Invest Selangor Targets 10 Companies To Join Its Lab Partnership Programme By End-2024

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- Invest Selangor Bhd aims to have 10 life sciences-based companies join its Selangor Lab Partnership Programme by the end of this year.

Chief executive officer Datuk Hasan Azhari Idris said the programme is designed to bridge the gap between industry and academia, fostering collaboration that can transform innovative ideas into practical solutions. 

"By connecting industry players with institutions of higher learning and research institutes, we aim to create a robust ecosystem that promotes knowledge-sharing and accelerates research and development (R&D)," he said after launching the Selangor Lab Partnership Programme, here today. 

He said the programme offers participating companies access to research facilities, opportunities to engage with leading academic experts, and tailored support services that meet their specific business and R&D needs.

"There is financial support of up to RM5,000 per project for 2024, in offsetting research costs and other related activities undertaken during the partnership programme with the universities," he noted.

Meanwhile, Hasan Azhari said Invest Selangor also collaborated with nine higher learning and research institutions comprising five public and four private universities.

The universities involved are Universiti Selangor (UNISEL), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM), Taylor’s University, Sunway University, Monash University Malaysia, and Xiamen University Malaysia. 

"Their commitment to innovation aligns well with our collective ambition to drive the continued growth of Selangor's life sciences industry," he added. 

Furthermore, Selangor State Executive Council (Exco) of Islamic Affairs and Innovation Culture Dr Mohammad Fahmi Ngah said the Selangor Lab Partnership Programme launch aligns with the state’s First Selangor Plan (RS-1) 2021-2025, which prioritises public-private partnerships, talent development, and cutting-edge research. 

"By embedding these elements within the state's dedication to sustainability through the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) framework, we are set to create an innovative ecosystem that not only supports economic growth but ensures sustainable prosperity and development for Selangor," he added.

-- BERNAMA