PUBLIC, PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES RECEIVE RESEARCH GRANTS

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 (Bernama) -- The government has allocated RM25 million
(US$7.4 million) under the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) to sponsor
602 projects undertaken by public and private universities this year.

Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said 20 researchers from
public universities and three from private universities received the sponsorship
this year.

He said public universities had been allocated with RM23.63 million to carry
out 411 projects while private universities received RM1.41 million to bring 191
projects to fruition. (US1=RM3.40)

The grants were channelled through the Education Ministry, the Agriculture
and Agro-based Industry Ministry, and the Science, Technology and Innovation
Ministry, he told reporters at the International Exposition of Research and
Invention of Institutions of Higher Learning 2009 (PECIPTA 2009) award
presentation here today.

He said the FRGS research focused on pure science, applied science,
engineering and technology, medical science, social science and humanities, arts
and professional arts and natural sciences, and national heritage.

Universiti Malaya was adjudged the winner of the Premier Research Award,
having clinched four gold, 14 silver and 10 bronze medals in PECIPTA 2009.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) came in a close second with four gold,
11 silver and 11 bronze medals.

PECIPTA 2009 with the theme "Driving Research Innovation Towards Value
Creation" scrutinised 465 research submitted by 22 public and private
universities.

It was jointly held by Higher Education Ministry and Universiti Malaya to
spur innovations by local universities.
--BERNAMA