KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 (Bernama) -- Malaysia now has 123 biotechnology and related companies though being a latecomer in the industry compared with countries like India, the United States (US), Singapore and China.

However, the challenge remains in coming up with biotechnology products and applications of commercial value in an industry worth US$60 billion globally.

This is where the experts believe universities can play a vital role in producing commercially viable biotechnology products and also in marketing them.

"Most biotechnologies originate from universities and from there it moves to the industry," said Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation's (WARF) Intellectual Property (IP) manager, Dr Laura M. Heisler when met at the 2007 International Bio Conference, in Boston, US, in May.

Founded in 1925, WARF ever since has been working with the business and industry to transform university research into real products benefiting the people.

"The key point in biotechnology is translating IP into Patents," said Heisler, stressing that in U.S that's how the industry flourished.

The key is to capture valuable IPs and figure out companies or even start-up's that can turn the IPs into viable products.

HELP FROM OUTSIDE

Asked if WARF would be interested in helping Malaysia, Heisler said it depends very much on the IP protection level in the country.

Over the years the foundation has developed a model for technology transfer based upon true partnership with the industry, an approach that today makes WARF one of the most successful long-term provider of technological innovation for the benefit of public in the US.

According to Heisler, a niche area that Malaysia can contemplate is outsourcing biotechnology. She said that currently many countries in the West opt for China and India for outsourcing purposes due to cheap skilled labour in both nations.

Hence, if Malaysia can offer a similar advantage then there will be a huge potential.

Several parties approached by Bernama on this also agreed that the country should find a niche market in biotechnology that others are yet to explore.

They also pointed out that Malaysia being endowed with many natural resources should be more focused in its resources compared with areas like pharmaceutical where other countries had already established a firm footing.

MALAYSIA MUST KEEP CHASING THE LEADERS

Meanwhile, Ahmad Faiz Azmi, a Malaysian biotechnology student at Rochester Institute of Technology believes that to be able to catch-up with countries like U.S, Malaysia needs to invest lots of money.

"We cannot afford to be left out. Countries like US went into biotechnology decades ago, so if we want to catch-up we need to invest a lot of money, and acquire the IPs, transfer it back to Malaysia and use it," he said.

Malaysia also needs a lot of people to manage the IPs but this is a problem given the brain drain the country is facing now and the fact that not many Malaysians are keen in biotechnology.

This is something that needs to be rectified, said Ahmad. As for biotechnology students in Malaysia, he said unlike in the U.S, students in Malaysia don't get hands on experience especially in research work.

"We are very close with the lecturers. We can actually join in research even as undergraduates. From the news I gathered from my friends who are doing biotechnology courses locally, none of them are involved in any research," he said.

Ahmad stressed that in biotechnology one cannot just study the theories but must seek the laboratory experience and be exposed to the actual work. Given such scenario in Malaysia, Ahmad feels that he has a good advantage when compared with local biotechnology students.

"I am not undermining the local students, but I have hands on experience, which is a big advantage for me," he said.

Asked if he would come back to Malaysia to work, Ahmad who aims to further his studies up to doctorate level said: "Obviously I want to return to Malaysia because it is my home country, but I will evaluate first how is the market for a doctorate student".

He said that among the carrots that could help people like him to return home are good pay and research grants. As of now, under the Ninth Malaysia Plan there are lots of positive signals but it all depends on how these are to be implemented.