MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 39 dfautomation.com Dr. Yeong Che Fai Chairman and Co-founder DF Automation & Robotics Sdn. Bhd. All the students and the lecturers said that I’m crazy! A lecturer should teach. Not do business Many students have been amazed to discover that their lecturer, Dr Yeong, is also an entrepreneur in robotics and automation. The lecturer says that it was in fact his years in London as a PhD student that nurtured his entrepreneurial spirit. While at Imperial College, researching robots for rehabilitation, Yeong found that he needed to think creatively just to survive as a student, which involved purchasing a bicycle, as well as reviewing movies to make extra money. Yeong was also intrigued by the British students. They all seemed to be full of questions and energy. Many of them went straight from completing their studies to setting up their own small businesses. Returning to lecture in Malaysia, Dr Yeong was keen to inspire his own students. Would they consider setting up their own enterprise? Ironically, it was a pair of students from his preLondon days that approached him with an idea they had been working on. They were Ricky Yap and Tan Ping Hua, and the three of them launched together DF Automation & Robotics Sdn. Bhd. in 2012. Of course, they were all mechatronics engineers, not business people. The journey therefore was not easy. Some costly mistakes were made, and at the time it was hard to gain much LIVING THE DREAM, SO THAT OTHERS MAY DREAM
40 30 TECHNO DREAMS interest in robotics and automation. In fact, many foreign companies had written off South East Asia for automation, saying that the region’s low labour costs made robotics too expensive as an alternative. However, as with many businesses, it was the outbreak of COVID-19 that changed everything. Once the initial lockdown went beyond two weeks, Dr Yeong and his partners knew they had to think quickly and creatively. It was a realisation of the challenges faced by hospitals at this time that sparked an idea. With the strain on doctors and nurses increasing, and the closure of borders limiting any provision of robots from abroad, an urgent meeting was organised by MTDC, bringing together players in the Malaysian robotics field with the Minister of Health (MOH) and the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI). DF Automation had been in communication with MTDC before the pandemic, but now the focus was changed, as together they sought to provide support to the hospitals at this critical time. As MTDC supported DF Automation’s delivery of MCK19 robots to the hospitals, Dr Yeong’s company was thrust into the spotlight, increasing their credibility and their contacts. They may have returned to the industrial world post-pandemic, but DF Automation’s involvement has enabled hospitals to become more comfortable with the use of robots. My dream is really to motivate students indirectly, so that they say, ’Ah yeah! I want to open a company like Dr Yeong! For Dr Yeong and his partners it is certainly a new world, one in which they now have recognition and a strong track record. And, this lecturer certainly has a great story to share with any aspiring student. MTDC’s relationship with DF Automation & Robotics Sdn. Bhd. certainly took off during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, since that time, DF Automation has benefited greatly from the continuing support given to them by MTDC. With all three partners having backgrounds in mechatronics engineering, they have found it invaluable to receive guidance in market access and general networking strategy, as well as the implementation of good governance and due diligence. Dr Yeong speaks of his gratitude to MTDC for the insights that he and his partners have received on issues that they would never have considered previously, which in turn enables them to take the necessary steps to move from SME towards corporate status.
MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 41 TECHNOLOGY FOCUS The initials in DF Automation & Robotics Sdn. Bhd. refer to the company’s focus on ‘design and manufacture’. They specialise in the provision of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) and Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV) to enable companies to autonomously move material from one point to another, thus, reducing labour reliance and improving productivity. They service multiple industries spanning electronic manufacturing, semiconductor, automotive, food and beverage, and warehousing. Their robots are crucial in automating intralogistic material handling, which help customers to reduce labour reliance, increase productivity and optimise operating costs. One of DF Automation’s key technologies is their Navigation Wizard (NavWiz). The company took the brave step of dedicating six months to research and development in order to create NavWiz, but it has proven to be a valuable investment of their time and energy. NavWiz is a simplified navigation software that is equipped with smart manufacturing capabilities. NavWiz has greatly eased the task of robot programming by reducing the typically complex processes into three simple steps. The system initially maps a route for the