ID :
119503
Fri, 04/30/2010 - 17:16
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/119503
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M'SIA TO SHOWCASE BIO-XCELL, BIOTECH ADVANTAGES AT BIO CHICAGO
KUALA LUMPUR, April 30 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is set to "sell" its Bio-Xcell initiative and biotechnology advantages to biotechnology movers and shakers attending the world's largest biotechnology gathering, BIO International Convention in Chicago (BIO Chicago 2010), early next month.
The 70-member delegation, with extensive biotechnology background, will "rub
shoulders" with Who's Who in the biotechnology industry to convince them on the
biotechnology prospects available in Malaysia.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Maximus Ongkili told Bernama
Malaysia would make a global launch of Bio-XCell initiative at the BIO Chicago
to promote rapid commercialisation of biotechnology in the country.
A premier biotechnology ecosystem, Bio-Xcell, at Southern Industrial and
Logistics Cluster (SiLC) in Nusajaya, in the southern state of Johor, is being
developed on a 60:40 joint-venture basis between Malaysian Biotechnology
Corporation (BiotechCorp) and UEM Land Bhd.
Bio-XCell will comprise the development of a supportive biotechnology
ecosystem around targeted strategic anchor tenants to undertake operations
geared towards expediting the industry's growth.
Dr Maximus said special announcements involving major foreign partners
secured recently by BiotechCorp and Bio-XCell in industrial and healthcare
biotechnology areas would be disclosed at the convention.
The foreign partners are expected to begin operations in Malaysia by 2012,
he said.
Dr Maximus, who will be in Chicago to provide an indepth perspective on
Malaysia's biotechnology industry, said the convention would be an avenue for
Malaysia to find and form strategic partnerships with technology-right companies
to facilitate commercialising the areas Malaysia has comparative advantages.
He said it was important for Malaysia to take appropriate measures to rope
in suitable partners for commercialisation of biotechnology undertakings as
Malaysia was now coming to the "Lab to Market Phase" (2011-2015).
"We are especially keen to send an unequivocal message to qualified US
companies of Malaysia's very serious commitment to partner with them in
expediting our development and commercialisation in the areas of industrial
biotechnology and green technology initiatives," he said.
Dr Maximus said the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin at
BIO Chicago reflected the continuous importance of biotechnology in the national
economic agenda particularly as a source of economic growth, sustainability and
social well-being.
He also said the growing number of BioNexus companies, currently at 158,
and investments of about RM1.54 billion in biotechnology todate are testimony of
an active and effective involvement of BiotechCorp in charge of facilitating the
country's biotechnology industry in the annual BIO International Convention.
This is the sixth time BiotechCorp is participating in the BIO International
Convention. BiotechCorp first participated in Philadelphia in 2005, followed
by Chicago in 2006, Boston (2007), San Diego (2008) and Atlanta (2009).
On his expectations from the Chicago mission, Dr Maximus said most important
was to generate quality partnerships with global US companies to gain immediate-
and medium-term commercialisation results and outcomes for Malaysian
biotechnology industry.
Additionally, he said, Malaysia's efforts at BIO Chicago was a follow-up to
the recent successful visit by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to the
United States in strengthening Malaysia-US economic and business collaborations.
"Specific to the biotechnology sector, we would like to strengthen
partnerships with very tangible outcomes between the US and Malaysian
biotechnology companies," he added.
-- BERNAMA
The 70-member delegation, with extensive biotechnology background, will "rub
shoulders" with Who's Who in the biotechnology industry to convince them on the
biotechnology prospects available in Malaysia.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Maximus Ongkili told Bernama
Malaysia would make a global launch of Bio-XCell initiative at the BIO Chicago
to promote rapid commercialisation of biotechnology in the country.
A premier biotechnology ecosystem, Bio-Xcell, at Southern Industrial and
Logistics Cluster (SiLC) in Nusajaya, in the southern state of Johor, is being
developed on a 60:40 joint-venture basis between Malaysian Biotechnology
Corporation (BiotechCorp) and UEM Land Bhd.
Bio-XCell will comprise the development of a supportive biotechnology
ecosystem around targeted strategic anchor tenants to undertake operations
geared towards expediting the industry's growth.
Dr Maximus said special announcements involving major foreign partners
secured recently by BiotechCorp and Bio-XCell in industrial and healthcare
biotechnology areas would be disclosed at the convention.
The foreign partners are expected to begin operations in Malaysia by 2012,
he said.
Dr Maximus, who will be in Chicago to provide an indepth perspective on
Malaysia's biotechnology industry, said the convention would be an avenue for
Malaysia to find and form strategic partnerships with technology-right companies
to facilitate commercialising the areas Malaysia has comparative advantages.
He said it was important for Malaysia to take appropriate measures to rope
in suitable partners for commercialisation of biotechnology undertakings as
Malaysia was now coming to the "Lab to Market Phase" (2011-2015).
"We are especially keen to send an unequivocal message to qualified US
companies of Malaysia's very serious commitment to partner with them in
expediting our development and commercialisation in the areas of industrial
biotechnology and green technology initiatives," he said.
Dr Maximus said the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin at
BIO Chicago reflected the continuous importance of biotechnology in the national
economic agenda particularly as a source of economic growth, sustainability and
social well-being.
He also said the growing number of BioNexus companies, currently at 158,
and investments of about RM1.54 billion in biotechnology todate are testimony of
an active and effective involvement of BiotechCorp in charge of facilitating the
country's biotechnology industry in the annual BIO International Convention.
This is the sixth time BiotechCorp is participating in the BIO International
Convention. BiotechCorp first participated in Philadelphia in 2005, followed
by Chicago in 2006, Boston (2007), San Diego (2008) and Atlanta (2009).
On his expectations from the Chicago mission, Dr Maximus said most important
was to generate quality partnerships with global US companies to gain immediate-
and medium-term commercialisation results and outcomes for Malaysian
biotechnology industry.
Additionally, he said, Malaysia's efforts at BIO Chicago was a follow-up to
the recent successful visit by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to the
United States in strengthening Malaysia-US economic and business collaborations.
"Specific to the biotechnology sector, we would like to strengthen
partnerships with very tangible outcomes between the US and Malaysian
biotechnology companies," he added.
-- BERNAMA
