Enough money for science and technology R&D, says ministry

The Star

MALACCA: The Government has allocated RM2.7bil under the Ninth Malaysia Plan for research and development in science and technology. Of the amount, more than RM663mil has been disbursed up till October.

“We hope researchers will come out with a product which will popularise the country,” Science, Technology and Innovation ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Dr Mohd Ruddin Ab Ghani said after opening the international conference on engineering and ICT2007.

Mohd Ruddin said the Government was aware of the urgent need to promote the growth of the services and knowledge-based sectors, in particular advanced manufacturing, and information and communication technology.

“A proper research agenda must be developed and pursued in order for Malaysia to become an industrialised country,” he said, adding that there was a need for more collaboration among researchers.

Mohd Ruddin said this collaboration would eventually spread across borders, involving peer researchers worldwide and dealing with projects with high commercialisation potential and global benefits.

He said the recent national astronaut programme provided excellent exposure for dominant, non-resource-based manufacturing industries such as electrical, electronics, machinery and equipment manufacturing in the aerospace industry.

“The manufacturing sector has also seen an emergence of resource-based manufacturing industries such as biofuel, oleochemicals, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and halal food products,” he said.

Mohd Ruddin said practising engineers must not only use the essential resources such as materials, money and manpower but also use them creatively.