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259-Mg18-12-2007:GN

PP 10002/05/2008

1/2008

WE MAKE BUSINESSES COMPETE BETTER THROUGH QUALITY AND TECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONS

SIRIM Berhad NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM MOSTI - NICE 2007: DEDICATED TO MALAYSIAN INNOVATION EFFORTS • SIRIM Researcher Wins National Innovation Award 2007 – pg 18

BREAKTHROUGH

‘Home-Made’ Pressure Balance for the Industry- pg 14

SIRIMLINK Publications Committee

SIRIM Berhad NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM From left to right: Hj. Nor Rashid Ismail (Vice President Corporate Division), Dato’ Mariani Mohammad (Executive Director SIRIM QAS International Sdn Bhd), seated, YBhg. Ir. Hj. Yahaya Ahmad (President & Chief Executive), standing, Hj. Abd. Razak Salim (Vice President Standards & Quality Division), Dr. Hj. Zainal Abidin Mohd Yusof (Vice President Research & Technology Division), Hj. Md Nor Md Chik (Vice President Engineering & Support Services Division).

ADVISOR Ir. Hj. Yahaya Ahmad CHAIRPERSON Robiah Ibrahim MEMBERS Zulkefly Songip Wan Zaharah Wan Mohamad Futom Shikh Jaafar Goay Peck Sim Dr. Neelam Shahab Dr. Wan Abdul Rahman Jauhari Wan Harun Disclaimer SIRIMLink is an official publication of SIRIM Berhad. The bulletin is published quarterly and is distributed free to our clients, associates, business and research establishments. For any enquiries or further information with regards to the articles featured in this magazine, please contact:

Senior Manager Branding & Publications Section Group Corporate Affairs SIRIM Berhad 1, Persiaran Dato’ Menteri Section 2, P.O. Box 7035 40911 Shah Alam, Selangor Tel: 603 5544 6773 Fax: 603 5544 6745 or e-mail to: [email protected] www.sirim.my Published and Printed by: SIRIM Berhad 1, Persiaran Dato’ Menteri Section 2, P.O. Box 7035 40911 Shah Alam, Selangor Tel: 603 5544 6000 Fax: 603 5544 6745 Design & Layout Adwork Network (1524378X) 19-1, Jalan Ara SD 7/3B Bandar Sri Damansara 52200 Kuala Lumpur Tel: 603 6274 2441 Fax: 603 6274 0441 Email: [email protected]

CONTENTS MESSAGE New Year’s Message from the President and Chief Executive of SIRIM Berhad

03

FOCUS • Forging Greater Co-operation in Advanced Technology-Nanotech

04

• Iran’s Technology Co-operation Office: The Catalyst for Iran’s Foray in S&T

08

TECHNOLOGY • Flagship Programmes to Spur SIRIM’s Research & Technology

10



• Advanced Manufacturing Technology Centre: Ready to Provide Local Solutions to SMEs

12

BREAKTHROUGH ‘Home-Made’ Pressure Balances for the Industry

14

PERSONALITY Dr. Hj. Zainal Abidin Mohd Yusof Vice President Research & Technology Division

16

SIRIM in BRIEF • MOSTI-NICE 2007: Dedicated to Malaysian Innovation Efforts

18



• Linking SMEs to Technologies and Funding Opportunities

20



• Malaysia’s First Angkasawan in Space

21



• ‘Weighty’ Discussion at the 23rd General Conference on Weights and Measures, Paris

23

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

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NEW YEAR MESSAGE New Year means different things to different people. It could be a time for reflection or a time to make resolutions for the future. For SIRIM Berhad, every New Year is a time to take stock of the past and move ahead with renewed pledge. In 2007, we achieved a number of successes. Together with World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organizations (WAITRO) and Global Research Alliance (GRA), we organised the first International Technology & Quality Conference 2007 (ITe-Q). Technology and quality experts from around the world were brought together for the first time in a single forum where they shared their successful experiences with the local and international participants. President & Chief Executive of A number of agreements and MoUs were also reached between SIRIM and SIRIM Berhad, Ir. Hj. Yahaya Ahmad. research organisations, corporations and government agencies for greater co-operation in technology, research and business. These included the agreement with Terengganu Skill Development Corporation (TESDEC) to provide training on HACCP, ISO 9001, ISO/TS 16949 and TQM as well as the agreement between SIRIM’s subsidiary, SIRIM QAS International Sdn Bhd, and the Ministry of Health to provide auditing services for HACCP certification.

SIRIM also strengthened its collaborations with renowned organisations and agencies such as WAITRO, Majlis Amanah Rakyat Malaysia (MARA), PT Mutuagong Lestari, Indonesia, the Ministry of Rural & Regional Development, the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Japan; as well as Iranian institutes such as the Research Institute of Petroleum Industry and the Iran Composite Institute. The year 2007 marked another milestone for SIRIM at the state level when all its branch offices were upgraded into business units to further demonstrate their significance. The launching of SIRIM Sabah by Minister of Science, Technology and Innovations YB Dato’ Sri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd Jarjis in August paved the way for SIRIM’s greater involvement in the state. Another proud moment was SIRIM QAS International winning the prestigious Quality Management Excellence Award at the 16th Industry Excellence Award by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. Top management leadership, management of quality, use of quality data and information, human resource management, customer focus and quality assurance were among the criteria for the award which proved that SIRIM QAS International is the leading conformity assessment body in Malaysia. Our participation in MOSTI’s National Innovation Conference and Exhibition (NICE 2007) is also something that we can be proud of. And to top it all, our researcher, Dr. Fazilah Fazan was declared the joint winner of the National Innovation Award (Product Category) during the launch of NICE 2007. For 2008, SIRIM Berhad will strive to deliver technologies and innovations based on the needs of the country’s SMEs. We will make resolutions and realise them and when doing so, the words of world famous visionary Bill Gates “often you have to rely on intuition” may be worth pondering on…HAPPY NEW YEAR!

In exploring nanotechnology as an emerging field, SIRIM Berhad, with strong support from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) has teamed up with research institutes in Iran to pursue possible areas of technology transfer, co-operation and collaboration in advanced technology R&D. After visits to research institutes in Iran, it was discovered that high quality basic and applied research focused on nanotechnology are being conducted in Iran. In fact, in some areas, Iranian R&D is as advanced as that in developed countries.

