Strengthening the linkage between academic research and the business world is vital if we want to move the great ideas to the marketplace, according to national ICT research and development agency, MIMOS. As a strategic agency under MOSTI, MIMOS recognizes universities as sources and repositories of knowledge, innovation and technological advances.

The agency’s MIMOS Prestigious Award (MPA) is back again this year, focusing on connecting Malaysian research universities’ R&D activities with industry expertise so that the research outputs can effectively be translated into economic and social impacts. The initiative builds on MIMOS’ broader commercialization efforts, said the research agency. It highlights MIMOS’ Open Innovation endeavors, throwing the MPA offer with attractive rewards while presenting the business community with commercialization challenges.

Within MIMOS, the MPA is viewed as one of the agency’s corporate responsibility initiatives that must be fulfilled as they work on driving the country’s innovation competitiveness. With the MPA, MIMOS wants to accentuate that postgraduate research is more than just a means of generating and testing a new idea, sharing knowledge and attaining personal growth through a doctorate title.

Emphasis was on linking marketable skill sets and ensuring that the postgraduate research has the maximum impact on the ground. Recipients of the award will be assisted in further steps of executing their idea such as by helping to present their idea through relevant channels, or connect them with parties who can help them advance the idea. The links with the industry can help the researchers move and grow the idea more rapidly.

The MPA comprises an exclusively crafted trophy designed by MIMOS’ award-winning industrial designers; a cash prize and a Certificate of Merit. For further details on MPA2014 contact Hazril Zuberi at hazril.zuberi@mimos.my

MPA2014 Eligibility Requirements
1. Applicants must be a Malaysian citizen at the time of application.
2. Applicants must be a doctoral candidate completing their research for degree conferment in 2014.
3. The doctoral research conducted by the applicants must be aligned with one or more of MIMOS’ technology thrust areas; namely Advanced Analysis & Modelling, Advanced Computing, Information Security, Intelligent Informatics, Knowledge Technology, Microenergy, Microelectronics, Nanoelectronics, Psychometrics and Wireless Communications.
4. The research conducted by the applicants must have a potential for commercialisation in the opinion of the panel of judges.