THE newly-minted National Biotechnology Policy 2.0 (DBN 2.0) is poised to combat challenging issues pertaining to food security, healthcare, and environmental concerns – such as climate change and global warming affecting the nation.
DBN 2.0 recently launched by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri will enhance the present biotechnology ecosystem and give a boost to the country’s circular economy as well as effectively spur biotechnology in the nation’s direction towards industrialisation and high technology by 2030.
“In line with the focus on agricultural biotechnology and food security, the government will step up efforts to use local natural resources sustainably for creating agricultural inputs, livestock, and marine products as well as high-value aquaculture. An ecosystem for future food and high-value products using new and latest technologies will be developed, such as superfood and production of more sustainable new food,” said the Prime Minister.
“Biotechnology must also play an important role in national health security to overcome infectious and non-infectious diseases,” he added.
Ismail Sabri said the DBN 2.0 would drive the momentum outlined under the National Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy 2021-2030 to transform Malaysia from a technology-user nation to a technological development country by setting five main targets.
He said the current verve is for Bionexus companies to remain 30 percent active globally and 70 percent locally – as well as to lend support for companies with the potential to become unicorn companies (companies that reach a valuation of US$1 billion without being listed on the stock market).
“The government, in this context is targeting having three bio-innovation firms with unicorn status by 2030,” he said, adding that the empowerment of institutions, as well as to the creation of world-class local biotechnological research was also the main target through DBN 2.0.
In addition, he said DBN 2.0 was targeting five percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to be contributed by biotechnology companies and the recognition of 80 percent of local biotechnology graduates through the micro-accreditation programme and 20 percent through post-graduate programmes.
Ismail Sabri said the formulation of DBN 2.0 will span till 2030 because biotechnology is an important component in bio-innovation. “It drives national development and must be developed with other emerging technologies in the context of the Industrial Revolution 4.0.
Detailed planning
“For example, in the fields of biomolecules and biosystems, developments in molecular technology have helped give a deeper understanding of biological processes and enabled detailed planning for the benefit of the nation. The government is proud because Malaysia has been recognised internationally as one of 17 megadiversity countries for having at least 5,000 indigenous plants and its own marine ecosystem,” highlighted Ismail Sabri.
“The country’s biodiversity wealth needs to be utilised as best possible to boost the nation’s economy through the empowerment of the biotechnology sector,” he said.
Also present at the DBN 2.0 launch was Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba who said bio-innovation is an emerging field that integrates developments in computing, data analytics, and artificial learning in biological research.
He pointed out the four arenas of bio innovation are biomolecules, biosystems, bio-machine interfaces, and biocomputing.
He also addressed the downside elements that are hindering the industry from flourishing further. He cited the dearth of funds for research and development, the lack of capacity-building initiatives to unleash the real potential of biotechnology and research activities.
“One of the main goals of DBN 2.0 is to provide support for Bionexus-status companies and push at least 30% of companies to the global value chain.”
Adham Baba also pointed out that 70% of Bionexus companies must remain active locally by 2030.
The launch event ended on a high note as the prime minister announced an allocation of RM2 million to the BioMalaysia Convention next year in Kuala Lumpur.
He also announced an allocation of RM5 million to encourage the growth of local players through the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations Bio-based Accelerator (BBA) programme.
“Through the implementation of DBN 2.0 more biotechnology-specific research funding can be supported by the government of Malaysia,” said Ts. Dr Margaret Sivapragasam, head of the programme for the foundation in science, Quest University.
She hopes the role of science communication can be magnified as it is vital for many biotechnologists to “speak their sciences” to nurture a science-literate Malaysian society.
Joel William, CEO of Medhini Group Sdn Bhd told The Petri Dish: “DBN 2.0 should pave the way towards successful bio-economy growth to be on par with our pole position in the global semiconductor industry. This will spur Sustainable Bio-economy FDI’s to increase and lend resilience in times of crisis, creating high-value manufacturing capabilities and boosting innovation.”
Input from experts
“10-10 MySTIE Framework is also aligned with bio-innovation as blockchain, neurotechnology, advanced intelligent systems, sensor technology and biosensor technology are listed among the 10 science and technology drivers in the framework.”
– Puan Hazami Habib, CEO of Academy Sciences of Malaysia
“Abundance of natural resources and biodiversity offers a solid foundation for Malaysia to prosper in the biotech industry.”
-Dr Charlie Yeo from Sarawak Biodiversity Centre
“GK Aqua’s fresh giant prawn (udang galah) is a success story on how to diversify our economy by leveraging biodiversity. Using genome-sequencing we can obtain five times higher yield of prawns thus integration of technology plays an integral part in economic growth.”
– Giva Kuppusamy, Founder of GK Aqua
“From my perspective, I do not see our graduates working overseas as a brain drain exodus, but they help to build the world. The industry has to grow fast to support our talents locally.”
– Professor Dr Rofina Yasmin Othman, University Malaya
