By Azman Zakaria
Photo by Noor Azreen Awang
SERDANG, Nov 16 - Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) remains committed in ensuring that every single innovative idea generated by the university will benefit the society.
UPM Vice-Chancellor, Prof Datin Paduka Dr. Aini Ideris said that so far, UPM had licensed 15 intellectual properties with a gross sale value of RM55.75 million.
“The figure which accounted for about five percent of the university’s intellectual output, has achieved the international standards. Several UPM innovative products have succeeded in penetrating the markets of eight countries,” she said when closing an Exposition on Research and Innovative Designs (PRPI) UPM 2016, here.
More than 200 high-impact UPM inventions in various fields were displayed at PRPI 2016 which was held for two days, starting November 15.
Themed “Agriculture, Innovation, Life”, PRPI 2016 was aimed at providing a platform to showcase UPM researches and innovations that have obtained intellectual properties protection.
It was also aimed at opening up the markets and networks for the industries, donors and the public, as well as to vet or screen UPM researches before they are eligible to enter any research competitions at a higher level.
Prof Datin Paduka Dr Aini also said the organization of PRPI was in tandem with the government’s initiative in declaring 2016 as the year for commercialization and marketing of innovative products in various fields for the global market.
“In this era of k-economy, the role of researchers in bringing about that impacts for development and growth of Gross Domestic Products (GDP) is critical, and should be strengthened in line with the government’s aspiration for Malaysia to achieve the high-income and developed nation status by 2020.
"Through platforms such as PRPI, efforts to empower researchers through strategic collaborations and wide dissemination of innovative products, are expected to be able to create that sustainable and productive commercial value chain,” she said.
In conjunction with the event, an exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was held between UPM and Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) in relation to the setting up of ‘Technology Innovation Support Centers‘ (TISC).
She also said the project was aimed at facilitating search for information and enhance understanding of the local communities and target groups for intellectual properties so as to advance the country’s intellectual properties.
Prof Datin Paduka Dr Aini also presented a University Research Award under Pusat Tanggungjawab and Publishing of Journal Magazines categories, and PRPI 2016 awards. – UPM