The Malaysian Government through the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) has been actively supporting R&D in nanotechnology. Its Minister, YB Dato’ Sri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd Jarjis (left) is seen here with Honourable Advisor to Iran President, Dr. Seyed Reza Sajadi during the 1st Malaysia-Iran Technology Co-operation and Business Forum in Advanced Technology in PWTC, Kuala Lumpur, on 28 November 2007.

It is a global race and Malaysia cannot afford to be left behind. Everywhere in the world, companies are now developing products that have benefited from nanotechnology. From products such as sunscreen that have less negative effect on users’ skin because of the nanoparticles content, self-cleaning glass with nanoparticles that can loosen dirt on its own once exposed to light or water to wrinkle-resisting fabrics to deep penetrating cosmetics and liquid crystal displays (LCD), nanotechnology is making its presence felt in our daily lives. On the nano scale, ordinary matter often displays surprising properties that can be exploited to make materials stronger, lighter and smarter by orders of magnitude. Nanotechnology also operates at the dimension where the living and non-living worlds meet.

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SIRIM has also identified two potential precommercialisation projects in collaboration with the Iranian technology organisations. They are: • A pilot-plant for the production of Carbon Nanotube (CNT), including the production of catalyst support for CNT production, and • A pilot-plant for conversion of natural gas to middle distillate hydrocarbon, including catalyst production.

What

1st Malaysia-Iran Technology Co-operation and Business Forum in Advanced Technology

Who

• SIRIM Berhad • Research Institute of Petroleum Industry, Iran • Iran Composite Institute

When

28 November 2007, held in conjunction with the National Innovation Conference and Exhibition (NICE)

Where

PWTC, Kuala Lumpur

During a one-day event organised by SIRIM Berhad in conjunction with the National Innovation Conference and Exhibition (NICE), Memoranda of Understanding were signed between SIRIM Berhad and two Iranian research institutes – Research Institute of Petroleum Industry and Iran Composite Institute - to assist Malaysia to leapfrog its R&D effort in nanotechnology. According to SIRIM Berhad President and Chief Executive YBhg. Ir. Hj. Yahaya Ahmad, Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology, Bio-materials, Bio-Pharmaceuticals and Advanced Composites have been identified to kickstart the SIRIM-Iran collaboration.

FOCUS

FOCUS

FORGING GREATER CO-OPERATION IN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY - NANOTECH

“We have also identified several joint research areas for collaboration with the Iranian institutes, including joint research in Drug Delivery System, and the Development of Polymer-CNT Composite for Thermal Interface Material and Engineering Component” said Ir. Hj. Yahaya. The Malaysian Government, through MOSTI, has been actively supporting R&D in nanotechnology which is currently in its infancy in the country. Having only started in 2001 as outlined in the Eighth Malaysia Plan, nanotechnology research was then categorised as Strategic Research under the Intensification of Research in Priority Areas (IRPA).

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FOCUS

FOCUS In the 3rd Industrial Master Plan which covers a 15-year period beginning 2006, the government has categorised nanotechnology as an emerging field. Studies have been conducted to identify business and R&D opportunities in the application of nanotechnology, apart from key factors such as infrastructure, support mechanism and human resource availability. The Malaysian Nanotechnology Initiative was also launched in 2006.

Six existing local nanotechnology research centres or agencies have been identified for their outstanding contributions to nanotech research. SIRIM Berhad, through its research work at the Advanced Materials Research Centre and the Environment & Bioprocess Technology Centre, is one of leading organisations.

“Both centres as well as other technology centres in SIRIM Berhad will focus on developing new and value-added products, and improve manufacturing processses through nanotechnology and advanced material technologies for the industries,” said Ir. Hj. Yahaya in his welcoming speech at the 1st Malaysia-Iran Technology Co-operation and Business Forum in Advanced Technology in PWTC, Kuala Lumpur.

This forum was the first move in an effort to forge a long term working relationship between the two countries. Themed “Enhancing Technology Competitiveness through Strategic Partnership”, the forum provided an avenue for Malaysian and Iranian scientists and researchers to share and exchange ideas and knowledge in the fields of synthesis, characterisation, fabrication, manufacturing and applications of Nanomaterials, Nanotechnology, Bio-materials and Advanced Composite.

NANOTECHNOLOGY: HOW IT ALL STARTED Nanotechnology is a concept first introduced in 1959 by American physicist and Nobel Prize Winner Richard P. Feynman. In his presentation “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom”, he envisioned the field of miniaturisation and how man would create increasingly smaller, powerful devices.

Malaysia hopes to leapfrog its R&D effort in nanotechnology through two MoUs signed by SIRIM Berhad and Research Institute of Petroleum Industry and Iran Composite Institute.

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Dr. Seyed Reza Sajadi, Honourable Advisor to Iran President and also the Chairman of Technology Co-operation Office (TCO) was here recently to deliver his keynote address during the 1st Malaysia-Iran Technology Co-operation and Business Forum on Advanced Technology. The event, organised by SIRIM took place to coincide with the National Innovation Conference and Exhibition (NICE), spearheaded by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

FOCUS

FOCUS

IRAN’S TECHNOLOGY CO-OPERATION OFFICE : THE CATALYST FOR IRAN’S FORAY INTO SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Dr. Sajadi pointed out that there was another issue that prompted Iran’s venture into research and technology. “Ten years ago we were losing an estimated 170,000 experts annually and we knew that it was because there was insufficient research and technology activities in the country to keep the brains here”, he said. A case in point was when Iran started fresh initiatives in biotechnology, there were no biotechnology experts in the country as all of them had ‘fled’ the country in pursuit of jobs befitting their areas of interest in research and technology. However, Iran now is proud to be home to a pool of at least 1,500 experts in this field of biotechnology and there are various companies producing more than 50 biotechnology related products. The migration issue has also settled with only a quarter of the initial number leaving the country annually. When R&D activities were accelerating, problems of a different nature cropped up. “We got our researchers working on various technologies but we were unable to take them to the market due to lack of commercialisation experience and marketing capability. This impelled us to look towards countries like Malaysia for possible collaboration where our research could be taken to the market,” he said.

