Use own inventions first before commercialising it, researchers told
GEORGE TOWN: Researchers are advised to use their own inventions or innovative products first, to convince the industry and consumers, before the product can be commercialised and be sold.
Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Wira Dr Abu Bakar Mohamad Diah said this was because innovative products invented through research were mostly left unused upon completion of the research, hence making it difficult for the ministry to help the researchers involved to commercialise the products.
"I would like to advise the researchers who invented innovative product to use it first. They have to use it. When people see that, they will feel more confident. The problem now is that the researchers don't use what they produced.
"All efforts end when the research comes to an end. If the researchers don't use and commercialise their products, who will?" he told a press conference after opening the 2017 Malaysian Technical Universities Conferences on Engineering and Technology, here today.
A total of 270 papers will be presented over the two-day conference which aimed at enhancing and empowering the quality of research and development (R&D) in the country.
Abu Bakar said the Ministy of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti) had prepared various funds and incentives to help the researchers to commercialise potential products through the Mosti Social Innovation (MSI) programme.
He said under the MSI programme, researchers need to collaborate with Mosti's agencies, as an initial effort to introduce their products to the public.
"Under this programme, Mosti will provide a grant with a maximum amount of RM300,000 for the researchers in the peninsula, and RM500,000 for those in Sabah or Sarawak. And their inventions would be proposed to one of Mosti's agencies, which would introduce and promote it to the public.
"For a start, they will just give it to the public to try it for free before they can eventually sell it or bring it to the market," he added. — Bernama