Research & Research & Innovation and Innovation and SustainabilitySustainability

Dr. Ahmad Farhan Mohd Dr. Ahmad Farhan Mohd SadullahSadullah

Universiti Sains MalaysiaUniversiti Sains Malaysia

PRESENTATION FLOWPRESENTATION FLOW

Research and Innovation - Research and Innovation - definitionsdefinitions

Sustainability - definitionsSustainability - definitions Ensuring research leads to Ensuring research leads to

innovationinnovation Ensuring R&I helps sustainabilityEnsuring R&I helps sustainability Some issues for thoughtsSome issues for thoughts

Research and Innovation - Research and Innovation - definitionsdefinitions

INNOVATION BY INNOVATION BY DEFINITIONDEFINITION

Edward D. Roberts:Edward D. Roberts:

““Innovation = invention + exploitation”Innovation = invention + exploitation”

Invention process covers all efforts aimed at creating new Invention process covers all efforts aimed at creating new ideas and getting them to work. ideas and getting them to work.

The exploitation process includes all stages of commercial The exploitation process includes all stages of commercial development, application, and transfer, including the focusing of development, application, and transfer, including the focusing of ideas or inventions towards specific objectives, evaluating those ideas or inventions towards specific objectives, evaluating those objectives, downstream transfer of research and/or development objectives, downstream transfer of research and/or development results, and eventual broad based utilization, dissemination, and results, and eventual broad based utilization, dissemination, and

diffusion of the technology-based outcomes”diffusion of the technology-based outcomes”

SO WHY DO WE NEED TO SO WHY DO WE NEED TO INNOVATE?INNOVATE?

Ensuring that as many of our research work Ensuring that as many of our research work has impact, i.e., being used by the society. has impact, i.e., being used by the society. When a product from research is When a product from research is commercialised, it is being recognised and is commercialised, it is being recognised and is being used. It therefore provides the best being used. It therefore provides the best return of investment (ROI)return of investment (ROI)

Innovation when successful will also have Innovation when successful will also have socio-economic benefitssocio-economic benefits drives the knowledge economydrives the knowledge economy contributes to the nation’s and world’s economycontributes to the nation’s and world’s economy create job opportunitiescreate job opportunities other socio-economic benefits (health, environment, other socio-economic benefits (health, environment,

wealth and general well being)wealth and general well being)

postgrads

lecturers/researchers

laboratories&

Equipment

Researchfunds andactivities

Researchsupport

ResearchManagement

Development CommercialisationResearch

inventor

Technologytransferoffice

Industry

Bridgingfund

IPr issues

Clearmechanisms

IP rights(ownership +inventors) +

rewards

Partner/IP

Assignee

Businessplan

FundingBusiness

model

Managementteam

Market

Luck

ENTITIES OF INNOVATION

From research to From research to innovationinnovation

Nature of researchNature of research FundamentalFundamental AppliedApplied Product – basedProduct – based

ChallengeChallenge Maximising the number of research Maximising the number of research

work done that leads to invention and work done that leads to invention and finally becomes candidate for finally becomes candidate for innovationinnovation

DIFFERENT RESEARCH DIFFERENT RESEARCH APPROACHESAPPROACHES

Build up on someone else’s Build up on someone else’s fundamental workfundamental work The most common wayThe most common way You will have competitorsYou will have competitors

The Fundamental to product research The Fundamental to product research Cluster-based approachCluster-based approach CollaborativeCollaborative You have more controlYou have more control

Z to A research approach as opposed to Z to A research approach as opposed to A to Z approachA to Z approach

APPROACH TO APPROACH TO RESEARCHRESEARCH

A to Z approachA to Z approach Start with objective Start with objective

statementsstatements Deliverables that met Deliverables that met

the objectivesthe objectives Need to find the Need to find the

applicability and applicability and suitability of the suitability of the product product

Finding place in the Finding place in the market for the productmarket for the product

Jigsaw puzzle approachJigsaw puzzle approach

Z to A approachZ to A approach Start with problems Start with problems

statementsstatements Problem statements Problem statements

arising from market arising from market studies and technology studies and technology fore-sightingfore-sighting

Objectives statements Objectives statements defined according to defined according to problem statementsproblem statements

Time line is according to Time line is according to window of opportunitywindow of opportunity

Resulting products are Resulting products are readier to enter the readier to enter the marketmarket

LOOKING @ R&I AS A LOOKING @ R&I AS A PROCESSPROCESS

Acculturation

Researchers doingresearch leading to development of

technology/products

Disclosing to university

Internal due diligence

Incubation

Exhibition low commercialisationvalue

Assignment process

Commercialisationsuccess

Enterprises

Intellectualproperty management

Commercialisationprocess

Sustainability - Sustainability - definitionsdefinitions

Context of sustainable developmentContext of sustainable development A widely-used and accepted international A widely-used and accepted international

definition of sustainable development is: definition of sustainable development is: 'development which meets the needs of the 'development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs'future generations to meet their own needs' – –

Globally we are not even meeting the needs Globally we are not even meeting the needs of the present let alone considering the of the present let alone considering the needs of future generations. needs of future generations.