Falling into the ‘typical trap’, Iran too is churning out technologies not considering the real demand and that trend obviously needed reworking and again we were impressed with Malaysia (particularly SIRIM) for forming strategic alliance and partnerships with various industries to precipitate industrial research. In this context, Dr. Sajadi says the forum will pave the way for closer ties between Malaysia and Iran. On a personal note, Dr. Sajadi’s love for science and technology is not hard to detect and he says high technology is the way forward for traditional industries. Further, in the world today, the Muslims do not have a fair share in the market and to change this situation, high technology is the only weapon. He was also quick to point out that hitech does not require a long time frame to get to the market; biotechnology with a short history of about four decades is a fine example.

However, Iran now is proud to be home to a pool of at least 1,500 experts in this field of biotechnology and there are various companies producing more than 50 biotechnology related products.

It was of interest to know more about TCO which he had spoken about during his keynote address. “An idea borne out of necessity 24 years ago, the TCO had an important mission: to promote industrial technology in the country,” Dr. Sajadi explained. Incidentally, Dr. Sajadi is the founder of TCO. So what was the necessity that prompted the inception of TCO? At one point, Iran was outsourcing up to US$1 billion worth of R&D as the country was rich and the West saw the country as a cash cow but this did not bring any real gain to the country. The Government then realised that this had led to prices of products escalating due to outsourcing R&D and technology. This was the beginning of Iran’s serious entry into the world of research and technology.

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TECHNOLOGY

TECHNOLOGY

FLAGSHIP PROGRAMMES TO SPUR SIRIM’s RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY

Based on a simple premise that when efforts are pooled, the outcome and effect of an initiative would be much larger, SIRIM Berhad started talks on ‘flagship’ programmes in the middle of 2007. To the uninitiated, the term “ flagship” may sound queer but SIRIM has its own definition of what flagships are. Simply put, under the flagship programmes, technologies and / or innovations within SIRIM (or those outsourced) are brought together as a single collaborated or interlinked project, with a single common objective. Eight flagship programmes have been identified by SIRIM Berhad to further boost its Research and Technology Division for the year 2008. Under the leadership of President and Chief Executive, YBhg. Ir. Hj. Yahaya Ahmad, SIRIM Berhad has singled out several local and international innovations which can be harvested to create new sources of wealth.

The flagship programmes are also set to explore the potential of and opportunities for SIRIM’s present core strength, according to Dr. Hj. Zainal Abidin Mohd. Yusof, Vice President for Research & Technology Division of SIRIM Berhad. Patents and research output that have not reached the market or commercialised is expected to be given a “new lease of life” through the programmes. “We have identified flagship projects to complement activities available at our existing technology centres. The programmes will encompass sectors such as machine and tooling, medical devices, plant and machinery and a few others,” he explained.

Here’s how the flagship programmes will be implemented. Firstly, SIRIM will identify projects or ideas that have the potential to be commercialised, then it will get the various technology centres in SIRIM, such as the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Centre (AMTC), the National Machinery and Tooling Technology Centre, the Advanced Materials Research Centre (AMREC), the Environment and Bioprocess Technology Centre (EBTC) and the Techo-Economy and Commercialisation Centre, to provide their input to enhance or add further value to the project. The first flagship programme that took off recently was the metal-cutting machine, the ZARZ VMC 800, a CNC machine which had been given several new features by SIRIM’s National Machinery and Tooling Technology Centre to suit local industry needs. “Under the Machine Tool Flagship Programme, our experts from AMREC were called in to provide their input on how diamond and metal coating can be used as cutting tools in the machine developed by SIRIM. That way, we were able to develop a better machine with more useful features to the clients. The flagship programme is one way of making our technology centres pool their expertise for a single project,” said Dr. Zainal Abidin. Under the Medical Devices Flagship Programme, successful projects such as synthetic bone graft material, GranuMAS™ and metal plates for orthopedic applications developed by researchers in AMREC would undergo bio-compatibility testing by EBTC. Various medical devices or even a whole new range of medical devices can be subsequently produced.

SIRIM has embarked on initial talks with its R&T counterparts such as Sudan to provide consultancy and advanced training in areas including plastic mould and die design, ceramics, cosmetics and electronics.

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“We have been talking of developing a common platform for quite a long time. Now, a concerted and well-planned initiative has been put in place where we can bring all our capacities and capabilities together. Those are the two key areas that we plan to push in 2008,” he elaborated.

SIRIM plans to fabricate, design and later introduce its own Industrial Waste Water Treatment system to the industry.

Meanwhile, the Plant and Machinery Flagship Programme focuses on efforts of designing machine and plants which will be based on requirement. Dr. Zainal Abidin cited an example of Industrial Waste Water Treatment System initially developed for usage by SIRIM’s Sabah and Terengganu state offices. The same team which introduced the system will fabricate and design a plant incorporating the readily available inhouse platform and then offer their service to the industry. SIRIM has so far completed 19 research collaborations with external parties while 45 patents have been filed for its R&D activities in the past decade. Additionally, SIRIM can be proud of its business acumen as its R&T Division has recorded profits amounting to 31 per cent from its year-to-date target. In 2008, SIRIM also plans to explore more opportunities in uncharted territories. Towards that end, SIRIM has started initial talks with its R&T counterparts in Sudan, Egypt, Uganda and Kenya in areas including plastic mould and die design, ceramics, cosmetics and electronics. SIRIM will offer consultancy and advanced training programmes in product development as well as share R&D capability to these countries. At the same time, SIRIM is also co-operating with Iran in nanotechnology as the country has advanced knowledge in this new applied science and technology field related to control of matter on the atomic and molecular scale.

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NCCP improves the product development processes especially at the design, analysis and prototyping stages. At present, the Programme provides services such as contract R&D, consultancy, technical services and trainings in areas including CAD/CAM modeling, application and data translation; Computer Aided Engineering, Rapid Prototyping, Reverse Engineering, Manufacturing Systems; and Applications such as virtual manufacturing, CAD/CAM/CAE in medical applications.

The Advanced Manufacturing Technology Centre, SIRIM Berhad in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur.

