By Noor Eszereen Juferi
SERDANG, 24 April – Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) has taken a step forward in strengthening university–industry strategic collaboration through the launch of a new platform, “BioTech Connect,” which is expected to accelerate research commercialisation and bridge the gap between academic expertise and industry needs.
UPM Vice-Chancellor, Dato’ Prof. Ir. Dr. Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah, said that close collaboration between universities and industry is becoming increasingly critical to ensure that innovations can be translated into real economic impact.
“BioTech Connect is not merely a collaboration platform but a catalyst for a co-creation model that enables university research to be driven jointly with industry and accelerated towards commercialisation,” he said.
He added that active industry involvement also plays an important role in producing graduates who are more competent, relevant, and ready to face the challenges of the job market.
Prof. Ts. Dr. Rosfarizan Mohamad, Dean of the Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences (FBSB), UPM, said the platform provides opportunities for high-impact collaboration in biotechnology and biomolecular sciences.
“Through this platform, students gain exposure to real industry experience while enhancing their employability,” she said.
As part of the initiative’s implementation, industry partners also participated in focused group discussion (FGD) sessions with academics, focusing on two key areas: agriculture and food security, as well as planetary health and sustainability.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mariatulqabtiah Abdul Razak, Deputy Dean of Industry and Community Relations, FBSB, UPM, said that previous collaborations between UPM and industry have led to various achievements, including research projects worth tens of millions of ringgit, the signing of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and agreements (MoAs), as well as successful product commercialisation and technology transfer.
“UPM also encourages industry players to take advantage of government incentives such as the Double Tax Deduction for joint research projects with universities, which can reduce investment costs and risks for companies,” she said.
Meanwhile, FBSB UPM also launched the Food Security Playbook under the PUTRA@BioTech initiative in support of the university’s food security agenda that aligns with the UPM Strategic Plan 2026–2030.
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