Technology defines our edge
Published on: Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: The Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) is the foremost federal entity promoting technology commercialisation and technological advancement for Malaysian firms to compete internationally as world class enterprises with various funding programmes for start-up, growth and expansion with no collateral required.Competition is prevalent in today's global village business scene. Technology will distinguish Malaysia's competitiveness in the world's market place and help its companies to achieve success in the internationalisation of their business.In the advent of TPP, Malaysia's enterprises will have more opportunities overseas amid keener competition as well as influx of competitors into the country.
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Hence, on Monday, the Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) hosted Road2Funding 2016 – Sabah to provide techno-preneurs in the Land Below the Wind, wider access to funding and to take up commercialisation of indigenous technology and innovation for the mass-market roll out.Road2Funding 2016 is free and open to entrepreneurs, researchers, and inventors, members of business chambers and business associations as well as State Government officials in charge of entrepreneur development. The road show is part of a nationwide programme organised by MTDC this year. Next session will be held in Sarawak.The one-day event was attended by 100 participants, mainly students, researchers and technology-based entrepreneurs to explore further the scope of opportunities offered by MTDC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional Berhad, being a key player in commercialisation and management of government funding since the 7th Malaysia Plan.
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The company was set-up in 1992 to promote the adoption of technologies by local companies via commercialisation of local R&D or acquisition of foreign technologies. Since then, MTDC has been a key player in commercialisation and management of Government funds.Among the attendees are from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Politeknik Sabah, Malaysian Productivity Corporation (MPC), Dewan Perniagaan Melayu Sabah (DPMM), Federation of Sabah Industries (FSI) and others.
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For example, UMS lecturer Dr. Lim Leong Seng was present to explain the university's inventions to interested poster viewers that are being trademark patented or in the process of. MTDC encourages the business collaboration between local universities and Malaysian companies for commercialisation of such opportunities or technology transfer of intellectual property.Tan Sri Harris Salleh's daughter Marinah Harris is operating the largest patchouli plantation in the world in Sabah producing essential oil for the global perfume fragrance industry is one of the few Sabah success stories for MTDC under Kebun Rimau.Marinah encourages businesses to apply for MTDC funding like when in 2012, her company embarked into the creation of an essential oil industry that is needed as a natural binding, harmonising component that is much more expansive to be synthetically manufactured."This event will not only get technology entrepreneurs closer to understanding the role of MTDC and the multitudes of support available for them to grow their businesses, it is also a platform for business networking and business matching between the industry, government and academia," MTDC CEO Dato' Norhalim Yunus said.Besides briefing sessions on MTDC funds, business clinic and networking session, the event also featured poster exhibition for universities to display their potential technology researches for commercialisation."Malaysian firms must compete overseas with technology to expand and grow their market overseas," he said.As a subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional Berhad and an agency under MOSTI, the government has entrusted MTDC to manage multiple matching funds since the Seventh Malaysia Plan until today."At MTDC we offer Commercialisation of Research and Development Fund (CRDF), Technology Acquisition Fund (TAF), Business Startup Fund (BSF), Business Growth Fund (BGF), Business Expansion Fund (BEF) and the latest, Halal Technology Development Fund (Halal Fund) to assist companies and entrepreneurs at different level of business undertakings."Currently, MTDC manages five funds amounting to RM1.8 billion, specifically the Commercialisation of R&D Fund (CRDF), Technology Acquisition Fund (TAF), Business Start-Up Fund (BSF), Business Growth Fund (BGF) and Business Expansion Fund (BEF).Besides fund management, MTDC also provides an integrated support services for techno-preneurs which includes advisory services such as mentoring, soft-landing, branding, fund raising, international collaboration and networking.MTDC's commercialisation ecosystem has provided funding and assistance to over 500 technology-based companies that are involved in a wide range of activities ranging from the agricultural sector to ICT.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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