Ts. Dr. Rozzeta Dolah, a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence (FAI), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), has been named an Advance 2024 awardee in the Leaders in Innovation Fellowships (LIF) programme, organized by the UK Royal Academy of Engineering (UKRAEng). This 7-month fellowship program beginning January to July 2024 is a fully funded program under the UK Government’s Department of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is a bespoke, individual programme of relationship-building, research-innovation-commercialization and business growth activities designed to help the awardees grow their business responsibly and sustainably, expand their networks into the United Kingdom (UK), and further develop their leadership skills.
Dr. Rozzeta was invited to the UK residential in London and Cambridge for an intensive training course on innovation and build valuable networks in the UK with other businesses, potential customers, and innovation collaborations. Dr. Rozzeta Dolah was one of the award recipients among 20 other awardees from other countries around the world – Türkiye, Colombia, Nigeria, South Africa, Mexico, Kenya, Uganda, India, Vietnam and Indonesia.
Her winning is due to her groundbreaking invention, MIZU 水 Paint, a heat barrier and carbon adsorbent paint, pushing the boundaries of coating innovation in combating climate change. MIZU Paint employs carbon dioxide (CO2) adsorption to eliminate and remove CO2 in the atmosphere, and cooling the temperature of a room when applied to the wall as paint. The environmental impact is significant; reducing the presence of CO2 emissions, improving the quality of life users, offering better health and wellness and supporting government green policies and cooperation thus emphasized as Environmental, Social and Governance – ESG. MIZU Paint RDC&I (Research – Development – Commercialization – Innovation) aligns with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and specifically SDG7: Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG13: Climate Action, and SDG17: Partnerships for the Goals. ESG
The Royal Academy of Engineering’s international entrepreneurship programmes LIF and Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation (APEI) support talented entrepreneurs from around the globe to turn engineering innovations into impactful, sustainable businesses. Advance 2024 takes exceptional entrepreneurs through rapid scale up and international growth from Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 7 with an impact on the SDGs and have the potential to scale-up globally.
It is a bespoke programme of relationship-building and business skills training for engineering and deep tech entrepreneurs who are ready to scale. The innovators are involved in six months of online training and mentoring before spending the remaining months in the UK.
The 2024 cohort is comprised of 20 innovators from 12 countries, divided into two themes: Inclusive Economies and MedTech (Medical Technologies).
It provides the award recipients from each country with bespoke training, mentoring and networking opportunities, both internationally and in the UK. It aims to help participants grow their businesses, expand their networks into the UK, and further develop their leadership skills.
The themes of this year’s LIF Advance are ‘Technologies that support inclusive societies and Medical Technologies’.
There are three main objectives in Advance 2024; that are to support the best of LIF alumni worldwide to achieve their full commercial potential and equip them to grow their business sustainably and responsibly, to provide a landing opportunity into the UK innovation ecosystem for participants who might wish to establish a business in the UK or partner with relevant UK organisations and to support LIF Advance participants to take on leadership roles in the LIF Community and in their regional and national innovation ecosystems.
UNITED KINGDOM PRE-RESIDENTIAL SUPPORT
The UK Residential represents the cumulative activity of the programme. Prior to the residential, participants will take part in several activities aimed at preparing them to take full advantage of opportunities during the Residential. The UK Residential is a chance for the Advance participants to build networks and contacts within the UK, as well as taking part in advance training on their business plans and sustainable future goals. The Residential took place in London, Cambridge, and selected centres of innovation and universities across the UK.
Advance 2024 is a 7-months fellowship consists of three phases. Phase 1 held in January 2024 covers on On Boarding and Business Bootcamp to establish a relationship with the assigned lead mentor and concierge to support awardees throughout the program and to understand the value of building a diverse and inclusive team. Phase 1 equips participants with essential soft skills, such as enhancing self-awareness to boost personal performance and building confidence to take a proactive approach in business development. Relationships among Advance 2024 participants are fostered to strengthen the development of a robust peer support network.
