UUM ONLINE: Universities need to create a conducive environment for researchers to work in so that they will continue to work together in the future on a stronger innovation and commercialization agenda.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Prof. Dr Russayani Ismail said that efforts to promote innovation and commercialization activities are not confined to one party but must be shared by all because the agenda of innovation, commercialization, entrepreneurship development and social involvement has continuity from one level to another.
"Hence, every university has a responsibility to continue to provide support to researchers to produce quality products and services and lead to the concepts of demand-driven, industrial based and real-world problems.
"Not only are the products and services able to meet the demands of end users, but they are also expected to be able to meet the needs of the industry and solve the problems that occur today," she said.
She explained that innovation and commercialisation are seen as significant aspects of a research ecosystem, and innovation, entrepreneurship, and commercialisation further take an organisation to a higher level.
"The findings of the research can highlight the organisation among industry players and stakeholders, in addition to fostering innovative practises among students and staff."
"Thus, the three-day InnoCOL organised by Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) as the secretariat and host of the programme under the supervision of the Higher Education Leadership Academy (AKEPT) focuses on the development of the innovation ecosystem and commercialisation in public and private higher education institutions," she said during the opening ceremony of the Innovation Leadership and Intellectual Property Commercialisation (InnoCoL) Programme Series 1 at Angsana Hall, EDC-UUM, last night.
Through this programme, participants are also exposed to challenges, strategies, and hands-on activities for improving the ecosystem, creating innovative products, and developing spin-off companies.
"UUM is a management university, and even though this university focuses on the field of social sciences, the lecturers are beginning to realise the importance of intellectual property and commercialisation.
"Students and staff at institutions of higher education have innovative and highly competitive capabilities in their respective fields, so it is our job as leaders at IHL to unearth hidden talents and abilities and nurture those talents with various awareness training programmes, hands-on activities, and advisory services on an ongoing basis.
"In line with the national research, research development, and commercialisation agenda, UUM also provides various platforms to complete the research, development, commercialisation, and innovation (R.D.C.I.) ecosystem among staff and students," she said.
She reiterated that UUM has introduced various mediums such as intellectual property awareness programmes produced from research, pre-commercialisation activities such as pitching decks, IP and commercialisation clinics, the creation of pre-commercialisation grants, and the creation and improvement of policies.
Meanwhile, the Director of the Innovation and Commercialisation Centre (ICC) and Head of the InnoCoL Programme, Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr Mohd Faizal Omar expressed his appreciation to AKEPT for their cooperation and trust in UUM to host and organise InnoCoL.
He described the programme as providing exposure to intellectual property management and commercialization to the participants, who came from various public and private universities throughout Malaysia.
PERKUKUH INOVASI DAN PENGKOMERSIALAN
UUM ONLINE: Universiti perlu menyediakan satu ekosistem yang kondusif untuk menyokong penyelidik agar terus diberikan galakan untuk bergerak bersama ke arah agenda inovasi dan pengkomersialan yang lebih mantap di masa hadapan.
Timbalan Naib Canselor (Penyelidikan dan Inovasi), Prof. Dr. Russayani Ismail berkata, usaha memajukan aktiviti inovasi dan pengkomersialan tidak terletak di satu pihak sahaja tetapi perlu dipikul oleh semua warga kerana agenda inovasi, pengkomersialan, pembangunan keusahawanan dan keterlibatan sosial mempunyai kesinambungan dari satu peringkat ke peringkat yang lain.
“Jadi setiap universiti mempunyai tanggungjawab untuk terus memberikan sokongan kepada penyelidik untuk menghasilkan produk dan perkhidmatan yang berkualiti dan menjurus kepada konsep ‘demand-driven’, ‘industrial based’ dan ‘real world problems’.
“Bukan sahaja produk dan perkhidmatan itu tadi dapat memenuhi permintaan pengguna akhir, tapi juga dijangka dapat menepati keperluan industri serta menyelesaikan masalah yang berlaku pada hari ini,” ujarnya.
Jelasnya, inovasi dan pengkomersialan dilihat sebagai aspek yang signifikan dalam sesebuah ekosistem penyelidikan dan inovasi, keusahawanan dan pengkomersialan selanjutnya membawa sesebuah organisasi ke peringkat yang lebih tinggi.
“Di samping memupuk amalan inovatif dalam kalangan pelajar dan staf, hasil penyelidikan yang dijalankan turut dapat menonjolkan organisasi tersebut dalam kalangan pemain industri dan pihak berkepentingan.
“Justeru, InnoCOL selama tiga hari yang dianjurkan oleh Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) sebagai urusetia dan tuan rumah program di bawah seliaan Akademi Kepimpinan Pendidikan Tinggi (AKEPT) menumpukan kepada pembangunan ekosistem inovasi dan pengkomersialan di Institusi Pengajian Tinggi Awam dan Swasta,” ucapnya ketika merasmikan Program Kepimpinan Inovasi Dan Pengkomersialan Harta Intelek (InnoCoL) Siri 1, Dewan Angsana, EDC-UUM, malam tadi.
Menerusi program ini juga peserta didedahkan kepada cabaran, strategi dan aktiviti hands-on dalam meningkatkan ekosistem, produk inovasi dan pembangunan spin-off.
“UUM merupakan universiti pengurusan walaupun universiti ini menjurus dalam bidang sains sosial namun pensyarah mula sedar kepentingan harta intelek dan pengkomersialan.
“Pelajar dan staf di Institusi Pengajian Tinggi mempunyai keupayaan inovatif dan berdaya saing yang tinggi dalam bidang masing-masing jadi tugas kita sebagai pemimpin di IPT untuk mencungkil bakat dan keupayaan yang tersembunyi, memupuk bakat tersebut dengan pelbagai program latihan kesedaran, ‘hands-on’ dan khidmat nasihat secara berterusan.
“Selaras dengan agenda penyelidikan, pembangunan penyelidikan dan pengkomersialan negara, UUM turut menyediakan pelbagai platform bagi melengkapkan ekosistem penyelidikan, pembangunan, pengkomersialan dan inovasi (R.D.C.I.) dalam kalangan staf dan pelajar,” katanya.
Katanya, UUM memperkenalkan pelbagai medium seperti program kesedaran harta intelek yang dihasilkan daripada penyelidikan, aktiviti pra-pengkomersialan seperti ‘pitching deck’, klinik IP dan pengkomersialan, pewujudan geran pra-pengkomersialan, pewujudan dan penambahbaikan polisi.
Sementara itu, Pengarah Pusat Inovasi dan Pengkomersialan (ICC) dan Ketua Program InnoCoL, Prof. Madya Ts. Dr. Mohd Faizal Omar menyatakan penghargaan kepada AKEPT atas kerjasama dan kepercayaan kepada pihak UUM untuk menjadi tuan rumah dan menganjurkan InnoCoL.
Beliau menyifatkan program ini memberikan pendedahan pengurusan harta intelek dan pengkomersialan kepada para peserta yang datang dari pelbagai universiti awam dan swasta seluruh Malaysia.
Sumber berita : UUM Corp Comm