PENANG, September 2014 - "It is my hope that more research products and technology solutions with high economic value developed by the university researchers and lecturers would penetrate the domestic and international markets," said Universiti Sains Malaysia Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Dr. Omar Osman.

“USM will continue to intensify its efforts in developing products based on green technology research through commercialisation and also through various knowledge and technology transfer programmes to the community,” added the Vice-Chancellor in his welcome remarks during the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signing ceremony between USAINS Holdings Sdn. Bhd. (UHSB) which is the commercial arm of USM and Anano Sphere Sdn. Bhd. (ANANO) here recently.

The MoA was aimed at strengthening the collaboration between USM and ANANO in marketing the product Nano-TiO2 invented by Assoc. Prof. Dr Srimala Sreekantan from the School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, USM and her team.

“According to statistics released by the World Health Organisation (WHO), a total of 1.6 million people die each year due to exposure to air pollution.

As a result of that, we came up with this product Nano-TiO2, a Titanium Dioxide solution with 2-3 nm nanoparticles which acts as a photocatalyst to detoxify the indoor air and remove Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) as well as killing bacteria and fungi under visible light condition,” she explained.

Due to its commercial value, Nano-TiO2 attracted the attention of ANANO who purchased the technology and have been collaborating with USM for the past two years to further develop and push the eco-friendly technology in the global market.

Meanwhile, ANANO Managing Director, Ng Kee Beng strongly believes in huge potential out of the commercialisation of this technology that will benefit global industries that spend millions of dollars in addressing bacteria and VOC related challenges.

“Furthermore this product is environmental friendly and safe to use even among young children and elderly people.

ANANO will continue to seek partners and interested parties to market Nano-TiO2 so that it can be used by everyone,” added Ng.

“As this product cleans the indoor air, it creates a hygienic environment and hence prevent people from being exposed to environmental pollution, especially air pollution,” stressed Srimala.

This active collaboration between USM through UHSB and ANANO will involve technology acquisition, technical product information consultation, technology transfer and facility setup as well as identifying future commercialisation and innovation potential.

Also present at the signing ceremony were UHSB Managing Director, Edwin Jose Gomez who signed on behalf of UHSB, Director of Innovation and Commercialisation Office USM, Professor Dr. Rahmat Awang, principal officers of USM and ANANO’s staff. - Translation: Tan Ewe Hoe/Text: Nor Rafizah Md. Zain/Photos: Mohamad Danial Shahri