PENANG, 8 July 2015 - Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) through the School of Industrial Technology (PPTI) received a unit of Multifors Bioreactor worth RM185,000, making USM the first university in this country to be equipped with this modern equipment in its endeavour to strengthen research in the field of Bioprocessing.

The equipment was donated by INFORS HT through its subsidiary in Malaysia, Syarikat Bumi Sains Sdn. Bhd. in a simple handover ceremony here today.

INFORS HT which is based in Switzerland has over 45 years experience in designing biorectors for worldwide use.

The INFORS HT Multifors bioreactor is specially designed to run multiple bioprocesses for research for the production of a variety of materials including probiotics, bioplastics, organic acids, vaccines and so forth.

The Dean of PPTI, Professor Dr. Azhar Mat Easa said the latest facility will speed up the research process, providing accurate and reliable results, as well as to help in churning out good research papers in high-impact journals.

He said, it also gives extensive benefits to PPTI in driving the Bioprocess Technology programme which is still new (started in 2008) through teaching and research activities at the Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral levels.

“This contribution is just part of the contributions and support by INFORS HT to USM. In addition, INFORS HT also helped in the setting up of the Bioprocess Pilot Plant by donating and setting up the piping system which was estimated at RM200,000.

“The students are also exposed to the bioreactor operations for free of charge by the company as part of its support to strengthen the role and contribution of academics to the world,” he said.

The Dean said this in his speech at the handover ceremony. The Multifors bioreactor was handed over ​​to him by the President of the INFORS HT Board, Michael Hawrylenko.

Meanwhile, INFORS HT Chief Executive Officer, Marcel Brauchli said, USM was selected based on its high reputation in the academic arena as well as having a longstanding collaboration with INFORS HT since 2008.

He said the donation is expected to improve the quality of research in USM, producing high impact research results that could be published in journals of international standard.

Translation: Sharifah Zafirah/Text: Marziana Mohamed Alias/Photo: Mohd Fairus Md. Isa