Challenge

Scope of Sustainable Scope of Sustainable DevelopmentDevelopment

EnvironmentEnvironment SocialSocial EconomicEconomic

QUESTIONQUESTION

How Research and Innovation should How Research and Innovation should address sustainability?address sustainability? Problem statement must be correctProblem statement must be correct The Z to A approachThe Z to A approach Clear goals in mindClear goals in mind

Environmental gainsEnvironmental gains Economic benefitsEconomic benefits Social impactSocial impact

Clear action plan to ensure the research Clear action plan to ensure the research and innovation journey leads to the and innovation journey leads to the intended recipientintended recipient

TYPICAL RESEARCH TYPICAL RESEARCH DOMAINDOMAIN

Products, processes, technologies and findings Products, processes, technologies and findings related to:related to:

Research “From waste to wealth”Research “From waste to wealth” Improvement in productivity (eg. increase in Improvement in productivity (eg. increase in

yield per unit of input)yield per unit of input) Improvement in processes (eg. savings in Improvement in processes (eg. savings in

energy, waste etc)energy, waste etc) Producing enablers, new technology, new Producing enablers, new technology, new

policies etcpolicies etc Reduction in detrimental effects to Reduction in detrimental effects to

environment, society and the economyenvironment, society and the economy Healthy lifestyle, environment etcHealthy lifestyle, environment etc And many othersAnd many others

The Bigger pictureThe Bigger picture

Research and innovation must Research and innovation must address issues of sustainabilityaddress issues of sustainability

The driving force behind the problem The driving force behind the problem statements of researches must statements of researches must ultimately address sustainability ultimately address sustainability issuesissues

The challenges of innovation must be The challenges of innovation must be overcomedovercomed

Only will research and innovation be Only will research and innovation be supporting sustainabilitysupporting sustainability

SOME ISSUES FOR SOME ISSUES FOR THOUGHTSTHOUGHTS

Research results must have an impactResearch results must have an impact Impact to whom?Impact to whom?

Publication in journalsPublication in journals Publications alonePublications alone CitationsCitations

Conference deliberationsConference deliberations Adoption for technologiesAdoption for technologies Adoption for productsAdoption for products Adoption for policiesAdoption for policies Adoption by industryAdoption by industry Adoption by government/authoritiesAdoption by government/authorities

DRIVING DRIVING INNOVATIONINNOVATION

Experience @ Experience @

Universiti Sains MalaysiaUniversiti Sains Malaysia

SETTING THE GOALSSETTING THE GOALS

Mission statementMission statement USM’s mission statementUSM’s mission statement

Vision statementVision statement Renewed visionRenewed vision R&D vision/Innovation visionR&D vision/Innovation vision

SETTING THE GOALS:SETTING THE GOALS:USM ASPIRATIONSUSM ASPIRATIONS

Continue to serve its missionContinue to serve its mission To achieve global acceptance and To achieve global acceptance and

recognition, while continue being a recognition, while continue being a local focal point (GLOCAL)local focal point (GLOCAL)

To be recognised as a research To be recognised as a research universityuniversity

Ultimately, to be known globally as Ultimately, to be known globally as an excellent research universityan excellent research university

SETTING THE GOALS:SETTING THE GOALS:USM’s MISSIONUSM’s MISSION

To lead and innovate towards To lead and innovate towards international excellence through:international excellence through: the creation and dissemination of the creation and dissemination of

knowledge and truthknowledge and truth quality pursuits towards academic and quality pursuits towards academic and

professional excellenceprofessional excellence comprehensive individual development, andcomprehensive individual development, and with full commitment towards the fulfilment with full commitment towards the fulfilment

of the societal, national and universal of the societal, national and universal aspirationsaspirations

INOVATION AGENDAINOVATION AGENDA

New Mission: Beyond R&D Research

Development

Commercialisation Enterprises

Research Park(in-campus ‘industrial alliances’)

