New Straits Times, July 29, 2008
USM signs deal with
BiotechCorp
UNIVERSITI Sains Malaysia (USM) signed an agreement
recently with Malaysian Biotechnology Corp (BiotechCorp)
towards advanced nanotechnology research and
development (R&D) and collaboration.
Under the deal, three USM researchers will undergo
12 months of training in France to intensify the R&D
for the Malaysian biotechnology industry,
BiotechCorp said in a statement.
"USM has been chosen as our partner in line with its
established track record in collaborative research
work," said chief executive officer of BiotechCorp
Datuk Iskandar Mizal Mahmood.
"We are pleased to commit to this agreement as this
technology transfer programme will comprise
technical information, know how, manufacturing
techniques, engineering data, specifications of
materials and other commercially privileged
information proprietary to Nanobiotix S.A (NBTX) of
France," said vice-chancellor of Universiti Sains
Malaysia Tan Sri Dzulkifli Abdul Razak.
Last year, BiotechCorp signed a technology transfer
and licence agreement with NBTX of France, where
they acquired an exclusive worldwide licence for a
nanotechnology platform.
"Collaboration of this nature does not work on a
short-term basis. With this in mind, USM will ensure
that within a period of not more than 12 months
after the researchers return to Malaysia, a similar
programme will be conducted to enable other
researchers to acquire the skills and knowledge,"
added Dzulkifli.
The outcome of the training is for USM to develop a
minimum of two new applications or products of
substantial commercial value per year for a period
of four years, totaling eight applications or
products of substantial commercial value in four
years.
In return, all intellectual property rights to the
improvements, enhancements, new inventions and
innovations developed solely by USM shall be owned
by USM.
At Bio San Diego 2008 earlier this month,
BiotechCorp international partners highlighted some
important key actions to substantiate Malaysia's
ambition to become a global biotechnology hub.
One of the key actions suggested was the urgent need
of an innovative programme to quickly expand or
regain Malaysian talent in life sciences and
biotechnology and to increase academic and private
sector initiatives. - Bernama
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