Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Abu Bakar Mohamad Diah (right) sounds the gong to officiate the International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition (ITEX) 2017 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. With him are (from left) Malaysian Invention and Design Society (MINDS) vice president Datuk Dr Choo Yuen May, International Federation of Inventors Association president Alireza Rastegar, C.I.S Network Sdn Bhd president Datuk Vincent Lim and MINDS president Tan Sri Augustine SH Ong.
BRIGHT ideas converged at the International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition (Itex) 2017 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
The annual event returned for the 28th year with the goal of bridging gaps between scientific innovation and the society, as well as driving commercialisation of creative inventions.
Themed “Inventing for a Better World’”, the three-day exhibition attracted participation from 24 countries and over 1,000 inventions by researchers from higher learning institutions as well as individuals, corporate companies and aspiring young inventors.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Malaysian Invention and Design Society (Minds) president Tan Sri Augustine S.H. Ong said this year’s event centred on commercialisation and entrepreneurship.
“This event recognises the efforts of participants who have spent days and nights in labs, garages and workspaces to bring their inventions to life at Itex.
“In all these works we see the outcome of creativity; we are now at the stage of helping to make these product ideas marketable,” said Ong.
He said the number of events that took place were designed to help ideas reach marketability; among them were talks on running startups, patent proofing of inventions, branding and design, as well as funding.
Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Abu Bakar Mohamad Diah officiated at the ceremony.
“I’ve been following the progress of Itex over the past 15 years of which I was a participant, patron and now an official.
“I can say we are not worried about our culture of research, creativity and innovation – they are evident as seen in the exhibition,” he noted.
He also highlighted small and medium enterprises’ (SMEs) efforts in bringing groundbreaking advancements to the market, which had become a crucial part of Malaysia’s economic strength.
“The Malaysian government is resolute in its commitment to help propel SMEs to greater heights.
“As indicated in Budget 2017, through several focus action areas, we will see invigorations with a total of RM200mil from the Working Capital Guarantee Scheme Fund specifically allocated for new startups,” said Dr Abu Bakar.
“To stimulate further investment in high technology startups, a new pass category named the Foreign Knowledge Tech Entrepreneurs has been introduced to help startups grow rapidly.”
He was delighted that Itex 2017 was aligned to help fulfil the national agenda with a new exhibition installation called the Startups Showcase.
Itex also showcased hundreds of inventions by young minds in the arch event of World Young Investors Exhibition that also ran the Asian Young Inventors Exhibition and Malaysian Young Investors Exhibition shows concurrently.
An Arts and Creativity Exhibition (Ace) was also organised by Minds simultaneously.
In Ace’s third time running, the showcase encouraged creative imagination in both written works and drawing.
The opening ceremony also saw an MoU signing between Minds and Multimedia University, which will work together by providing short courses and training programmes, enhancement of entrepreneur development, student industrial training placement and collaborative research.
The exhibition, organised by Minds and managed by C.I.S Network Sdn Bhd, ends tomorrow.
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