S’wak to provide RM15.4mil research grant in 2024 for tech-based research, innovation with commercial potential

Abang Johari tabling the Supply (2024) Bill, 2023 during DUN sitting. Screenshot: TV Sarawak.

By Christopher Lidom

KUCHING, Nov 20: The Sarawak government will provide a RM15.4 million research grant in 2024 for Bioindustry and Biomedical Health Sciences, Biodiversity and Environment, Food and Agriculture, and Engineering Science and Technology.

According to Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, it is to further stimulate the research and development (R&D) and innovation ecosystem in Sarawak.

“This will enable further development of highly impactful, vibrant science and technology-based research and innovation with the potential prospect of commercialisation,” he said when tabling the Supply (2024) Bill, 2023, during the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today.

Abang Johari said the Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (SIDC) will also launch a real-time disease surveillance programme in 2024 encompassing a collaboration with local and global partners, including the US National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease.

He said the programme’s objectives include the establishment of the Disease Surveillance Consortium (DiSC), developing a disease surveillance framework, implementing mobile laboratory setups, and surveillance of a range of diseases such as simian malaria, rabies, tuberculosis, and others.

“SIDC has been established to focus on research involving emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. For 2024, RM10.7 million is allocated for its development and operation,” he added.

Among others, he said, the Sarawak government will allocate RM33 million in 2024 for Sarawak Science Centre, RM12 million for Sarawak’s SMD Semiconductor operations and talent development programme, RM23 million for CRAUN Research in 2024 to support ongoing R&D in developing technologies and applications in relation to sago and sago biomass, and RM6.5 million to Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute in 2024 for its operations and seven research projects.

“In our efforts to promote research and development in applications from our rich biodiversity, an Algae Research and Production Facility to demonstrate the feasibility of algae cultivation at the community level will soon be trial-tested in Gedong.

“To implement this, RM5 million has been approved under the 12th Malaysia Plan, of which RM500 thousand will be channelled to the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre in 2024.

“A total of RM19 million will be allocated to the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre in 2024 for its operations and various R&D projects,” he said. — DayakDaily