Phase 2, taking place from February to June 2024, focuses on refining the business model through in-depth sessions. These include identifying key barriers to commercial growth and development, as well as exploring potential solutions to overcome them. Phase 2 emphasized the important of self-confidence to develop and deliver professional, differentiated, and compelling pitches to a range of stakeholders. Understanding of current innovation towards SDG and ESG and the ability to articulate the commercialization story is emphasized.
Phase 3 is UK Residential held in June to July 2024 designed to develop and engage with a network of contacts in the UK and to provide advice, support, collaboration and partnering opportunities for the scaling up. Phase 3 aims to develop and engage with a network of contacts in the UK and able to provide advice, support, collaboration and partnering opportunities for the commercialization and businesses. This phase has developed the metrics to measure outcomes and impact.
The lead mentor, Leanne Case, collaborated closely with Dr. Rozzeta Dolah, supported by two board advisors from St John’s Innovation Centre in Cambridge (SJICL), Jaime Aguilera Garcia and Isabel Kelly. Additionally, Simone Robinson acted as a concierge, managing the industry engagement schedule and arrangements.
The Royal Academy of Engineering is harnessing the power of engineering to build a sustainable society and an inclusive economy that works for all awardees. In collaboration with our Fellows and partners, UKRAEng is growing talent and developing skills for the future, driving innovation and building global partnerships, and influencing policy and engaging the public. 1 mentor, 2 advisors and 1 concierge were allocated for each 20 awardees to ease the industry engagement arrangement and meetings in the UK .
Although the UK Residential is the last formal event in the Advance programme, participants remain members of the LIF Alumni Community and can participate in future formal and informal support programmes through the Community.
One of the significant contents in Advance 2024 is Global Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP) provided by The UK Department For Business And Trade (DBT). It is emphasized on raising Finance, securing R&D and Grants, ways to move the commercialization and innovation to the UK, Legal & Accounting, networking with all distinguished guests and establishing a UK presence and how to export to the UK.
The Fireside Chat with Valeria Deik, Co-Founder of Azurian Health, was truly inspiring. She shared her personal journey and real experiences, offering participants valuable insights into how her life as a global entrepreneur shaped her into a successful technopreneur.
One of the privileges of being accepted into Advance 2024 is the offer of a Global Talent Visa (GTV) status. All 20 Advance 2024 innovators are being offered for GTV, which allows them to work in the UK with greater flexibility and fewer restrictions and costs compared to other immigration categories.
GTV is a recognition that research and innovation is global, which allows the innovator to travel anywhere in the world for research purposes without it counting towards the maximum time period for absences from the UK if to apply for settlement.
GTV comes with considerable advantages to establish a long-term connection to the UK. This includes a fast-track to settlement after three years for the main visa holder and (if applicable) the opportunity for close family members to work in the UK.
The highlight of the fellowship programme in London was the three pitches done in the UKRAEng buildings in front of the investors, media and customers.
Prior to the final pitch day, valuable learning experience was gained from Prof. Gianluca Memoli the chief executive officer (CEO) of Metasonixx in Sussex University, Brighton who emphasized on creating a spin-out company initiated from his research. Other esteemed speakers were Dr. Tom Buckley who spoke on Business Internationalisation, entry modes, business ethics and decision making and Berta Santos, the Founder of Social Impact Newbie shared her successful story on giving an impact for a good business, values and examples of engineering business creating social impact.
The media and investors pitch was tremendously interactive and carried out elegantly by all esteemed judges in the UK.
In the evening, a showcasing event was carried out with all participants exhibited the innovation product and networking with all interested stakeholders. Business negotiation was one of the main impacts from the session to penetrate UK market and industries.
A memorable and exquisite dinner was hosted in grand style at Queen’s College, Cambridge University.
Official meeting with industry counterparts in the UK were made in two remarkable days as the last content of this program. This session was arranged intrinsically by the Royal Academy and SJICL mentors, board advisors, and concierge to ensure a smooth arrangement for all meetings.
