KUCHING: Sarawak will develop a bioeconomy and biotechnology roadmap as it moves towards sustainability and innovation, says Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg.
The Sarawak Premier said the 10-year roadmap up to 2035 will be drawn up by the Sarawak Research and Development Council (SRDC) and BioVerde Technologies Sdn Bhd, which have formed a strategic partnership for the purpose.
"This initiative supports SRDC's mandate to strengthen research, development, innovation and commercialisation while advancing Sarawak's transition towards a sustainable, innovation-driven and knowledge-based bioeconomy," he said when opening the Sarawak SHINE (science, health, innovation and engineering) international conference here on Thursday (Sept 10).
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Abang Johari said the roadmap will identify opportunities for research, innovation, investment and commercialisation, positioning Sarawak as a leading bioeconomy and biotechnology hub in the region.
He said the initiative was also an important component of SRDC's innovation corridor, which connects research, innovation, talent, industry and investment into an integrated ecosystem to transform ideas into enterprises and long-term value.
Abang Johari said one potential area of research is regenerative medicine, which aims to replace, engineer, or regenerate damaged or diseased cells or tissues to restore normal function.
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He said Sarawak's rich biodiversity may contain raw materials that can be used in this new field.
"I would like experts to study this branch of medical science and I hope you will find solutions to emerging diseases, particularly cancer.
"Biological raw materials can be developed as a platform for regenerative cells. If this can be found in our biodiversity, there is potential for solutions to cancer and other diseases," he said.
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Abang Johari later told reporters that Sarawak welcomed collaboration with international experts to research the state's biodiversity for regenerative medicine.
"In Sarawak, 60% of our landmass is still forest, so we have the raw materials.
"We're making efforts to scale up our talent development so that we can collaborate with international scientists to find ways and means to conduct research on regenerative medicine," he said.
