PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia has jumped on the graphene bandwagon by exploring the material’s downstream economic potential, which is expected to generate RM9 billion worth of revenue and create 9,000 jobs by 2020.
Graphene is lauded as the new wonder material of the century.
It is 200 times stronger than steel and is able to conduct electricity better than any known material, and can be applied in numerous industries.
Intense commercialisation of graphene-based technology is taking place now in developed countries.
The applications that are
relevant to Malaysia are lithium-ion battery, battery anodes and ultracapacitors, rubber additives, nanofluids (drilling fluid and lubricants), conductive inks and plastic additives.
Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) chief executive officer Datuk Seri Idris Jala said the graphene venture is part of Malaysia’s drive towards an innovation-based economy.
“We can’t depend only on a strong domestic-led economy as our population is small. We have to look beyond and the graphene venture is part of the government’s Economic Transformation Programme,” he said at the launch of the National Graphene Action Plan, here, yesterday.
The venture will be handled by Pemandu, Agensi Inovasi Malaysia and NanoMalaysia Bhd.
The agencies will work together with the private sector, research and development institutions and universities on graphene commercialisation.