KUCHING – As a commitment for joint research, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus signed memorandums of understanding with three companies, today (6 December, 2012).
The companies are Biotech Alliance International Sdn Bhd, Algaetech International Sdn Bhd and the Association of Consulting Engineer Malaysia Sarawak Branch.
The cost of the joint research exceeds RM1 million.
The signing of the MoUs was witnessed by Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, the Chief Minister and Pro Chancellor of Swinburne Sarawak, and Professor Linda Kristjanson, the Vice-Chancellor and President of Swinburne University of Technology.
Biotech Alliance International is a successful local biotech company with international presence in Australia, China, Myanmar and Indonesia. It is a bio-nexus status company that specializes in environmentally sustainable oil palm waste management system. The company has successfully developed and marketed its bio-fertilizer and bio-fungicide.
Swinburne Sarawak and Biotech Alliance had in 2009 entered into an agreement to conduct research on rapid composting of organic wastes from oil palm processing.
Algaetech International, based in Kuala Lumpur, spearheads the technology used in algae cultivation. It has businesses in Indonesia, the Middle East and Africa. In 2011, it was awarded one of the top 100 of Malaysian SMEs. The company which started off as a technology provider for algae cultivation is now venturing into large scale biodiesel production using algae, which is biodegradable, renewable, and sustainable.
The Association of Consulting Engineer Malaysia Sarawak Branch has provided input in the development of Swinburne Sarawak’s engineering programs. The Association has a good understanding of the engineering needs in the real world.
Since its inception, Swinburne Sarawak has actively engaged in research. It won its first national competitive grant from the Malaysian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), in 2007. This year it conferred the degree to two of its first PhD graduates. In the last five years, its industry partners have invested more than RM1 million for research with the university.
The MoU signing was held in conjunction with the official opening of Swinburne Sarawak’s Research Centre for Sustainable Technologies by the Chief Minister of Sarawak, Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud.
