation and market potential towards a product produced by local universities and research institutions before being promoted to the industry to be commercialised,” Muhyiddin added.
As of last May, he said a total of 390 potential products had been presented by seven selected local universities to undergo market validation.
Muhyiddin said the fund was also one of the government initiatives to unearth human capital, digest creativity and unleash innovation, consistent with the declaration of 2012 as the Year of Science and National Innovation Movement 2012 (SGI2012).
He said the programme was important in realising the national transformation agenda and country’s prosperity towards achieving the objective of Vision 2020 which emphasises the assimilation and benefits of science, technology and innovation, and at the same time applying it in daily living.
To date, he said, 397 programmes had been planned for implementation by various ministries and agencies through SGI2012 and it was being expanded to the district level in a number of states, starting with the East Zone in Kelantan and ending with the Central Zone in Negri Sembilan.
At the same ceremony, Muhyiddin witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between UTM and Sawipac Sdn Bhd to develop, commercialise and market a bio fertiliser using the various residual parts of oil palm.
He also witnessed the signing of another MoU between UTM and Technology Park Malaysia Engineering Sdn Bhd (TPM Eng) which had co-operated in developing a computer numerical control machine or the CNC machine.
Meanwhile, at a get-together with UTM students, Muhyiddin said the country desired to train more skilled workers in various fields in the eight years before 2020.
He said if previously Malaysia depended on skilled workers from outside, the time had come to reduce this dependence.
“The country is now able to produce more skilled workers and qualified professionals,” he added. — Bernama
