Biotechnology in Malaysia

INTRODUCTION

In the 8th Malaysian Plan, MOSTE has proposed the development of three national Institutes specialized in areas of research of national strategic importance. After further study, the Ministry proposes that these Institutes be developed within a Malaysian Biotechnology Cluster, known as BioValley Malaysia, that will best assure the success of the Institutes. Furthermore, formation of the BioValley will accelerate the research and commercialization of technologies critical to the development of Malaysia's regional and global competitiveness.

The BioValley Strategic Plan was developed through a collaboration between the National Biotechnology Directorate and M.I.T., through the Malaysia-M.I.T. Biotechnology Partnership Program (MMBPP). A joint workshop was held during the week of January 29 through February 2, 2001 and included fifty-three Malaysian experts from research institutions, universities, and industry.

The outcome of the workshop is the following Strategic Plan for the formation of BioValley Malaysia.

BioValley Malaysia: Rationale and Goals

BioValley Malaysia represents the best method for enhancing the development of research excellence in Malaysian life science and translating innovation into commercial resources for the Malaysian K-economy. BioValley will integrate existing research resources with new facilities, equipment and human resources that will seed growth and innovation. BioValley will stimulate the growth and application of biotechnology in Malaysia by catalyzing research through the formation of new Institutes and linking Malaysian academic centers to industry.

BioValley will provide the initial assets, a unified strategic plan, and management through the early stages of development to serve as the centerpiece of Malaysia's entry as a global competitor and center of excellence in biotechnology.

BioValley and its Components

Biotech thrives on innovation. The generation and communication of innovative thinking requires a culture of networking, excellence, and initiative. BioValley will be a centralized development area for biotech with incentives for entrepreneurial culture, cooperative development, and collaborations between academic institutions, industry, and investors both within Malaysia and from overseas. BioValley will establish a network of collaboration between Malaysian industry and academic centers of excellence, and will seed innovation by the establishment of three world-class research Institutes containing the state of the art technologies and resources necessary to support top academic science and industrial research.. In addition, BioValley will serve as a 'magnet' for the co-location industrial labs and development facilities and biotechnology startups.

Biotechnology Research Institutes

The core of BioValley Malaysia will consist of three research Institutes, each focusing on a central area of advanced research relevant for converting Malaysian resources into sustainable biotechnology. The National Biotechnology Directorate (BIOTEK) has identified genomics and proteomics, agriculture, and nutraceutical/pharmaceutical technologies as the three most important research priorities. Given the highly specialized nature of each discipline, the Institutes will operate independently while benefiting from the synergies of a centralized administration of common infrastructure.

Benefits of BioValley

The development of BioValley will have many benefits for Malaysia. Foremost will be the economic benefit of new commercial enterprises of high technology that will generate additional revenues and create jobs. The BioValley will spur economic growth as each new company formed will result in new supporting businesses. Research from other countries has shown that every new biotechnology company, four new supporting companies are formed. In addition, each new biotechnology job, 15 jobs in related and supporting industries are created. Thus, the employment generated by BioValley will have a significant impact on economic development nationwide. BioValley will also serve as a magnet for foreign investment, and will bring ideas, technologies, opportunity, and international trade to Malaysia. These results of BioValley will all support the national goal of developing the K-economy through new professional and technical employment.



INTRODUCTION In the 8th Malaysian Plan, MOSTE has proposed the development of three national Institutes specialized in areas of research of national strategic importance. After further study, the Ministry proposes that these Institutes be developed within a Malaysian Biotechnology Cluster, known as BioValley Malaysia, that will best assure the success of the Institutes. Furthermore, formation of the BioValley will accelerate the research and commercialization of technologies critical to the development of Malaysia's regional and global competitiveness. The BioValley Strategic Plan was developed through a collaboration between the National Biotechnology Directorate and M.I.T., through the Malaysia-M.I.T. Biotechnology Partnership Program (MMBPP). A joint workshop was held during the week of January 29 through February 2, 2001 and included fifty-three Malaysian experts from research institutions, universities, and industry. The outcome of the workshop is the following Strategic Plan for the formation of BioValley Malaysia. BioValley Malaysia: Rationale and Goals BioValley Malaysia represents the best method for enhancing the development of research excellence in Malaysian life science and translating innovation into commercial resources for the Malaysian K-economy. BioValley will integrate existing research resources with new facilities, equipment and human resources that will seed growth and innovation. BioValley will stimulate the growth and application of biotechnology in Malaysia by catalyzing research through the formation of new Institutes and linking Malaysian academic centers to industry. BioValley will provide the initial assets, a unified strategic plan, and management through the early stages of development to serve as the centerpiece of Malaysia's entry as a global competitor and center of excellence in biotechnology. BioValley and its Components Biotech thrives on innovation. The generation and communication of innovative thinking requires a culture of networking, excellence, and initiative. BioValley will be a centralized development area for biotech with incentives for entrepreneurial culture, cooperative development, and collaborations between academic institutions, industry, and investors both within Malaysia and from overseas. BioValley will establish a network of collaboration between Malaysian industry and academic centers of excellence, and will seed innovation by the establishment of three world-class research Institutes containing the state of the art technologies and resources necessary to support top academic science and industrial research.. In addition, BioValley will serve as a 'magnet' for the co-location industrial labs and development facilities and biotechnology startups. Biotechnology Research Institutes The core of BioValley Malaysia will consist of three research Institutes, each focusing on a central area of advanced research relevant for converting Malaysian resources into sustainable biotechnology. The National Biotechnology Directorate (BIOTEK) has identified genomics and proteomics, agriculture, and nutraceutical/pharmaceutical technologies as the three most important research priorities. Given the highly specialized nature of each discipline, the Institutes will operate independently while benefiting from the synergies of a centralized administration of common infrastructure. Benefits of BioValley The development of BioValley will have many benefits for Malaysia. Foremost will be the economic benefit of new commercial enterprises of high technology that will generate additional revenues and create jobs. The BioValley will spur economic growth as each new company formed will result in new supporting businesses. Research from other countries has shown that every new biotechnology company, four new supporting companies are formed. In addition, each new biotechnology job, 15 jobs in related and supporting industries are created. Thus, the employment generated by BioValley will have a significant impact on economic development nationwide. BioValley will also serve as a magnet for foreign investment, and will bring ideas, technologies, opportunity, and international trade to Malaysia. These results of BioValley will all support the national goal of developing the K-economy through new professional and technical employment.