The Advanced Manufacturing Technology Centre (AMTC) is a pioneer technology centre in SIRIM Berhad. Established under the country’s Second Industrial Master Plan, the research centre originally catered for technology in manufacturing, mould and die, and tooling. And as they say, the rest is history. AMTC has not looked back since. Initially based in Shah Alam, the technology centre offerred designing services, rapid prototyping, mould and die and later expanded to soft engineering and industrial automation. In automation, AMTC provided expertise in mechanical and electrical electronics and software development. Fast forward more than a decade later, AMTC is a technology centre which now operates fully in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur. It concentrates on three technology focus areas namely, the Electronics and Intelligent System Development, Industrial Automation and Robotics, and CAD/CAM.

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“These three disciplines that we have can stand on their own. When all three are combined, they become industrial automation in the real scenario. Industrial automation and robotics will cater for our own industry or provide services to the manufacturing industry. Then, we have the electronics system, and to work the system further, we have the software development unit,” elaborated Senior General Manager of AMTC, Hj. Abdullah Abdul Hamid in an interview. “Our challenge now is to provide solutions to the public or more specifically the local Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) so that they don’t have to acquire automation or electronic devices and services from countries such as China or Taiwan. The trend among local companies is to import the processes and systems, but after that, how do we improve the processes to suit our local needs?”

TECHNOLOGY

TECHNOLOGY

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY CENTRE: READY TO PROVIDE LOCAL SOLUTIONS TO SMEs

To counter this trend, AMTC offers services from the National CAD/ CAM Programme (NCCP) where it can assist SMEs in focusing on the analysis of design. “If previously, a company had to seek design services from some obscure places, now we offer value added services at competitive cost using locally developed technology.” AMTC offers to produce at a competitive cost, using locally developed technology.

Meanwhile, the Electronics and Intelligent System Development Programme (EISDP) of AMTC specialises in the design and development of hardware and software for electronics and ICT application systems. Local industries can enhance their competitiveness through the application of the latest technology. “We also promote R&D activities in electronics and ICT-based products, processes and system design for the industries.” According to Abdullah, EISDP has the capabilities in RFID and signal processing, control and instrumentation, electronics identifications, communications and intelligent system development. Under the programme, an electronic office security system now known as the Neural e-JARI™ was developed by SIRIM engineers and has been successfully commercialised by Neural Services Sdn Bhd. The Industrial Automation and Robotics Programme (IARP) of AMTC offers design and development for customised automated machines, manufacturing equipment and system, specialised test machines and equipment for product quality improvement, robotics technology as well as pilot plants based on specialised processing requirements.

AMTC is ready to offer automation solutions to SMEs.

The programme also provides services such as retrofitting of existing production machines and equipment for productivity and product quality improvement and consultancy on industrial automation development, generic machines, production systems and robotics technology. For 2008, Abdullah says AMTC will continue with its focus on building up its technological capabilities. Initiatives in Artificial Intelligence and robotics activity will be strengthened while in the electronics sector, the centre will concentrate on producing devices, RFID and communication initiatives. “Among our targets in 2008 is to develop sensor technology and controllers, producing local set-top boxes and decoders for cable television services.” “SIRIM has good track records in robotics and electronics technology and if we can build on these strengths in the years to come, people will talk about this technology and we can stand tall in this sector,” he concluded.

For more information on Advanced Manufacturing Technology Centre, please contact: Hj. Abdullah Abdul Hamid Senior General Manager Advanced Manufacturing Technology Centre SIRIM Berhad Lot 5285 Off Lebuhraya Puchong-Sg. Besi 57000 Bukit Jalil Kuala Lumpur Tel: 603 8992 6042 Fax: 603 8992 6190 E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]

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The three manufacturers are DH-Budenberg (France) which produces models APX50 and 5111; DH Instruments (USA) which produces model PG7601; and Ruska Instruments (USA) which produces model 2466. An approximate cost for a complete set of these pressure balances ranges from RM400,000 to RM700,000, where a 35 mm PCA may reach RM70,000 per unit.

By Dr. Wan Abd. Malik Wan Mohamed Senior Metrologist National Metrology Laboratory SIRIM Berhad

In today’s context, our local industry is generally the end-user of highly sophisticated or advanced instruments, such as the primary pressure balance due to our limitations in acquiring ultimate knowledge in manufacturing technologies. In his doctorate research completed recently, Dr. Wan Abd. Malik Wan Mohamed of National Metrology Laboratory, SIRIM Berhad introduced a new design for pressure balances. He designed and fabricated two identical pressure balances, capable of measuring and generating pressure at the stateof-the-art level of uncertainty of measurement. The simple design pressure balances have demonstrated equivalence in performance to top internationally recognised pressure balances such as the UK primary pressure on balance standard.

Pressure measurement applications are commonly found in industries such as power, gas, optical, aerospace, defence, meteorology, automotive, medical, safety etc. Most pressure-related measurements are made for commercial purposes, as part of research and development activities, as well as production engineering, to ensure product quality, reliability and safety. One of the metrology instruments that provides a primary method to derive pressure from the base units of mass, length and time is a pressure balance. The pressure balance derives pressure through a piston-cylinder assembly (PCA), which is the heart of the system. It consists of a finely lapped and polished (super-finished) piston, fitted into a matching cylinder of similar surface characteristics with extremely demanding dimensional tolerances (typically around 1 µm or less).

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Before reaching commercialisation point, this innovative product has to be further tested and its procedures verified to certify compliance with international standards.

BREAHTHROUGH

BREAHTHROUGH

‘HOME-MADE’ PRESSURE BALANCES FOR THE INDUSTRY

Financial support is also crucial in converting these ideas into an innovative, useful and viable commercial product, and a sound partnership with local or overseas manufacturing companies should be established. It is envisaged that the success of this commercialisation effort will establish Malaysia as a prestigious manufacturer of high-end measuring instruments in the world.

Comparatively low-cost, easy to maintain, rugged in construction and high thermal stability...

This locally made pressure balance can perform better than the DHI 7601 and RUSKA 2465 pressure balances (the primary and working pressure standards of the UK respectively) in thermal stability. This was proven through a comparison series conducted by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), UK.

