First SRDC Symposium - "Research that Matters"

Published: Thursday, 3 November 2022 Last Modified: Thursday, 12 October 2023

1st SRDC Research and Development Symposium "Research that Matters"

Press release, Nov 2, 2022

KUCHING, November 2nd, 2022; – The Sarawak Research and Development Council (SRDC) held its inaugural symposium to showcase research undertaken by researchers funded by the SRDC Research Grant schemes awarded in 2019.

Themed ‘Research That Matters’, this symposium was held for two days starting from November 2nd to 3rd, at UCSI Kuching, Sarawak. The symposium, which will be a biennial event was officiated by the Right Honourable Premier of Sarawak, and Chairman of the Sarawak Research and Development Council, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg. The symposium was attended by more than 200 participants from Sarawak based universities and research agencies, as well as the private sector.

The symposium this year is the first since SRDC made its first grant call in 2019. The second grant call was in 2020, in total, both grant calls provided fundings close to RM13 million to 11 organizations comprising 6 universities, 1 government research agency, and 4 small and medium-sized enterprise.

This symposium presents a platform for these funded Sarawak Research and Development Council’s research projects to showcase their projects, and provide a forum to discuss translating cross-disciplinary research to impactful outcomes which will benefit the community and the economy. Symposium participants share their research projects and the progress of their research, and discuss with fellow counterparts from the various universities, agencies in Sarawak on the impact of their research.

The Premier of Sarawak, in his officiating speech stressed on the importance of doing impactful research that gets translated into solutions to issues involving our community, and also globally. It is imperative that our research is relevant and on par with global standards so as to enhance our visibility internationally.

Ts. Dr Peter Morin Nissom, the General Manager of Sarawak Research and Development Council, in his welcoming speech as the Organizing Chairman, informed the participants that number of postgraduates enrolled for PhD and MSc were 12, while knowledge generated in terms of publication was 16, with 2 potential IP.

It is the goal for the symposium to help strengthen the sense of community and integration among current SRDC Grant researchers, academia, students, stakeholders, as well as to engage with potential new industry partners and collaborators.

Keynote speakers invited to talk at the symposium were leaders, innovators from the industry to share their experience and insights in conducting research with the aim to commercialize their outcomes. They were Ir. Chin Hon Sian, from JKR; Abdul Razak Isa, CEO of Medika Natura, Dr Yeo Ting Chia, CEO of Sarawak Biodiversity Centre and Dr John Tang Ing Ching, CEO of Twin Catalyst, Puan Nor Intan binti Pamin, from MyIPO, and Dr Ivan Yap Kok Seng from SRDC.

The symposium also saw TED Talk styled presentations from industrial partners, Borneo Indah, Carl Zeiss, Keller, Medika Natura, Innoniaga and Eppendorf.