KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (Mosti) is prioritising the commercialisation of research with a focus on translating scientific findings into practical applications and bringing laboratory innovations into the marketplace.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang said the government wants Malaysian technologies to compete globally, not only as users of technology, but as creators, owners and exporters of technology.
“Industry-academia collaboration is the fastest pathway to achieve this,“ he said at a memorandum of agreement (MoA) signing ceremony between the Universiti Malaya (UM) and biotechnology firm Sateera Sdn Bhd yesterday.
Chang said the government aims to strengthen industry-academia collaboration, with universities producing high-value research, businesses converting that knowledge into marketable products and solutions, and innovation ultimately benefiting the rakyat through improved health, dignity, and overall quality of life.
“Mosti will continue to support such efforts through funding, regulatory facilitation, and strong commercialisation pathways, particularly in deeptech sectors such as biotechnology and health innovation.”
Malaysian universities are strategic national partners and that local companies are capable of producing world-class science-driven solutions, Chang said.
“This MoA signals Malaysia’s readiness to lead in an emerging and specialised field,“ he said, adding that through the National Biotechnology Policy and the broader STI (science, technology and innovation) framework, Malaysia has built a strong foundation for bioeconomy.
“Today, the bio-based industry contributes tens of millions of ringgit to our economy and creates high-value jobs for our talent. More importantly, biotechnology enables solutions in health, agriculture, food security, and environmental sustainability.
Chang said the partnership is important because it uses advanced biotechnology and microbiome science to create targeted treatments that focus on harmful bacteria while keeping helpful microbes safe.
“This represents a shift away from broad-spectrum antibacterial methods towards more targeted, science-based solutions, in line with global healthcare trends emphasising preventive and personalised approaches.
“This is the kind of deep technology innovation that Malaysia must champion,“ he said.
The focus on feminine hygiene and intimate health is both timely and important, as it is an area that has long been understudied globally, yet it has a direct impact on public health, productivity and well-being.
“Studies show that women make up nearly 50% of the global population, yet only a small fraction of health innovation investment is dedicated specifically to female-centric conditions. This gap represents not only a medical challenge but also a major opportunity for science-driven solutions.”
The MoA involved technology originally developed within UM’s research ecosystem over 11 years ago, and it evolved through laboratory refinement, patent development and industry translation before forming the foundation of Sateera, a BioNexus-status company focused on microbiome-safe innovation.
The collaboration marks the next phase of university-industry partnership, with both parties committing to strengthen scientific validation and expand research on selective anti-infective mechanisms.
Redfores, Sateera’s intimate care brand, marks the first commercial deployment of its patented selective anti-infective technology in the women’s intimate health segment. Under the partnership, Redfores will be subject to further scientific validation in collaboration with UM’s academic team.