Historically, the first practical gas-operated pressure balance for metrological applications were developed in the mid-1900s where the requirements for improved uncertainty in a wider measuring range increased rapidly. Continuous detailed investigations undertaken by metrologist and manufacturers have constantly improved the uncertainty of pressure measurement using gas-operated pressure balance where various technological approaches are being introduced. There are only three well-known manufacturers capable of producing top quality gas-operated pressure balances incorporated with 35 mm diameter PCAs. These pressure balances are commonly used as primary pressure standards among the National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) all over the world.

Comparatively low-cost, easy to maintain, rugged in construction and high thermal stability are the main factors that will make this pressure balance an instrument of choice in future markets, locally and internationally.

For more information on this project, please contact: Dr. Wan Abd. Malik Wan Mohamed Senior Metrologist National Metrology Laboratory SIRIM Berhad Lot PT. 4803 Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi 43900 Sepang Selangor Darul Ehsan Tel: 603 8778 1621 Fax: 603 8778 1661 E-mail: [email protected]

Dr. Wan Abd. Malik says his locally made pressure balance performed better than the American or UK-made pressure balances.

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Dr. Hj. Zainal Abidin is known to many as a man of few words, but he was definitely not lost for words during a recent interview with the SIRIMLink team. When we set out to explore the ‘other side of him’, we realised that he needed no prompting when it came to a topic close to his heart, which is research & technology (R&T).

“I am more of a researcher than a corporate person,” he declared. When we touched on his personality, there was little about his personal self forth coming despite the coaxing and cajoling, but he came on to us as an endearing and down-to-earth man. With his PA absent, we were impressed by the ease at which he was managing his affairs.

“SIRIM is a flexible and dynamic organisation where you are allowed to develop your own ideas. I joined SIRIM Berhad as a Research Officer and recall the time when the R&T centre was labelled a cost centre. Back then, only some technology centres were making enough money to sustain its operations. The government wanted this to change and I was entrusted with the biggest challenge in my career: to turn R&T into a profitable centre.” “One of the ways was for the researchers to change their mindset and assume the role of a businessman. You need to think about commercialisation as each concept and research needs to be transformed into a product. This might limit the capability of going deeper into research but this is where the researcher needs to do a balancing act,” Dr. Zainal explained on how he successfully developed the R&T division as envisioned by the Government. Married with four children, ages ranging from 20 to 27, Dr. Zainal admitted that despite his love for work, family remains his top priority and he had a cozy smile revealing the fact that he was already a grandfather.

During the interview Dr. Zainal shared an interesting snippet from his family life. “I could not bring myself to say no to my eldest child who was still an undergraduate when she asked my consent to get married. History was definitely repeating itself because I too got married at a young age of 23 while pursuing Masters,” said Dr. Zainal, looking rather shy.

PERSONALITY

PERSONALITY

DR. HJ. ZAINAL ABIDIN MOHD YUSOF VICE PRESIDENT, RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY DIVISION

To relax and unwind, Dr. Zainal heads to his hometown in Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan every weekend. You can see his face light up as he speaks of the other passion in his life which is gardening. He is the proud owner of a fruit orchard and indigenous herbal garden, which he says has a little bit of everything. One can find various types of fruits and herbal plants in his garden. And, of course you can attribute his slim figure to the exercise he gets by gardening. “I would like to use the knowledge I have gained this far to assist farmers in a rural setting find ways to generate revenue so that they are able to lead a comfortable life. If this works, fewer people will be migrating to the city,” Dr. Zainal spoke on his long term ambition as he wrapped up the interview.

“You need to think about commercialisation as each concept and research needs to be transformed into a product”

Having started as a Research Officer in 1981, Dr. Hj. Zainal Abidin is now SIRIM Berhad Vice President for R&T, a post he has been holding since 2006. A specialist in fermentation technology, he received his doctorate in microbiology from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and biotechnology is his cup of tea. Speaking of his attitude towards work and life, he said, “I go to work everyday looking forward to the challenges at the workplace and each day is an interesting day.” A great proponent of positive thinking, Dr. Zainal notes that a positive approach at work and in his life has been his guiding principle. In describing a typical day at work, he informed us that a visit to the laboratory in the morning has been the norm since his research days. According to Dr. Zainal, a day is not complete without stepping into the laboratory. Dr. Zainal is one person who will remain a researcher at heart. However, having been thrust into the corporate setting, he works doubly hard to ensure his corporate responsibility is not sidelined either. “The global scenario requires a researcher to have skills beyond the lab and marketing is one of them,” he contended. It is essential for the researcher to be market savvy so that he is able to produce products that have commercial values. page 16

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SIRIM Wins National Innovation Award 2007 at NICE In line with the Prime Minister YAB Datuk Seri Abdullah Hj. Ahmad Badawi’s call for Malaysia to take a big leap forward to enable innovation-related projects to play a bigger role in the country’s economic development, SIRIM Berhad continues to strive towards this aim. The GranuMas™ project headed by Dr. Fazilah Fazan, a Senior Researcher at the Advanced Materials Research Centre, SIRIM Berhad, has been named joint winner of the National Innovation Award 2007 for Product Category along with the Multimedia Conferencing System (MCS) Version 6, a project by Universiti Sains Malaysia.

YAB Datuk Seri Abdullah during the launch said: “Such fields are important as they will bring about new discoveries and creations that will allow the country to attain greater progress in line with its ambition to become a developed nation in 2020.” NICE 2007, an event dedicated to the country’s innovation efforts was organised by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation from 26 to 30 November 2007. International conferences, dialogues, exhibitions and forums were held concurrently covering innovationrelated programmes and activities on the fields of Nanotechnology, ICT, Waste Management, Biotechnology, Halal Science and the country’s latest exploration to space.

SIRIM IN BRIEF

SIRIM IN BRIEF

MOSTI-NICE 2007: DEDICATED TO MALAYSIAN INNOVATION EFFORTS

Riding on NICE 2007, SIRIM Berhad itself had organised events namely ROBOFEST 2007, a competition to raise awareness among the public on robot innovation and technology; the 1st Malaysia-Iran Technology Co-operation and Business Forum in Advanced Technology where experts from both countries discussed issues related to petroleum, petrochemical industries, composites, polymer, nano-material and nanotechnology, bio-materials and biopharmaceuticals. SIRIM played an important role in the MOSTI Industry Dialogue also held during NICE 2007 on 29 November 2007, the first dialogue for the industry and the Ministry. The dialogue was well attended with representatives from the Electrical and Electronics, Automotive, Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, Resourcebased Wood & Food, Energy (Renewable), Medical Devices, Telecommunications and Space/ Aerospace industries. Other stakeholders such as the relevant government agencies, universities, research institutes, funding agencies and venture capitalists were also among those who attended the one-day dialogue.

