Bernama.com (Malaysian
National News Agency), 06 December 2006
Govt Approves RM196 mil Under Science Fund Grant
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 (Bernama) -- The government has approved RM196.179 million under the Science Fund Grant to 39 institutions for the implementation of 1,174 projects.
The recipients comprised research institutes, institutions of higher learning, government and private agencies who received the grants from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at the launch of BioMalaysia 2006 Exhibition and Conference, here Wednesday.
Also present were Science, Technology and Innovations Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaludin Mohd Jarjis and Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation Sdn Bhd's chief executive officer Iskandar Mizal Mahmood.
The five largest recipients are Universiti Putra Malaysia with RM48.56 million for 311 projects, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia with RM28.342 million for 150 projects, Universiti Sains Malaysia with RM19.449 million for 109 projects, Universiti Malaya with RM18.897 million for 109 projects, and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia with RM18.639 million for 105 projects.
The Science Fund Grant was initiated under the Ninth Malaysia Plan by the Science, Technology and Innovations Ministry with the aim of generating knowledge through basic and applied sciences.
It is also aimed at developing new products or processes up to "proof-of-concept" necessary for further development and commercialisation, and to enhance research capability and increase the number of researchers with postgraduate qualifications.
The research activities are focused towards meeting the industrial needs in new and emerging fields of science, engineering and technology in the context of national interest.
Under the fund, the five research clusters identified are information and communications technology (ICT); biotechnology; industry (nanotechnology, advanced material, advanced manufacturing alternative energy, and waste to wealth); sea to space; and agriculture.
-- BERNAMA |
