The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) hosted a delegation from the Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) on Wednesday, 15 January 2014 at the CSIR campus in Pretoria.
The visitors were hosted by CSIR Biosciences and the National Laser Centre (NLC) and attended discussions around possible research collaboration and technology transfer, particularly through facilitating business-to-business interactions. Following the discussions the delegates had an opportunity to tour both the Biomanufacturing Industry Development Centre (BIDC) and NLC facilities to experience the kind of research being conducted in the respective areas.
Representatives from the DST, TIA, CSIR and the Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) during a visit to the CSIR
Berenice Lue Marais, Group Manager: CSIR Strategic Partnerships, says: “We envisage that the interactions with these role-players will lead to possible research collaborations, university partnerships and technology transfer. This could entail hosting techno-entrepreneurs for a period of up to three months at Malaysian and South African technology development organisations, as well as incubator facilities where appropriate.”
The visit follows a recommendation by Department of Science and Technology (DST) Minister Derek Hanekom that the MTDC, Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and other institutions under the banner of the DST – such as the CSIR and the National Intellectual Property Management Office (NIPMO), together with representatives of Offices of Technology Transfer (OTT) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) – meet with the aim of sharing information on MTDC best practices.
“The interaction with MTDC provides an opportunity to gain insight into technology commercialisation from an established organisation that focuses on these activities. This meeting strengthened our ties with Malaysia and added another dimension to the collaboration. We look forward to exploring new avenues of working together post the research phase of collaborative activities,” says Dr Daniel Visser, Acting Executive Director: CSIR Biosciences.
Professor Zainul Fadziruddin Zainuddin, Director: Business Advisory Division MTDC, said: “From my observation as a scientist, South African R&D is definitely on par with some of the best in the world.”
“MTDC’s forte is in the commercialisation of R&D output through supporting technopreneurs and technology start-ups. I believe the possibilities of collaborating in this particular area are very high.”
“As advisors to relevant South African organisations in setting-up funding programmes aimed at commercialisation of R&D as well as technopreneur training programmes. In addition, MTDC could be the conduit for connecting Malaysian technology companies to South African ones for business collaboration or such companies to appropriate technology providers in Malaysia/South Africa,” said Professor Zainuddin.
The Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) was established in 1992 to spearhead the development of technology-based companies in Malaysia. The MTDC has since then become the country’s leading agent of commercialisation, providing grants and soft loans, as well as incubation spaces.
News contributed by Sibusiso Ralarala, CSIR Biosciences
23 January 2013