R

D

C

E

(P)

© DAR2003

Innovation-driven

Global vs Local

Technological vs Social

USM as Research-intensive university

Innovation and Entrepreneurship “If USM is serious about its

global endeavours, it needs to exploit its innovation to gain competitive advantage. The factors and suitable types of innovation must be intelligently selected, properly nurtured and effectively managed” – VC USM, 2003

THINKING OUT OF THE THINKING OUT OF THE BOX – Drive towards BOX – Drive towards

InnovationInnovation

THE USM WAYTHE USM WAY

HistoryHistory USM had a strong history in researchUSM had a strong history in research USM had individuals who knew the value of IP and USM had individuals who knew the value of IP and

the benefit of commercialisation the benefit of commercialisation USM knew the importance of institutional backing USM knew the importance of institutional backing

for technology transfer effort, and set up the for technology transfer effort, and set up the Innovation and Consultancy Centre (PIP)Innovation and Consultancy Centre (PIP)

USM then innovated through setting up a holding USM then innovated through setting up a holding company which it fully owns, USAINS Holding Sdn. company which it fully owns, USAINS Holding Sdn. Bhd to be the marketing arm of USMBhd to be the marketing arm of USM

Throughout this history, USM accumulated Throughout this history, USM accumulated experience on the business of technology transfer experience on the business of technology transfer

THE TURNING POINTTHE TURNING POINT

What wasWhat was Organisational setup (PIP and USAINS)Organisational setup (PIP and USAINS) IP guidelineIP guideline Some little experienceSome little experience

What were neededWhat were needed culture of innovationculture of innovation enablers for innovationenablers for innovation

TOWARS AN INNOVATION TOWARS AN INNOVATION SYSTEMSYSTEM

Coming up with a framework for R-D-C-E-PComing up with a framework for R-D-C-E-P Getting supportGetting support

Looking at ways to operationalize this Looking at ways to operationalize this frameworkframework processes and enablersprocesses and enablers organisational setup – the setting up of the organisational setup – the setting up of the

Innovation Office and restructuring of Research and Innovation Office and restructuring of Research and Innovation DivisionInnovation Division

human capacity and capability – planning and human capacity and capability – planning and training issuestraining issues

Innovation flowInnovation flow Intellectual Property policy - introduceIntellectual Property policy - introduce mechanism and guidelines – establish and mechanism and guidelines – establish and

practicepractice

CareerDevelpmtPaths

Output-KnowledgeEnhancement

TangibleOutputs

Design & Development

Research Activities

Commercialisation

Intangible Outputs

THE INNOVATION SYSTEM – The USM Model

Knowledge-based Enterprise

ResearchPark

•Pilot Plant•Field Trial•Lab-scale

•Manufacturing•Services/Sales•JV/Export

•Value diffussion•Technology transfer• SME/SMIs

•Teaching-Learning

•Research•Consultancy•Services

University

New Culture, Teamwork, Sharing, Creativity Entrepreneurship

Cluster/Collaboratory

Increasing industry input

•Basic•Applied

•Publications•Patents/IP•Products

© USM 2003

R&I @ USMR&I @ USM

Research Platforms

RCMO

InnovationOffice

RESEARCHAND

INNOVATION

MODELS OF MODELS OF COMMERCIALISATIONCOMMERCIALISATION

LicensingLicensing Joint Venture + Start up companiesJoint Venture + Start up companies EQ USAINSEQ USAINS

USM’s USM’s COMMERCIALISATION COMMERCIALISATION

FLAGSHIPSFLAGSHIPS Diagnostic kits Diagnostic kits First IPO success – MlabsFirst IPO success – Mlabs Direct licensing venturesDirect licensing ventures Direct marketing by USAINS – Direct marketing by USAINS –

EQUSAINS programmeEQUSAINS programme

CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS Research and innovation will have more Research and innovation will have more

meaning if it helps to address the issues meaning if it helps to address the issues of sustainabilityof sustainability

The challenges of research and The challenges of research and innovation must be addressedinnovation must be addressed

Research results and innovation Research results and innovation successes must be in ultimately helping successes must be in ultimately helping the sustainability issuesthe sustainability issues

Question on the ultimate impact of Question on the ultimate impact of research and innovation must be research and innovation must be answeredanswered

Innovating Innovating towards towards

sustainabilitysustainabilitycefrhn@eng.usm.mycefrhn@eng.usm.my

VISIT PECIPTA 2007VISIT PECIPTA 2007