50 Stakeholders Strengthen Sarawak’s Research Pathway Towards Commercialisation
KUCHING: A total of 50 stakeholders from industry, research, and government were gathered through a roundtable session to strengthen research-industry linkages, align research with market demand, and create a clear pathway from the laboratory to commercialization.
Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said that the effort is part of the development of the Sarawak Bioacademy Roadmap through a collaboration between the Sarawak Research and Development Council (SRDC) and Bioverday Technologies Sdn Bhd.
“Today’s roundtable session brings together key stakeholders to strengthen research-industry linkages, align research with market demand, and establish a clear pathway from the lab to commercialisation,” he said.
He said this while speaking at the Closing Ceremony of the Sarawak Science, Health, Innovation and Engineering (SHInE) International Conference 2026 here on Friday.
According to him, the roundtable session serves as a platform to bring together industry players, researchers, and the government in an effort to reinforce research-industry connections and ensure research outcomes are better aligned with market needs.
He mentioned that the Sarawak Bioacademy Roadmap will be implemented to complement, rather than duplicate, existing initiatives, while ensuring Sarawak’s bioeconomy development responds to industry priorities.
He noted that this approach is crucial to ensure that research in Sarawak does not stop at the discovery stage, but is instead translated into solutions capable of addressing real-world challenges, creating opportunities, and benefiting society and the economy.
He added that Sarawak possesses rich biodiversity, natural resources, and a growing talent pool, but the primary challenge lies in transforming these assets into knowledge, innovation, new industries, and opportunities for the people.
In this regard, he said research must move beyond publication and discovery toward translation, commercialisation, and real-world impact, with solutions taking into account usability, regulations, scalability, and user requirements, including remote and rural communities.
In the meantime, he described the Sarawak SHInE International Conference 2026 as a platform that has expanded from a gathering of SRDC grant recipients into an international platform connecting researchers and partners across borders.
Dato Sri Roland stated that this evolution reflects efforts to shape a research ecosystem that is more connected, outward-looking, and impact-focused.
He expressed hope that the momentum generated through SHInE 2026 will continue by strengthening existing networks, deepening collaborations, and ensuring that knowledge and research outcomes are translated into tangible benefits for Sarawak. -UKASnews
