KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Bioeconomy Development Sdn Bhd (Bioeconomy Corporation), an agency of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI), has awarded BioNexus Partners Laboratories (BNP Labs) status to 38 laboratories.
The 38 laboratories comprise 20 higher education institutions, 10 research institutions, five government-linked companies, and three private laboratories across Malaysia.
Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Mohammad Yusof Apdal said BNP Labs can offer support services encompassing research, development, commercialisation, and innovation (R, D, C&I) to industry players.
He said BNP Labs can provide support and guidance to biotechnology and bio-based entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) on new product research, product enhancements, as well as product analysis and commercialisation.
"The BNP Labs network is also accredited with various international and local accreditations, including Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), among others, to ensure the reliability and credibility of the generated products.
"This will ease the product acceptance in both domestic and global markets as well as increase consumer confidence towards the quality of Malaysian biotechnology and bio-based products," he said during the BNP Labs status certificate award ceremony held in conjunction with the National Bioeconomy Showcase 2024 here today.
Meanwhile, Bioeconomy Corporation chairman Dr Lee Boon Chye said BNP Labs had provided guidance to nearly 800 entrepreneurs under its Entrepreneur Uplift programme and Halal Clinic from 2020 to 2023.
He said entrepreneurs underwent technical training, technology transfer, and introduction to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, as well as awareness of Halal Malaysia certification.
"During this period, BNP Labs also trained 20 bio-based companies to prepare for Halal certification through the Halal Boost programme," he said.
Lee said Bioeconomy Corporation plans to foster closer collaboration with universities, higher education institutions, research and development institutions, commercial labs, as well as BioNexus and Bio-based Accelerator (BBA) status biotechnology companies.
He said such collaborations will help realise the National Biotechnology Policy 2.0's goal of developing entrepreneurs who can produce innovative products.
During the National Bioeconomy Showcase 2024 launch, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar announced that the government would allocate an additional RM2 million to implement the BBA programme this year.
He said the allocation will help the bio-based industry become more innovative and technologically savvy and further increase the workforce in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
-- BERNAMA
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