NanoMalaysia Berhad (NMB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Malaysian Rubber Council (MRC) to promote the successful uptake and commercialisation of local Intellectual Properties (IPs) and products developed by local companies related to the rubber industry under the previous National Graphene Action Plan 2020 and fulfil growing demands for the commodity today (Dec 8).
The nanotechnology agency and advanced solutions commercialisation provider under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) entered the agreement to align rubber and other commodities with the National Agricommodity Policy (DAKN) 2021-2030 and the National Nanotechnology Policy & Strategy (DSNN) 2021-2030.
NanoMalaysia Berhad Chief Executive Officer Dr Rezal Khairi Ahmad said: “Malaysia’s rubber industry has gone through numerous cycles of interest under the nation’s economic development plan aiming to inject higher value into the said commodity. The MRC-NMB partnership provides a platform to aggregate rubber innovation intellectual properties first developed under the National Graphene Action Plan 2020 (NGAP 2020) and now continuing through our Graphenovation programme under the 12th Malaysia Plan. The alliance will realise further the multi-billion-ringgit national revenue projection by collaborating with local enterprises through NanoMalaysia’s Venture Builder Model.”
He added, “Importantly, the activation of both supply and value chain from raw materials to high-value nanotechnology enhanced finished products can be planned and executed through NanoMalaysia’s unique Venture Builder investment model to address a global market size for rubber additives of more than USD42 Billion.”
Malaysian Rubber Council (MRC) Chief Executive Officer, Nor Hizwan Ahmad said, “The joint partnership with NanoMalaysia will boost the Malaysian rubber industry by encouraging new technological innovations and high-value creation that will further stimulate the demand for rubber products.”
The Malaysian market demand for rubber products is set to grow with the following announcement of the 12th Malaysia Plan. NanoMalaysia, with its partners, has developed several rubber-related products. For example, under the NGAP2020 initiative, NanoMalaysia Berhad with Bonric Sdn Bhd has developed graphene-infused latex gloves by making them thinner, tear-proof, biodegradable, and less susceptible to Type IV chemical allergy.
This allows extensive application in numerous industries, such as electronic disk drives, semiconductors; avionics; space technology; and even healthcare.
In addition, integrating nanotechnology in rubber gloves will open new lateral commercial opportunities in other and adjacent markets that require improved and different glove performances. These opportunities are poised to generate new high-value jobs and high-technology supply chains in Malaysia.
Other products under NanoMalaysia that uses rubber additives include forklift graphene tires and graphene rubber compound. As of 2022, NanoMalaysia has successfully developed four IPs related to rubber applications.
With this MOU, NanoMalaysia plans to commercialise more IPs together with MRC through available investment funds and also connecting latex supply from smallholders with the hope of achieving a win-win outcome within the quadruple helix ecosystem comprising of government, industry, academia and community.