ROBOFEST 2007, a competition on robot innovation and technology organised by SIRIM Berhad receives overwhelming response from students.

... the objectives of NICE 2007 are to create awareness on the importance of innovation, to stimulate new ideas and inculcate the culture of innovation ... ISIS Director-General Prof Dr. Mahani Zainal Abidin presented “Malaysia’s Innovation Model” where participants got first-hand information on MOSTI’s plan to shift to innovation-led economy from the previous agriculture-based economy (from 1950s-1970s) and resource-led economy (1980s – 1990s).

Angkasawan, Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor is the main attraction at the National Angkasawan Programme’s booth, at NICE 2007.

Each winner received RM50,000 in cash, a trophy and certificate from the Prime Minister at an award ceremony in conjunction with the launch of the National Innovation Conference and Exhibition (NICE 2007) in November at PWTC, Kuala Lumpur. The GranuMas™ project was developed in collaboration with UKM, USM, Malaysian Nuclear Agency and UIAM. It is a synthetic bone medical product made from lime stone for the purpose of bone graft and surgery. The success of the product will enable hospitals to reduce medical cost and reduce dependability on imported medical products. page 18

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Themed “Innovation for Wealth Creation and Societal Well-being”, the objectives of NICE 2007 were to create awareness of the importance of innovation, to stimulate new ideas and inculcate the culture of innovation at all levels of society and to showcase and share the experiences of individuals/groups who had shown entrepreneurial skills and innovation at grassroot level.

Indonesian Minister for Research and Technology, H.E Dr. Kusmayanto Kadiman in his paper “Innovation in Indonesia: A Foresight Initiative” said that co-operation among countries, especially neighbouring countries like Malaysia and Indonesia is beneficial in order to accentuate innovation. He informed the participants that the ongoing successful project between Malaysia and Indonesia on developing an electricity network between West Kalimantan and Sarawak is to be completed by 2009.

NICE 2007 also witnessed the exchange of an MoU between MOSTI and its Indonesian counterpart on the implementation of the Malaysian National Tsunami Early Warning System. Both countries agreed to exchange data on Tsunami and earthquakes. Other events held at NICE 2007 were BioMalaysia 2007 Conference and Exhibition, National Innovation Forum, Waste to Wealth (W2W) International Conference and Exhibition 2007, Nanotech Malaysia 2007, Seminar on Remote Sensing, GIS and Related Technologies for Effective Management of Natural Resource, Environment and Disaster and Strategic Planning, and the Angkasawan Showcase.

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Technology and innovation are critical ingredients for SMEs to go global and survive in an increasingly competitive business world. On that note, it has also been identified that technologies developed are not sufficiently marketed to the SMEs and thus there appears to be a gap. Research organisations are on one hand churning out technologies and innovations which are not compatible to industries and on the other hand, industries are uninformed of who or where to go to for technological assistance needed for their business. It is for these reasons, to match or introduce industries to various technologies available at SIRIM Berhad, that Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) organised a half-day seminar.

SIRIM plays several key roles in Technology Development for SMEs, including Technology Needs Assessment, Technology Commercialisation, Technology Sourcing, Technology Incubation, Contract Research, and Technical Consulting. The main role, however is the Technology Needs Assessment which is a precursor to the process of assessment. The assessment is a service to assist SMEs in their preparation to become competitive in new markets . Considering the fact that funding is equally important in SMEs wanting to use or commercialise technologies, the next presentation by TECC’s senior principal consultant Mohd. Ghazali Yunos on, “How to Take Advantage of Government Grants for Technology Opportunities” was well-received by the participants.

MALAYSIA’S FIRST ANGKASAWAN IN SPACE The Malaysian flag has travelled to space. We are now officially one of the few nations in the world that have explored space. Our very own and first Angkasawan or astronaut, under the National Angkasawan Programme, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha, has travelled to space onboard Soyuz TMA-11 in October 2007 and later reached the International Space Station (ISS). During the 11 days stay at the ISS, he performed several important scientific experiments.

Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar has proven to us that Malaysians too can go to space. And the team from MOSTI which comprised members from several agencies were proud to have contributed in making this project a success. SIRIM Berhad, under the leadership of President and Chief Executive YBhg. Ir. Hj. Yahaya Ahmad dispatched a team of SIRIM’s staff to Astana, Kazakhstan to support MOSTI and the Angkasawan programme.

SIRIM IN BRIEF

SIRIM IN BRIEF

LINKING SMEs TO TECHNOLOGIES AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

SIRIM plays several key roles in Technology Development for SMEs including Technology Needs Assessment, Technology Commercialisation, Technology Sourcing, Technology Incubation, Contract Research, Technical Consulting and others. A cosy affair with about 30 participants, it was a day when industries learned the various technologies developed by SIRIM which are ready for commercialisation or simply put, ‘up for grabs’. In his brief opening address, FMM SMI Working Committee chairman YBhg. Tan Sri Dato’ Soong Siew Hoong said FMM was committed towards nurturing innovative SMEs and to this end innovation technology is essential to the survival of SMEs. He however reminded participants that in pursuing technology and innovation for excellence, values and good business ethics must not be compromised. SIRIM Berhad Techno-Economy and Commercialisation Centre (TECC) General Manager Goay Peck Sim was the first speaker and her presentation entitled “SIRIM - Your Link to Technology Opportunities” outlined the various challenges faced by SMEs and how by emulating innovation, the challenges could be overcome or minimised.

