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    23 June 2012| last updated at 09:49PM

    'RM434m allocated to fund 238 projects via CDRF, TAF'



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    JOHOR BAHARU -- A sum of RM434 million has been allocated by the government to finance 238 projects through the Comercialisation of Research and Development Fund(CRDF) and Technology Acquisition Fund (TAF) from 2006 to May this year.

    Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said this is to encourage the growth of technology-based companies through the commercialisation of research and development (R&D) and local innovation as well as acquisition of technology from overseas.

    "Of the 238 projects, 153 or 64 per cent local companies had succeeded in commercialising their products both at home and overseas," he added.

    He said this in his speech while officiating Phase Two of the UTM-MTDC Technology Centre at the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), in Skudai here today.

    Also present at the event was Minister of Higher Education Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin as well as Deputy Minister of Science Technology and Innovation Datuk Fadillah Yusof, Malaysia Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) Chief Executive Norhalim Yunus and the UTM Vice Chancellor Datuk Ir Zaini Ujang.

    Muhyiddin said apart from this, up to Dec 31 last year, the companies concerned had generated RM817.73 million in sales with an export value of RM206 million and sales value of RM612 million in the local market.

    He said to date, a total of 304 intellectual properties had been registered, while 92 projects involving cooperation with local universities as well as educational institutions had been agreed to, and 3,348 job opportunities for trained workers created by those companies receiving funds from MTDC.

    The government he said, had allocated funding of RM30 million under the 'Market Validation' programme managed by the MTDC with the cooperation of the Innovation Agency Malaysia.

    "This fund was specially allocated to fund and implement a method of market validation and market potential towards a product produced by local universities and research institutions before being promoted to the industry to be commercialised," Muhyiddin added.

    As of last May, he said a total of 390 potential products had been put forth by seven selected local universities to undergo the process of market validation.

    Meanwhile, Muhyiddin called on the Malays to rise and unite to defend themselves against threats from certain quarters within their own race.

    He emphasised that the Malays must be strong to face leaders who propounded ideologies which went against the grain of the religion, customs, lifestyle and culture of the Malay people because these leaders placed politics above helping their own race.   

    "I feel it's time to rise and strengthen ourselves today. I urge this as I realise the threats we're facing are coming from within our own race, with ideologies which go against the religion, customs, lifestyle and culture of the Malay people which has been entrenched for so long," he said in a speech at a chat session with leaders organised by the Association of Malay Heritage Johor (Warisan).  

    Also present were Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, Warisan president Datuk Abd Rahman Yunos and more than 3,000 association members from the state. -- Bernama

     

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