From research labs to the market

EVERY year universities invest in research and development (R&D) to come up with technologies that can be applied in so many ways. The idea behind the innovations is that the newfound knowledge or discoveries will stand to benefit businesses and communities through workable solutions.

Translating lab-scale innovative technologies into shelf-ready products, however, is not as straightforward as many people think.

Professor Dr Samsilah Roslan, who is director of Putra Science Park (PSP) — the centre of innovation management and technology transfer office at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) — said tertiary institutions have to partner with business entities to commercialise innovations.

But business entities are reluctant to invest in disruptive technologies and those uncertain in terms of generation of reasonable profit.

“That is why we have set up InnoHub, an innovative commercialisation approach pioneered by PSP in 2013. It provides a supportive and fertile ecosystem for innovation to translate into commercial products, especially within the university environment,” she said.

“At InnoHub, we validate the market for our innovations and develop a pool of technopreneurs who understand both the technology and how to make a business out of it.

By transforming mindset, people can move the world.

RAHINAH IBRAHIM