38 BNP Labs: Driving Innovative Commercialisation, Empowering Malaysian Bio-Entrepreneurs July 17, 2024

Kuala Lumpur, July 29, 2024 --

38 laboratories have been awarded the BioNexus Partners Laboratories (BNP Labs) status to strengthen entrepreneurship and innovation capabilities in Malaysia’s biotechnology and bio-based industries. BNP Labs is one of the programmes under the Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation (Bioeconomy Corporation) that supports the country’s research, development, commercialisation, and innovation (R,D,C&I) needs while bridging the gap between industry players and the R&D community. According to the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI), BNP Labs is also seen as a platform that supports income generation by biotechnology companies including BioNexus and Bio-based Accelerator (BBA) companies as well as high impact projects, which to date have contributed revenues worth RM37.5 billion to Malaysia’s GDP.

Deputy Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, YB Dato’ Haji Mohammad Yusof bin Apdal, said BNP Labs can address R,D,C&I challenges in Malaysia, where 66 percent of R,D,C&I projects still rely on government funding. He said the expertise, facilities, equipment, training, accreditation, and technical services offered by BNP Labs allow biotechnology and bio-based SMEs to be more competitive and innovative through BNP Labs’ guidance on new product research, product enhancements, as well as product analysis and commercialisation.

“A total of 147 products have been value-added through the Product Development Program (PDP) implemented by Bioeconomy Corporation in collaboration with BNP Labs from 2020 to 2023. Under this programme, various R&D products by biotechnology and bio-based entrepreneurs underwent enhancement and reformulation, and then successfully commercialised and penetrated local and global markets. BNP Labs contribute to the production of high-value new products that drive additional company revenue, thereby supporting the goal of achieving 5 percent of the country’s GDP under the National Biotechnology Policy 2.0,” he said when officiating the Certificate Presentation Ceremony of the BioNexus Partners Laboratory (BNP) Status.

According to Bioeconomy Corporation Chairman, YBhg Dato’ Dr Lee Boon Chye, BNP Labs also significantly contributes to various aspects of entrepreneurship such as technical training and certification through programmes under Bioeconomy Corporation. “From 2020 to 2023, BNP Labs have guided nearly 800 entrepreneurs to undergo technical training, technology transfer, and introduction to Environmental, Social, and

Governance (ESG) principles through the Entrepreneur Uplift program, in addition to raising awareness about Halal Malaysia certification. During this period, BNP Labs have also trained 20 bio-based companies to prepare for Halal certification through the Halal Boost programme. Through the BNP Way Forward Programme, we aim to enhance productivity and the utilisation of R,D,C&I in biotechnology and bio-based industries, enabling more entrepreneurs in this field to launch innovative products to the market more quickly and in a more cost-effective manner while benefiting the people’s needs in line with the “Bioeconomy for all” principle advocated by the Bioeconomy Corporation,” he added.

During the event, Bioeconomy Corporation awarded the BNP Labs status to 20 higher education institutions, 10 research institutions, 5 government-linked companies, and 3 private laboratories from across Malaysia. The BNP Labs programme was introduced in 2008 to enable biotechnology entrepreneurs and companies to access expertise, training, and various technical services from selected public and private universities, research institutes, and private commercial laboratories in Malaysia. The BNP Labs network is accredited with various international and local accreditations including ISO 17025, Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), AAALAC, HACCP, and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) to ensure the reliability and credibility of the generated products.

Throughout this year, the BNP Way Forward 2024 Programme will be implemented by Bioeconomy Corporation, encompassing business matching sessions, workshops and commercialisation programmes, accreditation and training programmes, as well as research and development fund clinics. This programme aims to assist BNP Labs in strengthening their capabilities and enhancing their skills and knowledge in R,D,C&I, while increasing collaboration opportunities between BNP Labs, investors, and industry players, especially BioNexus Status and BBA companies. Through business matching sessions with BioNexus Status and BBA companies, BNP Labs aims to commercialise their own products according to six Nexus Expertise sectors, namely Herbal Product Development, Biomedical, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Environmental & Toxicology, Industrial Biotechnology & Halal, as well as Training & Talent Development. This allows BNP Labs to increase their own revenue besides offering more innovative and quality services to both local and international markets.

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