IP Commercialisation from the Malaysian Universities: the Case of UTM By Prof. Dr. Amran Rasli 1

The National Innovation System1 1Refer Yeoh BK (2006)

Technology Transfer/Commercialization Inventor ROI Evaluation Technology Transfer Office Shelved Release Retain Patent Licensing Business venture Outright sale/donate Outside the HEIs Spin off Start up

Start-up and Spin-off FEATURES Spin-off Start-up Created by University Outside Univ. Technologies Owned by University Licensed by Financed by Outside funder Managed by University staff

Major Challenges of Commercialization Product not ready to be put on the market. Reasons:- - Funding available limited to prototype only - Approval requirement not understood e.g.: Drug Regulatory Approval No fundingNo commercialization ‘Publish or Parish’ versus ‘No Venture, No Gain’ cross road Universities are often regarded as the bastion for basic research, a number of academics are disinclined towards applied research in view of the stigma of commercialization

Major Challenges to commercialize R&D results Lack of IP management infrastructure Lack of strategic research planning Gap between basic research and market needs Lack of funds for IP protection Lack of IP knowledge Lack of expertise to manage TT and commercialization process Lack of entrepreneurial skills Lack of support (Government, University senior managers) and incentive Conflict of interest (University vs. Industry)

The Cross Road2 COMMERCIALISATION ‘ACADEMIC’ ACADEMIC GLORY What is it all about? COMMERCIALISATION ‘ACADEMIC’ ACADEMIC GLORY PRODUCT LAUNCH/ INNOVATION AGE OLD QUEST Versus R & D MARKET GROWTH FINANCIAL GLORY 2Adapted from T.W.Sam (2007)

Minor Challenges of Commercialization IP ownership Getting the correct partner Adequate compensation for price of the technology (refer to UTM’s example below) Refer to: http://www.icc.utm.my/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ICC_Commercialisation_Policy.pdf

Commercialization Discontinuity: A3 3 Refer Cradle Commercialisation Bootcamp (2007)

Commercialization Discontinuity: B4 4 Refer Cradle Commercialisation Bootcamp (2007)

The Aftermath

The Case of UTM UTM prides itself by having extensive and state of the art facilities for basic and applied research. UTM have achieved tremendous success and recognition in competitions, exhibitions and consultancy projects globally and locally.

Facts. . . UTM emerged as the first Public HEI to receive the 2006 National Intellectual Property’s Award in Malaysia5. 5 Refer: http://www.icc.utm.my/services/commercialisation/intellectual-property/intellectual-property-status/

and realities . . . However, with regards to commercialization, UTM like other local HEIs have achieved minimal success . . . Reasons: Burnt fingers syndrome academic myopia view

ICC UTM’s Solution Establish an effective framework that support and catalyse each stage in the process of commercialization: pre-seed, VC investment and exit to market.

Solution 1: Improve the Passing of the Baton Three entities were established to complete the commercialisation cycle: Entity Responsibility RMC Management of research grants and IP processing ICC Centre for innovative technology development, technology transfer and commercialization. Provide seed fund and technology screening to researchers UTSB The university company

An illustration Disaster . . . . Good baton delivery

Solution 2: Establish external network Funders MTDC, MBC, MOSTI, etc Industries MNCs, GLCs SMEs SMIDEC

Solution 3: Encourage Spin-outs The acadpreneur From UTSB The studepreneur SKIT program Post graduate student entrepreneurs Collaboration with SMEs MTDC incubator program

Acadpreneur examples Augmented Innovation Sdn. Bhd. is an associate company of UTSB formed by Prof. Dr. Marzuki Khalid. The company is involved in process automation, fabrication of laboratory products and IT. Prof. Dr. Wan Azlee bin Wan Abu Bakar formed an associate company with UTSB in the production of chemicals to support the pertrochemical industries Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohd Warid Hussin formed and his colleagues formed a company to manufactur grout material for repair works (UR Grout), plaster material for repair and general construction (UR Plaster) and seived sands for concrete finishing and sand blasting purposes as well as domestic chemicals for clothes ironing and kitchen deodorizer spray (UR Chem). and a few more . . .

