PENANG, 16 November 2015 - Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) through its Innovation and Commercialisation Office (ICO), in collaboration with USAINS Holdings Sdn Bhd (USAINS) will produce academicians and professors in the field of commercialisation research findings.

So says Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Dr. Omar Osman at the signing of the Commercialisation and Licensing Agreement, which was held for the first time with the three companies that have cooperated and assisted USM lecturers in their commercialisation research findings.

"Within the next five years, USM will increase twice the value of the revenue generated from commercialisation and licensing through USAINS," said the Vice-Chancellor.

"While research can help in improving monetisation and at the same time promoting the lecturers to be ‘businessmen’, it is hoped that lecturers will not ignore their core duties as academicians."USAINS will help in educating the lecturers so as to work together with the industry and bring USM to a higher level," added Omar.

According to USAINS Managing Director, Edwin Jose Gomes, his office will continue to strive to develop intellectual property and generating new knowledge to increase global recognition.

"USAINS will continue to increase their efforts and commitment to achieve what they have hoped for as well as to strengthen ties with various parties, especially with USM and the industry.

Three companies that collaborated today were Orchid Life Sdn Bhd, Vindustries Sdn Bhd and YS Biotechnologies.Orchid Life Sdn Bhd is involved in the collaboration with Professor Dr. Zhari Ismail from the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, for clinical trials on Lebeesity products based on ‘Kacip Fatimah’ (Labisia Pumila) herbs for the purpose of weight management and also as an anti-obesity supplement.

Vindustries Sdn Bhd is collaborating with Associate Professor Engr. Dr. Shahrel Azmin Suandi, a lecturer at the School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering in the marketing of ‘Face Biometric for Attendance Recording System’ (FaceBARS), a human face detection device for recording attendance and accessing a gateway to enter an area or an office.

As for YS Biotechnologies, it invested over RM15 million in setting up and providing equipment for laboratory production of large Palm Oil Based Biodegradable Copolymer BioResin products with Professor Dr. K Sudesh Kumar Pillai C. Kanapathi, from the School of Biological Sciences.

Those who were present in signing the agreement were the President and Chief Executive Officer of BWYS Kang Beng Hai, Director of Orchid Life Sdn Bhd Abdul Razak Mohd Isa, Director of Vindustries Sdn Bhd and Director of ICO Professor Dr. Rahmat Awang. Also present were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Professor Dato' Dr. Muhamad Jantan with the Dean of the School of Biological Sciences, Associate Professor Dr. Ahmad Sofiman Othman and Dean of the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Professor Dr. Munavvar Zubaid Abdul Sattar.

Translation: Hafiz Meah Ghouse Meah

Text: Nor Rafizah Md Zain