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Malay Mail
5 days ago
- Science
- Malay Mail
Malaysia Techlympics 2025 aims for 1.7 million participants nationwide
PUTRAJAYA, June 6 — Malaysia Techlympics 2025 has officially kicked off, aiming to engage 1.7 million participations nationwide and will extend its reach to international participants in a Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) competition. This enculturation programme organised by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) through the Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation Sdn Bhd (Bioeconomy Corporation), an agency under MOSTI and as strategic partner, focuses to promote interest, instil a strong STI culture among students and youth, and helping to shape a future-ready generation. Open to participants aged seven to 30, the competition will be carried out in phases, starting at the school level, continuing with zonal screenings across six main regions and progressing to the National Finals, which is scheduled to take place in November. The competition format combines practical challenges, real-world technology exposure and experiential learning. The initiative also includes inclusivity, an effort on widening access and equity by reaching underserved communities and remote areas through targeted outreach initiatives. Additionally, teacher training sessions will also be conducted to equip educators with knowledge of current technologies to integrate and can be embedded into daily education to help bridge the educational gap nationwide. The launch of Malaysia Techlympics 2025 marks a pivotal step in nurturing future-ready talent and driving a culture of innovation that will shape the nation's STI landscape for generations to come. Recognising the crucial role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the future economy, Malaysia Techlympics 2025 will introduce more AI-focused competitions and activities, encouraging future generations to explore and develop expertise in this critical field. Additionally, several selected competitions offer opportunities and exposure for students to gain global exposure and represent Malaysia on the world stage. Aligned with national and global priorities through support for the National STI Policy 2021–2030 and the Malaysia MADANI vision, Malaysia Techlympics aims to build high-impact local technological capacity. To learn more about Malaysia Techlympics 2025, visit or follow Malaysia Techlympics on social media @mytechlympics.
The Sun
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
reNIKOLA and Sumitomo sign MoU to collaborate on bioenergy projects in Malaysia, Indonesia
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's renewable energy company reNIKOLA Holdings Sdn Bhd and Sumitomo Corporation have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly develop a portfolio of large-scale bioenergy projects in Malaysia and Indonesia. The strategic partnership signed at the Malaysia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka in Kansai, Japan, marks a significant step forward in advancing the region's clean energy transition. The collaboration will focus on transforming palm oil production residues into advanced renewable fuels, with an emphasis on developing biomethane and low-carbon alternatives such as liquefied biomethane, biomethanol and other related derivatives. The initiative aims to strengthen the region's energy resilience by converting palm oil waste into sustainable fuel, while driving the decarbonisation of the palm oil industry. The collaboration is poised to accelerate the transition of Malaysia and Indonesia, the world's largest palm oil producers, towards low-carbon economies. The sustainable development driven by this partnership is expected to build a next-generation business that contributes to a carbon-neutral society by establishing a sustainable energy cycle and advancing global decarbonisation. The managing director of reNIKOLA, Boumhidi Abdelali, said the collaboration with Sumitomo represents a significant milestone in propelling the growth of bioenergy across the region. 'reNIKOLA is honoured to be at the forefront of this initiative, and we are grateful for our partners and stakeholders who share our commitment and passion for realising it. We are confident that this partnership will be the bedrock of a cleaner and more sustainable future in Malaysia and Indonesia, while raising the benchmark for sustainability within the palm oil industry,' he said. The MoU was signed by Abdelali and Takechi Muramatsu, head of Indonesia Energy Solution Unit No. 2 of Sumitomo. The ceremony was witnessed by Malaysian Ministry of Science and Technology (Mosti) secretary-general Datuk Seri Hasnol Zam Zam Ahmad. 'We are also thankful to Bioeconomy Corporation for their unwavering support and recognition for our technology and expertise. 'To date, we have registered our company in Bioeconomy Corporation's bio-based accelerator programme, which aims to infuse science, technology, and strategic investments into our bioenergy business. We are also in the process of obtaining Bio-Nexus Status for reNIKOLA.' Muramatsu said that by combining Sumitomo's expertise and resources, the company aims to set new standards for innovation, environmental responsibility, and low-carbon energy solutions in the region while driving Asia's clean energy transition. reNIKOLA, with its strategic shareholder Power, is scaling its renewable energy portfolio, targeting the development of more than 40 projects over the next three years, with primary focus on sustainable fuels. Power group president Dr Harald Link said this MoU marks a pivotal entry point for the group into the bioenergy sector – a bold step aligned with its commitment to sustainability and innovation. 'It reflects our vision of Empowering the World Compassionately, by creating cleaner energy solutions for a better tomorrow,' he said.
