CASABLANCA, Morocco, Dec 4 (Bernama) --  Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) have worked closely with University Hassan 1^st (UH1), Settat, Casablanca, Morocco for a four-day Commercialisation Ecosystem Development Workshop for Practitioners from Morocco which concluded on 2 December 2016. The workshop has gained interest from 50 participants mainly Policymakers, Governments Officials, Commercialisation Professionals, Technology Transfer/Licensing Officers, Researchers and Academia, Fund and Venture Capital Managers, Business Communities and Entrepreneurs from Morocco.
 
This programme had also witnessed a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between MTDC with University Hassan 1st, Settat, Casablanca, Morocco during the opening ceremony on 28 November. Among the content of the MoU is for MTDC to share its expertise and knowledge in commercialisation of R&D and entrepreneurship during the four-day workshop. The MoU signing were witnessed by Mr. Ahmed Nejmeddine, President of University Hassan 1st, Settat, Casablanca, Morocco and His Excellency Dato’ Jamal Hassan, Ambassador of Malaysia, Embassy to Morocco.
 
Dato’ Jamal Hassan said, the collaboration between MTDC and University Hassan 1^st are significant to both countries as it supports the economy and facilitates transfer of knowledge of both countries.

He added that this MoU also signifies the agreement of both parties to organise training and workshops on UH1 classes of innovation, entrepreneurial development and commercialisation of R&D and to support the activities of “Cité de la Recherche et de l’Innovation de Settat.
 
This four-day workshop is a platform for knowledge and experience in sharing the fields of technology commercialization process, IP commercialization, entrepreneurship development, market validation, business model and funding for technology commercialization by Malaysian experts represented by MTDC and its fund recipient companies and Morrocon experts from eight of its local Universities.
 
Cell Tissue Technology Sdn Bhd, one of MTDC’s fund recipient companies also attended this workshop as a speaker for knowledge sharing.
 
About MTDC

MTDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional Berhad and has been the key player in commercialisation and management of government funding since the 7th Malaysia Plan. 

The company was set-up in 1992 to promote the adoption of technologies by local companies via commercialisation of local R&D or acquisition of foreign technologies. Since then, MTDC has been a key player in commercialisation and management of Government funds. Currently, MTDC manages six funds, specifically the Commercialisation of R&D Fund (CRDF), Technology Acquisition Fund (TAF), Halal Development Fund (Halal Fund), Business Start-Up Fund (BSF), Business Growth Fund (BGF) and Business Expansion Fund (BEF).

Besides fund management, MTDC also provides an integrated support services for technopreneurs which includes advisory services such as mentoring, soft-landing, branding, fund raising, international collaboration and networking. MTDC’s commercialisation ecosystem has provided funding and assistance to over 500 technology-based companies that are involved in a wide range of activities ranging from the agricultural sector to ICT.

In the 9th Malaysia Plan (9MP) and 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP) alone, companies that were recipients of MTDC’s Commercialisation of Research and Development Fund (CRDF) and Technology Acquisition Fund (TAF) generated a total of RM1.974 billion in sales and contributed towards the creation of 5,261 new jobs and a total of 465 Intellectual Property Rights were filed.

About Malaysian Technical Corporation Programme (MTCP)

The Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) was first initiated at the First Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Sydney in February 1978. It was officially launched on 7 September 1980 at the Commonwealth Heads of State Meeting in New Delhi, India, to signify Malaysia’s commitment to South-South Cooperation, in particular Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC).

In line with the spirit of South-South Cooperation, Malaysia through MTCP shares its development experiences and expertise with other developing countries. The MTCP was first formulated based on the belief that the development of a country depends on the quality of its human resources. The programme forms part of the commitment of the Malaysian Government towards the promotion of technical cooperation among developing countries, strengthening of regional and sub-regional cooperation, as well as nurturing collective self-reliance among developing countries.
 
The MTCP emphasises the development of human resources through the provision of training in various areas which are essential for a country’s development such as public administration, good governance, health services, education, sustainable development, agriculture, poverty alleviation, investment promotion, ICT and banking. More than 100 MTCP Programmes offered by more than 79 MTCP Training institutions, many of which are centres of excellence for training. Since its launching, more than 29,000 participants from 141 countries have benefited from the various programmes offered under the MTCP.
 
The MTCP has been managed by the Economic Planning Unit, Prime Minister’s Department since its inception. In a move to further enable MTCP to spread its wings wider and stronger, the Malaysian Government has decided to transfer the MTCP to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1 January 2010. It is envisaged that emplacing it under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs could provide the synergy and support it requires in line with Malaysia’s foreign policy. As the focal point for the MTCP, Wisma Putra is responsible to formulate policies, fund, coordinate, monitor and evaluate the MTCP programmes.

SOURCE : Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) 

FOR MORE INFORMATION,PLEASE CONTACT:
Name : Alvirah Mohd Natt
Tel :017 212 2802
Email : alvirah@mtdc.com.my

Name : Nur Shazwani Roslan
Tel : 017 2941169
Email : shazwani@mtdc.com.my

--BERNAMA