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The main fund providers discussed were MOSTI, SMIDEC and Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation Sdn Bhd. Under MOSTI there are the Inno Fund, Techno Fund and Science Fund. Under the Malaysia Bio-Technology Corporation there are the Seed Fund, R&D Matching Fund and the International Business Development Matching Fund. SMIDEC offers a host of funds and grants and the qualifying criteria and sector coverage were made known to the participants. The session concluded with Mariatini Othman, Malaysia Technology Development Corporation Industry Technology Service Assistant Vice President, delivering her address on funding/grant options. The two main grants she deliberated on were under the Commercialisation of R&D and Technology Acquisition Fund. For more information on this project, please contact: Goay Peck Sim General Manager Techno-Economy and Commercialisation Centre SIRIM Berhad Lot Pt. 4803 Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi 43900 Sepang Selangor Darul Ehsan Tel: 603 8775 7202 Fax: 603 8775 7230 E-mail: [email protected]

The SIRIM Berhad team having an impromptu discussion on their tasks at Astana, Kazakhstan.

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“We were stranded for half-an-hour at a hotel in Astana as the security officers refused to allow us to enter the hotel (which at the same time hosted a delegation from the Prime Minister of Italy). For security reasons, we were denied entry. Things got a little difficult as we were supposed to pick up food from the hotel to serve our Malaysian delegates for their ‘sahur’ (morning meal before fasting)” said Ahmad Azmi Awang, Senior Executive, Communications and Customer Relationship Management, SIRIM Berhad. “However, I am thankful that fasting in a foreign land like Kazakhstan was smooth as anywhere in Malaysia. Work went on as normal. And the spirit of ‘Malaysia Boleh’ was very high among us Malaysians and the MOSTI team there. We made sure that everything was smooth sailing despite facing hiccups,” Ahmad Azmi related further.

‘WEIGHTY’ DISCUSSION AT THE 23rd GENERAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, PARIS By Abdul Rashid Zainal Abidin Senior General Manager, National Metrology Laboratory, SIRIM Berhad

SIRIM IN BRIEF

SIRIM IN BRIEF

SIRIM Berhad was tasked with logistics and event management in Astana, Kazakhstan. We were also responsible in assisting with the ‘live’ broadcast of the launch of Soyuz to space from Baikonur. The event was witnessed by the Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy, YAB Dato’ Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak, and millions of Malaysian television viewers back home. Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation YB Dato’ Sri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd Jarjis also had a brief teleconference with the Prime Minister on the launching night. Things went on smoothly, though it was a nerve-wrecking experience as the hopes and aspirations of Malaysians could have been crushed had things gone wrong during the live broadcast.

The Convention of the Metre (Convention du Mètre) is a treaty which gives authority to the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM), the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM) and the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) to act in matters of world metrology, particularly concerning the demand for measurement standards of ever increasing accuracy, range and diversity, and the need to demonstrate equivalence between national measurement standards. The Convention was signed in Paris in 1875 by representatives of 17 nations. As the founder of BIPM, the Metre Convention paved the way for its activities and established a permanent organisational structure for members to act in common accord on all matters relating to units of measurement. The Convention remains the basis of international agreement on units of measurement. There are now 51 Member States, including all major industrialised countries. Malaysia signed the Metre Convention in 2001. Abdul Rashid Zainal Abidin, the newly appointed Senior General Manager for the National Metrology Laboratory (NML), SIRIM Berhad who attended the CGPM in Paris from 12 to 16 December 2007, reports on the outcome of the conference.

The National Metrology Laboratory, SIRIM Berhad has delivered its role as the Custodian of Weights and Measures on behalf of the Government of Malaysia, by participating in the CGPM Conference.

The SIRIM team headed by President and Chief Executive YBhg. Ir. Hj. Yahaya Ahmad (fourth from left) posing with the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, YB Dato’ Sri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd Jarjis during the launch of Malaysian astronaut to space.

For the SIRIM team consisting of eight members, the experience in assisting a national project was something to treasure and share with our fellow colleagues back in Shah Alam. One incident that a Senior Executive recalled was the language barrier that he and several SIRIM colleagues faced in Astana.

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The participation will ensure that the interests of the country for measurement related activities to support trade, health, safety and the environment are well covered. Furthermore, SIRIM Berhad is also well informed on the responsibilities of Member States under the Metre Convention. At the CGPM, Malaysia’s delegation was headed by YBhg. Ir. Haji Yahaya Ahmad, President and Chief Executive of SIRIM Berhad. Other members of the Malaysian delegation were Abdul Rashid Hj. Zainal Abidin of NML, SIRIM Berhad and Adlan Mohd. Shafiq, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Malaysia in France.

For NML, SIRIM Berhad, participation in the Conference is beneficial in terms of exposure to new developments in metrology at the highest level especially emerging requirements for measurement standards and techniques to support new measurement requirements in nanoscience, biotechnology, chemistry, health science, food science, advanced materials and environmental monitoring. The true impact of participating in the Conference is for each Member State to administer the appropriate national policies through a sound national measurement system and infrastructure to support measurement related regulations. This in turn will support measurement control in trade, health, safety and environmental monitoring and ensures that their products are competitive in this era of globalisation.

And to mark a happy ending for them after two weeks of a challenging mission in Astana, the SIRIM team headed home in time for Eid.

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4 Oct 2007

A family affair…SIRIM staff and their families were treated to a scrumptious dinner during SIRIM’s breaking of fast event at the SIRIM Multipurpose Hall, SIRIM Complex in Shah Alam.

Each General Conference receives the report of the International Committee for Weights and Measures on work accomplished; it discusses and examines the arrangements required to ensure the propagation and improvement of the International System of Units, SI; it endorses the results of new fundamental metrological determinations and various scientific resolutions of international scope; and it decides all major issues concerning the organisation and development of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, including the budget for the next four-year period.

October 2007

SIRIM IN BRIEF

The CGPM, which meets in Paris once every four years, is made up of representatives of the governments of the Member States and observers from the Associates of the CGPM.

10 Oct 2007

The event of the year was definitely the sending of the first Malaysian into space, Angkasawan Malaysia, Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha. The MOSTI team who facilitated the event, led by Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation YB Dato’ Sri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd Jarjis, posed for the camera in Astana, Kazakhstan.

10 Oct 2007

Event Highlights

The launch of Angkasawan Malaysia into space in Baikonur, Kazakhstan was also ‘witnessed live’ by thousands of Malaysians including school children who thronged KLCC, Kuala Lumpur.