Industries and companies involved in Day 1 were Transport for London (TFL), The Crown Estate: next discussion with the Crown Estate engineers will be done in Malaysia. The Crown Estate is a collection of lands and holdings in the United Kingdom belonging to the British Monarch as a corporation sole, making it “the sovereign’s public estate”, which is neither government property nor part of the monarch’s private estate and the day ends with Building Centre visit with John Bonning the Commercial Director.
On Day 2, the meeting was held together with Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) in Birmingham, followed by Aston University at the Department of Civil Engineering. TfWM visit was excellent. TfWM collaboration with Aston University and Colas are instrumental in ensuring the validation and feasibility study for the road and highway technology towards decarbonizing roads and CO2 elimination. Due consideration of climate risks, TfWM interdependencies and potential adaptation measures will build the transport network’s resilience against the effects of climate change. To effectively integrate environmental considerations into Network Resilience, three key aspects are prioritized. The first is decarbonization, focusing on reducing carbon intensity through targeted projects and programs. The second emphasizes addressing environmental impacts on the region’s natural and built environments. Finally, climate adaptation is highlighted to prepare for and mitigate the effects of a changing climate, ensuring resilience in the face of environmental challenges. These efforts align closely with UTM’s innovations, which are dedicated to advancing sustainable solutions and tackling environmental issues through cutting-edge research and technology.
The final visit was held with Quantum Group in Rainham, Essex. The MIZU Paint commercialization in the UK will be guided including its licensing and certification. They were really impressed by the nano coating technology of MIZU Paint, especially on the transparent coating and its high potential for the heat pump coating system with the Daikin products. Quantum Group will be based in Bali, Indonesia too, thus ease our communication and expedite the process with us in Kuala Lumpur. Grants and other support have been discussed to execute the mission in Malaysia to global.
In summary, this Advance 2024 Programme – LIF ADVANCE 2024 UK RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIALIZATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING AND MENTORING WITH LEADERSHIP SKILLS – has been instrumental and an excellent platform for a researcher to become a successful technopreneur in elevating the innovation. Based on envision UTM 2025, Advance 2024 is aligned with the five Strategic Thrust (ST1 – ST5) and eight Strategic Priorities (S1 – S8) comprises of making UTM a world class holistic talents as the frontier of education and research, resilient performance, inculcating the unique niche and specialisation for long term sustainability, transformative life experience through knowledge empowerment and trust and finally making UTM towards global eminence as Malaysia Top Research University in 2025. The Advance 2024 Programme clearly supports the ecosystem of RDC&I, driving the advancement of UTM while also strengthening Malaysia-UK engagement.
The cultivation of robust mentoring and leadership skills has proven to be the cornerstone of innovation expansion and innovative triumphs. By fostering a culture of growth, collaboration, and empowerment, this Advance 2024 programme has unlocked a wealth of potential in our organization. These skills have not only propelled us forward but have also positioned us as industry leaders made in UTM, ready to embrace future challenges and opportunities with confidence and determination.
Deepest gratitude to the UKRAEng in London and SJICL in Cambridge for the unwavering support, guidance, and expertise in organizing Advance 2024 Programme from January – July 2024. Thank you UKRAEng and SJICL for providing the conducive environment and resources for the seven months that made this endeavour possible.
The mentorship has been instrumental in this career journey. Huge appreciation to LIF programme, championed by Malaysia Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) and Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) for initiating LIF as the introduction prior to Advance 2024.
As an alumnus of LIF 2020 and Advance 2024, it has been a significant impact in Dr. Rozzeta’s research and development area towards a successful commercialization and innovation.
An immense gratitude to the FAI and UTM for the unwavering support and belief for providing the necessary impetus.
Sincere appreciation goes to Naglus Industries Sdn. Bhd. the UTM Spin-off company founded by Dr. Rozzeta Dolah for the valuable opportunities, collaborations and contributions that bridged Dr. Rozzeta and UTM to the UK stakeholders.
“What is the calculus of innovation?
The calculus of innovation is really quite simple: Knowledge drives Innovation, Innovation drives Productivity, Productivity drives Economic Growth.”
William Brody (born 1944), Scientist
Academy of Engineering, Prince Philip House, 3 Carlton House Terrace London, UK