NanoMalaysia and Phantoms Foundation Spain are joining forces to bring together executives and decision makers from multinational corporations, leading entrepreneurs, policymakers and academicians for an opportunity to network, exchange ideas and gain insights into nanotechnology, and revolutionise innovations with graphene technology.
Graphene Malaysia 2018: Strengthening Graphene Ecosystems Towards the National Agenda held at Menara MITI aims to be a catalyst for interaction and collaborative innovation within the Graphene Industry.
Organised under the aegis of the National Graphene Action Plan 2020 spearheaded by NanoMalaysia Berhad, this annual global event supported by the Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change (MESTECC), Ministry International Trade and Industry (MITI), the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), and SCOPUS is open to industry leaders, small and medium entrepreneurs, start-up business owners, academicians, researchers and students who are interested in revolutionising innovations with graphene.
This flagship event under Malaysia’s National Graphene Action Plan 2020, now on its third edition will offer participants positive insights from industry experts on emerging technologies in advanced materials, the challenges and opportunities in nanotechnology as one of the drivers of the fourth industrial revolution, as well as its impact on business, government and people.
Prominent leaders of the industry will be present at the conference to share their achievements and innovation roadmaps, as well as explore partnership opportunities. Speaking at the opening of the conference, YB Dr Ong Kian Ming, Deputy Minister of International Trade & Industry (MITI) said: ”The US, UK, China, Australia, Germany and Canada have allocated huge sums of investments to build graphene hubs and kickstart graphene research and commercialisation.
The European Union’s Graphene Flagship Programme demonstrates an unprecedented level of commitment to exploit the benefits of graphene. Malaysia is fully cognisant of the economic potential of nanotechnology especially of this wonder material, graphene. The global graphene market size was valued at USD23.7 million in 2015 and it is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 36% from 2016 to 2025.
The government led by MITI, will launch the National Policy on Industry 4.0 (2018-2025) which will outline the action plan on the use of technologies related to Industry 4.0. The policy aims to increase productivity and the competitiveness of the manufacturing industry and focus will be given on several sectors including nanotechnology.”
Graphene Malaysia 2018 was inaugurated by YB Dr Ong Kian Ming, Deputy Minister of International Trade & Industry (MITI) and YB Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis, Deputy Minister of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change (MESTECC), this conference brings together almost 150 participants from local and international institutions and companies.
This includes more than 15 exhibitors comprising of NanoMalaysia, MIMOS, MIDA, Go Advanced Solutions Sdn Bhd, Crest, Histocenter and Abalonyx among others.
Fifteen local and 20 international speakers from US, UK, South Korea, China, Spain, Taiwan, Singapore, France and Japan will present on various topics on the graphene industry at the forum.
MESTECC Deputy Minister Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis said: “Graphene Malaysia 2018 is an excellent platform for industry players and academics to pool their resources and research to address the rapid growth and demands of the graphene industry. It is an incredible opportunity for postgraduate students to not only build their networks, but also to develop their knowledge of graphene and nanotechnology.
She added that the large scale research and development of graphene in west and the flourishing aerospace, defence, energy and healthcare industries is geared to increase the product demand in the coming years owing to the rise in demand for this light-weight and energy efficient material.
NanoMalaysia Berhad Chief Executive Officer Dr Rezal Khairy Ahmad said that of numerous downstream applications for graphene, opportunities for commercialisation in Malaysia have been geared towards both pre-existing and new market applications markets.
“Malaysia’s approach in commercialisation of graphene namely National Graphene Action Plan 2020 connects product development to manufacturing. This delivery framework for graphene innovations was designed to jump-start graphene based industries in the country.”
Since 2014, the National Graphene Action Plan 2020 has activated nearly 30 industrial projects with participation from local and foreign innovation partners.
Dr Rezal added conferences like this are a culmination of past and present efforts to catalyse an economy energised by graphene innovations and manufacturing.
“Malaysia’s National Graphene Action Plan 2020 is getting due recognition, globally and there is a wider acceptance by the public, industry and government of graphene.” This year the National Graphene Action Plan 2020 graduated 4 more companies in developing industrial products for applications in the areas of rubber, oil and gas, plastics, electronics and renewable energy namely graphene-based lubricant, coolant, alternative energy and back-up storage, automotive component, concrete admixture, rubber master-batch and glove. The potential revenue from the 4 companies is RM2.8 billion and more than 1,400 high-value jobs created.
Rezal stressed that NanoMalaysia through iNanovation and NGAP 2020 prioritises the commercialisation of endogenous nanotechnology innovations. It is also amenable to collaborations in the form of technology transfer, joint ventures and co-investments, and as such the forum is the appropriate platform to explore such ventures.
There was also an MOU signed between NanoMalaysia Berhad and Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) to establish a collaboration enhancing scientific, technical and engineering competencies and to develop beneficial programmes.
The Mi-Atomizer, an ultrasonic atomiser system for nanomaterial coating was also launched during the opening of Graphene Malaysia 2018. Jointly developed by MIMOS and NSW Automation Sdn Bhd, the product launch is one of several strategic collaborations established in nanotechnology aimed at enhancing graphene research in the country.
Incorporated in 2011 as a company limited by guarantee (CLBG) under the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation (now known as MESTECC) to act as a business entity entrusted with nanotechnology commercialisation and industrialisation activities, NanoMalaysia is looking at jumpstarting nanotechnology development via four key sectors. These are electronics, devices and systems; food and agricultural; energy and environment; and wellness, medical and healthcare.
