MINISTRY EYES SETTING UP NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL BY 2010

By Farazira Amira Yusof

PETALING JAYA (Malaysia), Aug 18 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Science,
Technology and Innovation (Mosti) plans to set up a National Research Council
(NRC) to coordinate research funding in the country.

Its minister, Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili, said Mosti would present the
proposal to the Cabinet in December.

"I hope the concept can be finalised before year-end and the council set up
in 2010," he told Bernama after officiating the 18th Scientific Meeting of
Malaysian Society for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology here Tuesday.

He said the NRC would be inclusive and independent with Mosti providing the
institutional support and facilities.

Ongkili said the council would be responsible for ensuring that research and
development (R&D) in the country was strengthened so that knowledge transfer and
circulation would be optimised.

"The council members should comprise not more than 10 people and should
include representatives from the various industries like microbiology, chemistry
science and industrial technology science.

"The president of Academia Science should be the chairman of the council and
at the same time act as science adviser to the prime minister," he said.

He said the ministry recognised the importance of creating a conducive
environment for research and would take the lead to revamp and improve the whole
ecosystem for managing R&D in the country.

"Mosti is looking at international best practices, especially in countries
that have managed to fully utilise limited resources in both human capital as
well as infrastructure in the most efficient manner, he said.

Ongkili said his ministry hoped the government would increase funding for
R&D under the 10th Malaysian Plan (2011-2015), especially in biotechnology
industry.

"We need more grants and funds to spearhead the R&D in the biotech sector as
the amount spent in this sector is still low," he said, adding that biotech was
now accepted as the next engine of growth after the information and
communication technology evolution.

He said by 2020, the biotech sector was expected to create 280,000 jobs and
contribute five percent to the nation's gross domestic product (GDP).

The sector currently contributed only 0.6 percent to the country's GDP, he
said.

Ongkili said total investments in this sector were estimated to reach RM25
billion (US$7.06 billion) in the next 15 years.

"The ministry will ensure that funding in fundamental and basic sciences,
such as in molecular biology, would not only be incorporated into our programmes
but be given the quantum that it deserves," he said.
-- BERNAMA