Kota kinabalu: The Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation (Bioeconomy Corporation) has entered into a strategic collaboration with Invest Sabah Bhd through the Bioeconomy Tour 2025. This partnership aims to bolster Sabah's bioeconomy ecosystem, thereby creating more economic opportunities and sustainable development for the people of the state.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Bioeconomy Corporation's CEO Mohd Khairul Fidzal Abdul Razak highlighted that the collaboration involves coordination with nine related agencies in Sabah. This integrated initiative supports the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation's mission to position Malaysia as a global technology developer by 2030. He noted that the strong participation in the 2024 Sabah Bioeconomy Tour indicates the significant potential of biotechnology and bio-based industries in the state. Mohd Khairul expressed confidence that strategic support from state agencies would bring positive changes driving growth in the sector.
"We focus on assisting national biotechnology companies, particularly in Sabah. Earlier, we launched six bio-based products from local companies. With this programme, we hope to help more local companies develop products with potential for both local and international markets," Mohd Khairul stated after attending the Bioeconomy Tour 2025.
This year, the Bioeconomy Corporation plans to conduct the Bioeconomy Tour programme at six strategic locations, involving over 200 participants nationwide and launching 60 new products or innovations. For the Sabah edition, they will introduce the BioSynergy programme through a strategic partnership with POIC Lahad Datu to boost research, technology transfer, talent development, and support for local enterprises.
Mohd Khairul mentioned that the initiative aims to strengthen expertise and enhance the competitiveness of Bio-based Accelerator (BBA) and BioNexus-status companies in Sabah, which are essential to the bioeconomy ecosystem. "More than 630 companies across Malaysia have recorded approved investments totaling RM8.7 billion up to the second quarter of 2025, underscoring that continuous support for these companies will have a sustainable impact on STI-based economic development in Malaysia," he added.
Invest Sabah CEO Dr Firdaus Suffian expressed confidence that the collaboration with Bioeconomy Corporation would strengthen the local bioeconomy ecosystem and create opportunities for investors, innovative companies, and local communities to actively participate in the bio-based industry's development. "We see this as a strategic platform to support the growth of biotechnology and bio-based industries in Sabah and to increase economic opportunities for the people," he stated.
Firdaus added that Invest Sabah is hopeful that more BBA and BioNexus-status companies can be developed in Sabah. "The active involvement of these companies in the Bioeconomy Tour not only opens opportunities for talent development and innovation commercialization but also contributes significantly to Sabah's and the nation's economic growth," he said. He emphasized that Sabah's potential in bioeconomy, given its biodiversity, is vast and can be sustainably harnessed to produce various high-value products through bio-based technology.