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KOTA SAMARAHAN, 11 April 2016 : The Faculty of Resource Science and Technology (FSTS), UNIMAS today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with My Innovation Hub (MyInnoHub) for a greater collaboration in Sago research. The memorandum was signed by Deputy Vice Chancellor (Student Affairs & Alumni), Prof Mohd Fadzil Abdul Rahman on behalf of UNIMAS and Chief Executive Officer of MyInnoHub, Vincent Wong Wai Sang from MyInnoHub. It was also witnessed by the Dean of Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Assoc. Prof Dr Othman Bojo and Chief Executive Officer of Regal International Group, Dato’ Dominic Su.
In his welcoming speech, Professor Mohd Fadzil highlighted the strong interest in Sago research which have been pursued by UNIMAS researchers at the Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, and that he was pleased that MyInnoHub was keen to collaborate with the university, based on an initial presentation conducted by the team on the 29th of February 2016.
The MoU with MyInnoHub focuses on two UNIMAS research products; first is the research on Sago from upstream plantation, harvesting and processing till downstream glucose production, sound absorber and others; the second is on research on road construction on peat soil.
“Today is a very historic moment for UNIMAS to sign a collaboration with MyInnoHub. It is a big step and milestone achievement for university. With this collaboration, we hope to have chosen the right partner to further develop Sago into a big industry,” he said. The projects are identified for collaboration with MyInnohub include sugar conversion from Sago starch (FRST & CoSAR), development of mechanical harvesting of Sago palm (CoSAR & FE), road construction technology (FE) and innovative methodology of teaching of English (FMHS & FCSHD), plus two additional CoSAR products on conversion of Sago waste into furniture and oil spill cleanup kit.
Currently UNIMAS has more than 30 researchers working on Sago alone and the university also established the Centre for Sago Research (CoSAR) to be the leading Centre of Excellence and regional point of reference for Sago research.
“Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), with a strong research-oriented agenda, has long started to research on Sago palm and with a pool of technical expertise and scientific competence, would be able to carry out R&D activities needed to boost and achieve the full economic potential of Sago in Sarawak,” said Profesor Mohd Fadzil.
Article by : Sarena binti Haidir
Photo by : Abg Zainuddin Abg Hj Sharkawi