Malay Mail
02-05-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
Healing people, healing the planet: Bioeconomy at the heart of Malaysia's sustainable healthcare — Mohd Khairul Fidzal Abdul Razak
MAY 2 — Malaysia's healthcare system is evolving — not just to heal people, but to heal the planet. A clear reflection of this shift is the launch of a biodegradable products pilot project by the Ministry of Health (MoH) at the Green Healthcare Facilities Conference 2025 on April 28, marking a key step towards a more sustainable healthcare future. This pilot initiative is the result of a collaboration between MoH and Free The Seed Sdn Bhd — a BioNexus Status company nurtured by the Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation (Bioeconomy Corporation) — to supply biodegradable patient meal trays in selected hospitals, with plans for nationwide rollout. MoH's leadership in promoting sustainability and spearheading a transformational shift towards a carbon-neutral healthcare system deserves strong recognition. This initiative underscores MoH's firm commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, ensuring healthcare not only heals people but also contributes to a climate-resilient future. Why does this matter? Since 2022, clinical trials with MoH have shown that biodegradable items are safer for the environment and more cost-efficient than steel and plastic utensils, which require water-intensive cleaning and sterilisation. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data reinforces the case: biodegradable items emit only 91.2 kg of CO₂ compared to 6,400 kg for steel and 2,211 kg for plastic utensils. MoH's leadership in promoting sustainability and spearheading a transformational shift towards a carbon-neutral healthcare system deserves strong recognition. — Picture via Unsplash/Andriyko Podilnyk In terms of deforestation, biodegradable items cause negligible impact — about four trees lost — versus 3,110 for steel and 17,000 for plastic utensils. Equally important is the social impact. Over 10 years, this initiative generates RM156,800 in additional income for B40 farmers in Gurun, Kedah who supply rice straw waste — repurposed by Free The Seed through patented biotechnology into biodegradable products that naturally decompose. By becoming key partners in the supply chain, farmers also help prevent open burning and landfill disposal of agricultural waste. This shift aligns closely with the principles of bioeconomy, where biotechnology and bio-based materials are part of a circular system that add value to local industries, reduce dependency on fossil-derived materials, and create additional income for rural livelihoods. It also supports Malaysia Madani, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and the National Biotechnology Policy 2.0, which promotes sustainable bio-based innovation and a low-carbon, circular economy. Bioeconomy Corporation is proud to support this transformation. As the lead agency advancing Malaysia's bioeconomy, it works closely with government bodies, researchers, companies, and local communities to nurture the ecosystem. It helps identify promising technologies, accelerate regulatory pathways, and enable partnerships that bring bio-based innovation into mainstream use — just like the collaboration between Free The Seed, MoH, and the farmers. But this is just the beginning. There are many more opportunities to bring sustainability into the healthcare value chain: biodegradable packaging for pharmaceuticals, plant-based disinfectants, enzyme-based cleaning products, and bio-based hospital textiles. The potential is enormous and Malaysia has the expertise, biodiversity, and industry players to lead the region in sustainable healthcare solutions. And Bioeconomy Corporation is ready to lead this charge. Together, we can reimagine healthcare as not only a system that cures, but one that also cares — for people and the planet. * Mohd Khairul Fidzal Abdul Razak is the Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation (Bioeconomy Corporation) ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
