Friday 29 Mar 2024
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KUALA LUMPUR: The Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB) today signed two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and a licensing agreement with Malaysian companies as part of ongoing efforts between Malaysia and South Korea to mutually benefit from biotechnology development.

"Malaysia is endowed with natural resources while we pride ourselves in human resources, so with a mix of both we can create businesses in Malaysia and a win-win situation," said KRIBB president Yong Hoon Park after signing the MoUs.

Its MoU with Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation, which is seen as a government-to-government initiative, aims to realise a proposed biotechnology twinning programme between both countries.

It will primarily facilitate human capital development and technology transfer and focuses on areas such as fostering relationships between Malaysian and Korean research organisations and businesses as well as facilitate research and development for the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources for various purposes.

The MoU between KRIBB and SIRIM Bhd will allow both parties to work together towards enhancing cooperation in biotechnological research and related training. It will see exchanges between the two centres in the form of visiting fellowships and biological materials. KRIBB and SIRIM will also perform joint research activities and consult each other on a case-by-case basis.

Fertiliser company Ultimare Biotech Sdn Bhd entered a licensing agreement with KRIBB on the "method for preparing biofertiliser using palm oil mill waste through internal collaborative research programme". This follows KRIBB and Ultimate Biotech's joint ownership agreement signed in 2008.

In the current agreement, Ultimate Biotech is allowed to manufacture, use and sell biofertiliser from KRIBB.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili, who witnessed the signing ceremony, said Malaysia would be a strategic partner to South Korea given its membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), which will allow the republic to tap into a larger market as well as explore the emerging halal food market.

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