The MTDC incubator program The UTM-MTDC Technology Centre was established in December 2001 is now housing several SMEs which have UTM collaborators. Among the notable incubatees are: Company Name` UTM Collaborator Core Business Pengkalan Jitu Sdn. Bhd. Noor Hisham Hamid, FKM Electroless plating Acomoys Sdn. Bhd. Prof Dr. Azhar Aziz, FKM Fuel saver KZ Warnamas Sdn. Bhd. Assoc. Prof Dr. Ruzainee, FKKKSA Roselle drying Organiche Sdn. BHd. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farediah, FS Meal replacement JOC Biotech Sdn. Bhd. Dr. Sallehuddin, FS Organic eye drop Zanif Enterprise Sdn Bhd CEPP, UTM Organic fertilizer My Organic Mushroom Sdn. Bhd. Dr. Zulkifli Buntat Ozone treatment for mushroom

UTM-MTDC Technology Centre UTM-MTDC Technology Centre focuses on biotechnology and advanced engineering. Currently lots are divided into 2 main types, namely Technology Garage(TG) and Enterprise. The TG lot with rentable area of 440 sq ft is suitable for small office and RND activities. While the Enterprise lots are for bigger companies with rentable area from 1000sq ft up to 5000 sq ft.

No. Company Product CEO Invemtor 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. WCC TELCO SDN. BHD./ 940138-T Frequency Front -End System for Wireless local Area network ,Point to point Link MR MUHAMMAD SUFEIL BIN YUSOFF e-mail: Sufeil12@gmail.com PROF. DR. THAREK ABDUL RAHMAN e-mail: tharek@fke.utm.my 2. GIGALINK SOLUTIONS SDN. BHD./ 940040-P Antenna Array at 2.4Ghz for point to point Communication MR MUHAMMAD REDUAN BIN ABD LAH SANI e-mail: e_w_a_n@yahoo.com ASSOC. PROF. DR. MOHAMAD KAMAL A. RAHIM e-mail: mkamal@fke.utm.my 3. MICROCLEAR SDN. BHD./ 940172-T Microclear for the treatment of coloured water MR IFNU HAKIM BIN ABDUL RAFOR e-mail: ifnuzitech@yahoo.com ASSOC. PROF. DR. ZAHARAH IBRAHIM, E-mail: zaharahibrahim@utm.my 4. SONO ENGINEERING (M) SDN. BHD./ 940168-H Novel Low Cost Ultrasound Sonoimprometer MR MOHD ARSHAD ABDUL RAHID E-mail: arshadlee@yahoo.com  ASSOC. PROF. DR. EKO SUPRIANTO E-mail: eko@utm.my 5. HQ NUTRACEUTICALS SDN. BHD./ 940117-A Pineapple Fibre-based Product Development for Nutraceutical MR M. HAFIZ SHAMSHUDDIN e-mail: hafiora@yahoo.com ASSOC. PROF. DR. IDA IDAYU MUHAMAD E-mail: idayu@fkkksa.utm.my 6. BIOSWITCH TECHNOLOGIES SDN. BHD./ 940152-P An Active packaging using Smart Bio Switch Concept MR MOHD ZAKUAN BIN ZAKARIA e-mail: zakuanzakaria@yahoo.com.my e-mail: idayu@fkkksa.utm.my 7. E ELEMENTS TECHNOLOGY SDN. BHD./ 940161-K Energy Saving in Building Air conditioning System MR MOHAMMAD AKMAL BAHARAIN BIN A. RAHIM e-mail: akmika@gmail.com PROF. DR MD NOR MUSA e-mail: mdnor@utm.my 8. MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY (M) SDN. BHD./ 940038-M Development of Pre-Treatment System for RO Drinking Water Production MS SURIATI MOHAD NASIR e-mail: suriatimohadnasir@yahoo.com.my PROF. DR. AHMAD FAUZI ISMAIL e-mail: afauzi@utm.my 9. PHOTOLASER GRAMMETRY SDN. BHD./ 940142-X 3D-based Surveillance System MR ZAM HAIRIZAD BIN ISMAIL e-mail: zampsh@yahoo.com.my DR. ZULKEPLI MAJID e-mail: zulkeplimajid@utm.my / drzulmajid@gmail.com

Solution 4: Market driven approach Identify market first then do research Success stories from the teaching factory UTM lead by identifying export market, develop product, negotiate for orders, then identified an SME to become our partner

The Teaching Factory

Spin Out Company

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