Kota Kinabalu: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) researchers have been urged to translate scientific discoveries into practical solutions that benefit industries, communities and the wider economy.
UMS Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) Professor Ir Dr Rosalam Hj Sarbatly said research achievements should be measured not only by academic output but also by their ability to address real-world needs.
He said the university needed to strengthen its innovation and commercialisation efforts by identifying promising research findings and developing them through appropriate channels.
Speaking at a seminar organised by the Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation (IBTP) on Wednesday, Rosalam said not all research findings were suitable for direct commercialisation.
Some could create greater impact through technology transfer, research collaboration, intellectual property licensing, policy implementation or community applications, he said.
He said Sabah and Borneo’s rich biodiversity offered opportunities for research in sustainable resource utilisation, biodiversity monitoring, ecosystem-based solutions and conservation.
However, innovation must be guided by scientific evidence, biodiversity sustainability and relevant regulatory requirements.
Rosalam also stressed the importance of protecting intellectual property before researchers publicly disclosed potentially valuable findings or pursued further development.
He said IP protection alone would not guarantee commercial success, as researchers also needed to consider market demand, technical feasibility, business models and available resources.
Collaboration between universities and industries was therefore essential to identify market needs, address implementation challenges and develop practical applications.
The participation of industry representatives and the Malaysian Intellectual Property Corporation (MyIPO) in the seminar could help strengthen cooperation in research, prototype development, IP protection and technology transfer, he said.
Rosalam hoped the seminar would lead to concrete follow-up initiatives, including assessments of promising innovations, identification of potential partners and development plans for selected research findings.
He said commercialisation success should not be measured solely by the number of products developed, but also by research contributions to competitiveness, sustainable development and public welfare.
He added that stronger partnerships between researchers, industry and relevant agencies would help UMS expand its role in innovation and national development.
