Proposed biotech centre on track
This first-of-its-kind facility in Sarawak scheduled to be operational by mid-2017
MIRI: The RM 50 million state- of- the- art biotechnology research and development facility project of the state government is on track for completion by end of this year, and operational by the first half of next year.
Undertaken by the Ministry of Industrial Development in collaboration with Curtin University Sarawak Malaysia, it is the first of its kind in the state, a quantum leap of sorts in research and development( R& D) and knowledge accumulation to meet the state’s technological needs.
Minister of Industrial Development and Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said he was happy with the progress of the works and called on the consultant and contractor to ensure that the project would be completed on schedule.
He said this at the briefing of the Biotechnology Centre at Bio-Valley in the university’s campus, accompanied by Assistant Minister of Industrial Development Datuk Julaihi Narawi and permanent secretary to the Ministry of Industrial Development, Datu Liaw Soon Eng.
The briefing was conducted by project consultant and director of Curtin Sarawak Research Institute, Prof Clem Kuek who together with Awang Tengah later toured the 10- acre project site where the first phase of the Biotechnology Centre was shaping up.
At present, there is no organisation dedicated to developing and commercialising new bioproducts and processes, and development in the food, aquaculture and other bioindustries will require high technology capabilities for testing, analysis, research and development. Prof Clem Kuek, project consultant cum director of Curtin Sarawak Research Institute
Curtin Sarawak pro vicechancellor and president Prof Jim Meinczakowski , chief operating officer Kingsley Francis Charles, acting dean of faculty of engineering and science Assoc Prof Lau Hieng Ho, and dean of learning and teaching Assoc Prof Beena Giridharan, were also present.
According to Kuek, the Biotechnology Centre is established as there is a huge potential to develop the state’s bio- economy by utilising its rich biodiversity, which remains relatively untapped.
“At present, there is no organisat ion dedicated to developing and commercialising new bio-products and processes, and development in the food, aquaculture and other bioindustries will require high technology capabilities for testing, analysis, research and development.”
The centre will support development of new products and processes and provide pilot plant facilities to assist industries in phyto- chemical and bio- processes; product enhancement and quality assurance; and incubator facilities for emerging entreprises in the bi- economy.
It will also contract research and training for the industry and research agencies.
“The benefits of the Biotechnology Centre at Curtin Sarawak will assist SMEs to develop and commercialise new products and processes; and quality assurance through product analysis to give consumer confidence,” Kuek said.
It will be managed by Curtin Sarawak which will provide the necessary expertise and a critical mass of researchers to conduct research projects funded by the government, Curtin and other fund- providers apart from ensuring outcomes which would be relevant to the state’s needs.
It will be equipped with sophisticated modern equipment for the designed function, including the only of its kind in East Malaysia and the second in the country.
It has the ultimate goal of commercialising products, and will be working closely with the Sarawak Biodiversity Council and state Agriculture Research agency.