Brunei's Local News - Brudirect.com

Bandar Seri Begawan - Strong involvement from government agencies and the private sector is needed to develop local products which are commercially viable in order to compete in the local, regional and international markets, said Institut Teknologi Brunei's (ITB) vice-chancellor yesterday.

"Your contributions towards the development of those products would generate revenues outside the country's non-oil and gas economic sector by commercialising Bruneian-made technological products," Dr Hj Omar Hj Khalid told participants at a seminar on product development and commercialisation.

The seminar at ITB was held as part- of the Creative, Innovative Products and Technological Advancements (Cipta) Award 2009.

He said that it is ITB's hope that local industries would be able to recognise and accept innovations and inventions and to take every opportunity to promote local talents.

The vice-chancellor added that ITB realises the importance of exploring the potential of products to be further promoted and developed, after their interactions with the public and former Cipta participants.

He said: "With strong support and commitment from various agencies, I am optimistic that we will get to see more Bruneian-made technological products available out there in the local and international markets,"

Previous Cipta competitions have attracted a large number of participants, which resulted in creative scientific and technological products inventions in the country.

A few regional and international agencies were interested to further develop and commercialise Bruneianmade products produced in the previous Cipta competitions, he said.

"This would only mean that Bruneian inventions are well-recognised and accepted," he added.

"I am convinced that with the continuous organising of the Cipta competition, we would be able to encourage and produce more talents and inventors in this country," said the vice-chancellor.

The chairperson of Cipta 2009 seminar, Dr Hj Supry Hj Ladi, said that the seminar was an effort and strategy to inspire, encourage and promote the enhancement and development of new products, processes and local technologies in Brunei.

"We do hope that this seminar would not only provide an insight of 'what and how' in designing and developing technological products, hut also instilling creativity and innovation in us," he said.

It is hoped that the knowledge gained from the seminar would facilitate inventors in Brunei to commercialise their products.

The seminar proceeded with a presentation by two invited guest speakers from Malaysia, Associate Professor Dr Hj Mohd Idrus Hj Mohd Masirin, who talked on "Many facets of product development and commercialisation" while local speaker Hj Zupri Hj Kamis presented "Issues and challenges on product development and commercialising in Brunei Darussalam". -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times