YBhg. Ir. Hj. Yahaya Ahmad, SIRIM Berhad President and Chief Executive (left), the writer (middle) and Second Secretary, Malaysian Embassy in France, En. Adlan Mohd. Shafiq at the CGPM Conference, Paris.

As a Member State, Malaysia has voting rights to the Resolutions tabled at the Conference. Several resolutions were passed this year which include: • • • • •

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The initiatives to strengthen the collaboration between National Metrology Institutes and recognised National Accreditation Bodies The revision of the mise en pratique of the definition of the metre and the development of new optical frequency standards Clarification of the definition of the kelvin, unit of thermodynamic temperature The importance of SI traceable measurements to monitor climate change The possible redefinition of certain base units of the International System of Units (SI)

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24 Oct 2007

Visit by a delegation from the Trade Promotion Project of International Trade Centre, ITC, Vientiane, Laos to SIRIM Berhad headquarters in Shah Alam.

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Networking…A delegation from Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) headed by Director-General YBhg. Dato’ Wan Mohamad Dato’ Sheikh Abdul Aziz (3rd from left) called upon SIRIM Berhad President and Chief Executive YBhg. Ir. Hj. Yahaya Ahmad in Shah Alam.

3 Nov 2007

26 Oct 2007

Children from SIRIM TASKA showing off their talents during the kindergarten’s Concert and Graduation Day 2007 at SIRIM Auditorium in Shah Alam.

Pact…Signing of an MoU between SIRIM Berhad and Malaysian Cables Manufacturers of Malaysia (MCMA). The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Director-General of Department of Standards Malaysia, Puan Fadilah Baharin (standing, centre).

Event Highlights

30 Oct 2007

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Regional Conference Expert Group Meeting ‘The Future of Technology Foresight in the South East Asia Region’ organised by UNIDO and SIRIM Berhad was held on 30 and 31 Oct 2007 at Concorde Hotel, Shah Alam. The conference was opened by SIRIM Berhad Chairman YBhg. Dato’ Zulkifly Rafique (seated, 4th from left).

20 Nov 2007

Look East…SIRIM Berhad VP for Research & Technology Dr. Zainal Abidin Mohd Yusof (left) exchanging Memorandum of Understanding with a Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) (Senior VP Mr. Tatsuo Katsura) which paves the way for better co-operation between SIRIM Berhad Environment and Bioprocess Technology Centre and AIST.

1 Nov 2007

SIRIM Berhad (represented by President and Chief Executive YBhg. Ir. Hj. Yahaya Ahmad, 6th from right) is a strong supporter of The Brandlaureate – SMEs Chapter Award 2007. The event held at Shangrila Hotel, Kuala Lumpur was launched by Deputy Minister of Entrepreneurial and Cooperative Development YB Dato’ Khamsiyah Yeop.

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November 2007

2 Nov 2007

The 3rd Malaysian International Machine Tool, Metalworking & Allied Industries Exhibition, PWTC Kuala Lumpur was declared opened by Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry YB Ng Lip Yong (right). The annual event was supported by MIDA, National Institute of Compressed Air Malaysia Berhad (NICAM) and SIRIM Berhad (represented by YBhg. Ir. Hj Yahaya Ahmad (centre).

5 Nov 2007

Forging stronger ties…A courtesy call upon the new SIRIM Berhad President and Chief Executive YBhg. Ir. Hj. Yahaya Ahmad by DRB-HICOM Group Executive Advisor YBhg. Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Omar (3rd from left).

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Event Highlights

October 2007/November 2007

25 Oct 2007

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A learning visit by students from the Pusat Latihan Kemahiran Pure Technics SB Seremban to SIRIM headquarters.

30 Nov 2007

SIRIM Senior Researcher Dr. Fazilah Fazan is the proud joint winner of the National Innovation Award for Product Category, for the project GranuMas™.

10 Nov 2007

Festive mood at the MOSTI Hari Raya-Deepavali Open House held at SIRIM grounds in Shah Alam.

3 Dec 2007

Event Highlights

10 Nov 2007

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SIRIM new staff pledge to serve their best to the organisation at a threeday Induction Course held at SIRIM headquarters in Shah Alam, Selangor.

VIP queue…The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation at one of the many stalls serving various food at the MOSTI Hari Raya-Deepavali Open House.

30 Nov 2007

YAB Prime Minister with winners of the National Innovation Awards during the launch of National Innovation Conference and Exhibition (NICE 2007) organised by MOSTI at PWTC, Kuala Lumpur.

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November 2007/December 2007

Winners of ROBOFEST 2007 with SIRIM President and Chief Executive YBhg. Ir. Hj. Yahaya Ahmad at the end of the four-day competition held in conjunction with NICE 2007.

5 Nov 2007

3 Dec 2007

School librarians from SMK Pendang, Kedah who visited SIRIM headquarters recently being briefed on the technology available at SIRIM research centres.

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Event Highlights

November 2007

30 Nov 2007

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December 2007

ADVERTISEMENT RATES

10 December 2007

A group of SMEs entrepreneurs received first-hand information on SIRIM products and services during their short visit to SIRIM Complex in Shah Alam. The visit was organised by MATRADE.

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12 December 2007

A delegation from Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology headed by Vice President, Mr. Pham Van Huynh (extreme right) being briefed on SIRIM latest technology and services by Group Corporate Affairs General Manager En. Zulkefly Songip, during their visit to SIRIM Berhad.

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12 Dec 2007

President and Chief Executive YBhg. Ir. Hj. Yahaya Ahmad announced the new line up of SIRIM management team at the staff assembly held at SIRIM Auditorium in Shah Alam. From left: Dato’ Mariani Mohammad (Executive Director, SIRIM QAS International Sdn Bhd), Dr. Hj. Zainal Abidin Mohd Yusof (Vice President, Research & Technology Division), Ir. Hj. Yahaya, Tn. Hj. Nor Rashid Ismail (Vice President, Corporate Division), and Tn. Hj. Abd. Razak Salim (Vice President, Standards & Quality Division). Not in the picture is Tn. Hj. Md Nor Md Chik (Vice President, Engineering & Support Services Division).

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We have the technology to drive you towards success Vision To Be Among the World’s Best in Quality and Technology Mission We Make Businesses Compete Better Through Quality and Technology Innovations