robots that is bespoke to the layout and needs of the client. Then, with DF Automation constantly updating their systems with the latest technology, their robots connect with the client’s in-house system. MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 41 MORE THAN CLIENTS AROUND THE 50 WORLD OWNING OVER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 17• NavWiz • ZALPHA, TITAN, SUKI & etc BRANCHES • SKUDAI, JOHOR (HQ) • PETALING JAYA, SELANGOR • BAYAN LEPAS, PENANG 4 • PUNE, INDIA MEXICO IRELAND INDIA THAILAND VIETNAM PHILIPPINES MALAYSIA INDONESIA MALTA SOCIAL PRESENCE OVER FOLLOWERS,CONNECTIONS, 3000 SUBSCRIBERS 1000 REACH,VIEWS PER MONTH MCK19 ZALPHA with SUKI ROBOTIC ARM 11 CO-FOUNDERS TEAM MEMBERS 80 YEARS IN BUSINESS AUTOMATION & FROM TO ROBOTICS 40% INTERNATIONAL LOCAL 60% GLOBAL MARKET COUNTRIES 10 • 2022 - IET MALAYSIA GOLD INDUSTRY EXCELLENCE AWARD 2022 • 2022 - MTDC TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE AWARD RECOGNITION • 2021 - EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE IN THE ‘UPWARD • 2020 - BEST INNOVATION SILVER AWARD, THE STAR OUTSTANDING BUSINESS AWARD (SOBA) • 2018 - PLATINUM AWARD FOR BEST INNOVATION, THE STAR OUTSTANDING BUSINESS AWARD (SOBA) • 2018 – RAPID GROWTH OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, IN MEETING INDUSTRY REQUIREMENTS, MPC • 2018 - DESIGNER, GOOD DESIGN AWARD JAPAN • 2017 - BEST INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION, 17TH APICTA AWARDS • 2017 - FROST & SULLIVAN AWARD ACHIEVEMENTS MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 41
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MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 43 Khairil Effendy founded Nexagate in 2010, at only 30 years of age. In fact, he only thought of becoming an entrepreneur a few months before he founded the company. It was while working in the IT industry, with companies such as TM, Shell IT, and HP, that Khairil recognised the shortage of local IT providers in Malaysia with deep, high-quality expertise. Khairil saw a niche and went for it. However, Nexagate needed a client; essential to any start-up. For Khairil, this was to be a small manufacturing firm in Kota Damansara, who simply engaged Nexagate to supply them with an antivirus software. The retail price was known to be around RM100, but Khairil knew how to get it for RM90. It was only a slim margin of RM10, but for Khairil this was a start. He believed that if he won the trust of this client, then they would be likely to order more from Nexagate. He was right. The client went on to order a server, firewall and door access controller. The value still wasn’t big, but Nexagate now had a client, and Khairil had more confidence. It was not long before until Nexagate started to gain more clients, and amongst those were some larger entities, such as HP, KTM, T-System, and BSN. I was fortunate to be in the right industry, with the right companies, at the right time nexagate.com Khairil Effendy Ahmad Dhman Huri Managing Director and Founder Nexagate Sdn. Bhd. THE EXTRA MILE TO SEE THE DREAM
44 30 TECHNO DREAMS Khairil believes that it was his emphasis on providing high quality services to those early customers that brought Nexagate more opportunities; due to word of mouth and the spread of positive referrals. Of course, gaining clients is only one essential in growing a company. Another challenge is attaining and retaining the right people. With cybersecurity talent being in such high demand, Khairil knew that they were competing with the multi-nationals. However, despite their small budget, Nexagate managed to attract and keep hold of a quality team and this was by focusing on two things; the ‘Big Why’, and company culture. As well as ensuring that everyone understands what Nexagate is about, why they are together doing what they do, Khairil says that Nexagate is “obsessed on having a great culture”. A good company culture, Khairil believes, must extend right through the ecosystem, and it is shown in genuine gestures, especially those that are given with nothing expected in return. There are many companies that simply sell products, but there are fewer who provide a great service. Adding these extras was an early distinctive feature of Nexagate, and so they continue, their aim being to always provide a high quality service to the IT industry. Nexagate secured Business Growth Fund (BGF) from MTDC in 2019, and their all-round support has helped Nexagate see sustainable growth ever since. Not only has Nexagate’s local presence been strengthened, but they have seen new international market opportunities open up across ASEAN. As well as expanding their sales and marketing, and strengthening the delivery of their cybersecurity services, the investment from MTDC has most notably enabled Nexagate to set up the team they needed in order to develop their Nexa Security Intel (NSI). The development of NSI has allowed Nexagate to scale up their business even further, while maintaining their high level of service, even as they have expanded out to the wider Asia Pacific region. Always deliver value. Clients will always choose a partner that provides the most value
MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 45 CO-FOUNDERS FROM TO 2021 2022 202 SINGAPORE MALAYSIA LAOS INDONESIA BRUNEI PHILIPPINES TECHNOLOGY FOCUS As one of Malaysia’s leading Cybersecurity Solution providers, Nexagate’s vision is “to ensure that everyone is safe in cyberspace”. It is this vision that inspires them to make continuous improvements, seeking to be a key contributor to Malaysia’s nation building initiatives. Established in 2010, Nexagate Sdn. Bhd. has delivered trusted security solutions to more than 400 organisations across ASEAN. They are one of the very few providers in the region with a complete range of cybersecurity services that include Security Risk Compliance, Offensive Security Assessments and Managed Security Services, all backed up by their round-the-clock Cyber Fusion Center. Their services are certified with ISMS ISO 27001 and are delivered to their users through a seamless digital experience. This is thanks to their own award-winning, Nexa Security Intel (NSI), a Unified Security Management Platform. Over the years, Nexagate has been the proud recipient of many awards, which include the following: 2017 - APAC CIO Outlook: Top APAC Cyber Security Company 2020 - Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) CYBER 100 innovation Challenge: Top 3 Winners (Cohort 1-Solution : Nexa Security Intel ) 2021 - Singapore Business Review’s Malaysia Technology Excellence Award: Winner in Cybersecurity - Best Computer Software MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 45
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MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 47 We focused on the niche and the things that we are good at, which is twisting codes and running it on our infra twistcode.com Nurazam Malim Sidik Malim Chief Executive Officer Twistcode Technologies Sdn. Bhd. “What is your dream?” is the question that Nurazam Malim Sidik Malim, CEO of Twistcode Technologies Sdn. Bhd., asks every potential employee. He says that if their answer shows tenacity and grit, then he is likely to hire them. Born in Kuching and growing up in Miri, Nurazam’s dream was always to work with computers. Although his father bought him a Commodore 64, which provided a simple start to coding, he was unable to take his learning further. His school’s computer class was full. Then a telegram arrived from JPA for the Rancangan Persediaan Khas Jepun, and this opened the door for him to attend Universiti Malaya. From here he went on to Chiba University in Japan, where he was able to study Electronics and Electrical Engineering. Now surrounded by computers, Nurazam began to dream of forming his own coding company, a dream encouraged by an uncle with whom he had been very close. After graduating, Nurazam decided that climbing up the corporate ladder was not for him. Instead, he set up his own sole-proprietorship and began supplying imported electronic goods from Japan to oil and gas companies back in Miri. Despite WHAT IS YOUR DREAM?
48 30 TECHNO DREAMS it being good business, Nurazam saw how the world of online marketing was growing. So, he took a risk, and began that coding company he had dreamed of as a young man. Nurazam lived through a decade of uphill struggles; living at times in his office, sleeping in his car and surviving on only RM5 for days at a time. However, all this did not stop him from perfecting the coding for artificial intelligence solutions. In ‘twisting the codes’, he saw how much the computation processes could be accelerated. And thanks to the support of his parents, friends, and those clients who believed in his product, Nurazam was able to keep going. Big Data arrived and Nurazam knew then that he had been on the right path. Twistcode was using the same infrastructure. More and more companies began to recognise his own company’s work as their reputation opened more doors than marketing. It was in 2018 that Twistcode finally hit an “eight digit” revenue and they continue to garner international recognition. After such a journey, it is no wonder that Nurazam looks for those who have managed to hold onto their dreams, despite the twists and turns of life, as he seeks to create, “a maverick team of engineers”. Twistcode received MTDC Business Start Up Fund (BSF) in 2015 to enable it to venture into a range of uncharted areas in Malaysia, such as supercomputing, artificial intelligence in healthcare, oil and gas, and engineering, as well as scientific and manufacturing industries. Nurazam is grateful not only for MTDC’s funding but also for the guidance they provided. “They helped us a lot by promoting us locally and internationally,” he says, “We received valued support at exhibitions as well. The latest was in Dubai for the Arab Healthcare 2019 event. We were the only company that showcased AI’s usage among the 4,000 plus exhibitors.” And in August of 2022, Twistcode signed a significant MoU with a Saudi conglomerate to set-up a supercomputer and to have a jointventure business in Saudi Arabia. If you don’t have the money, it is not the end of the world. Always be good at the basics, in whatever you do
MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 49 ■ 2023 - SHIPPED HIGH-END SERVERS TO SAUDI ARABIA ■ 2022 - USD$200 MILLION MOU WITH AJLAN & BROS ■ 2022 - MALAYSIAN COMMERCIALISATION YEAR AWARD ■ 2019 - 88TH FASTEST SUPERCOMPUTER IN THE WORLD ■ 2019 - MVCA AWARDS (CAGR OF REVENUE) ■ 2016 - NVIDIA INCEPTION RECIPIENT ■ 2012 - CERTIFIED BY SIRIM AS HPC COMPANY 17 FOUNDER TEAM MEMBERS 13 YEARS IN BUSINESS FROM TO POTENTIAL MARKET COUNTRIES 6 SUPERCOMPUTER MALAYSIA UAE SAUDI ARABIA TURKIYE JAPAN INDONESIA 5% INTERNATIONAL LOCAL 95% ACHIEVEMENTS CLIENTELE TECHNOLOGY FOCUS Ranked in the top 100 of the High-Performance Conjugate Gradient, used to determine the top 500 computing systems worldwide, Twistcode Technologies Sdn. Bhd. was the only entity from SE Asia to make the list, putting Malaysia’s name on the map for supercomputing. Founded in 2006, Twistcode® takes its name from the way it “twists codes” to increase the speed of graphics cards. With their strength in supercomputing and AI Solutions for mega industries, the range of industries touched by Twistcode® includes healthcare, finance, oil and gas, safety and scientific engineering. Throughout their journey, the company has researched extensively into balancing the architecture of hardware and software, scrutinising the roadmaps of leading companies so that alignment can be achieved. A key factor has been ensuring that their company is scalable, both in terms of capability and staffing; a common challenge with smaller companies, but Twistcode® have used their size to their advantage, being more nimble and adaptable. Partnering with others is certainly one way for a smaller company to make gains beyond their reach, and in 2016 Twistcode® joined with the Malaysia Genome Institute to see an acceleration of their genomic computational analysis algorithms and the associated processes. Twistcode®’s supercomputer, nicknamed A.D.A.M. has gained global recognition by being ranked ahead of the AI of the United States Air Force in the High-Performance Conjugate Gradients (HPCG). A.D.A.M was the only supercomputer from ASEAN to be included in the 151 rankings and has been utilised for genomic data processing, rendering, deep learning and artificial intelligence, along with financial, scientific and engineering simulations. MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 49
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MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 51 Robotics is a means to solve many problems. But you must begin with the problem, not the solution t-robot.my Dr. Ishkandar Baharin Chairman & Co-Founder TechCapital Resources Sdn. Bhd. 9/11 brought a sudden halt to Dr Ishkandar’s research with the Islamic Development Bank. He had been working on establishing e-Commerce for OIC countries, but this tragic event meant the funding was cut. From his experience of such an event and seeing its impact, Dr Ishkandar concludes that Malaysia must continue to develop the technologies that ensure resilience, whatever the economic climate. He says that “for Malaysia to become an Asian Tiger again, many stripes are needed - our agility, culture, muscle and economic strength. Robotics can help us become that tiger.” Born in Alor Gajah, Melaka, Dr Ishkandar grew up in Singapore, where his father served in the police force. He credits his own entrepreneurial spirit to his father who, once retired, ran his own Shell petrol station in Malaysia. It was his father’s dream that all his children would have their own businesses one day. To this end, he bought a piece of land and drew up building plans, so that each of his children could have a shop lot. However, before his father’s retirement, while the family was still living in Singapore, the young Ishkandar studied at the Royal Military College dubbed ‘Malaysia’s Sandhurst’. Ishkandar found the orientation there so gruelling that he tried to return home, but only came to face his father’s retort, “We cannot afford to lose out on this opportunity. No turning back!” ROBOTS DELIVER A FATHER’S DREAM
52 30 TECHNO DREAMS So, Ishkandar was put back onto the path of learning, which resulted in him attending Darlington Technology College in the UK. In fact, his studies took him both north and south across England, gaining a degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Southampton, then a Masters in Microprocessor Engineering at the University of Bradford, where he stayed on to complete his PhD in Information Science (Robotics Engineering). Now equipped with engineering knowledge, Dr Ishkandar began to fulfil his father’s hopes for his children. He set up several businesses in fact; all under the TechCapital banner. These included TechCapital Ventures (TCV) and TechCapital Innovation (TCI). His eventual full-time employment at Universiti Kuala Lumpur meant these companies had to go dormant, but TCV and TCI were to be integrated objective of boosting the company’s activities in providing Robotics, Automation and IoT Solutions to the industry, both locally and internationally. As a tech startup, the company benefited tremendously from this backing in numerous ways. Not only from the funding, but also by gaining access to the various initiatives that are under MTDC’s belt, such as the training and mentoring offered via MTDC’s Technopreneur Training Academy (TENTRA) and the industrial networking facilitated by MTDC’s Centre of Nine Pillars (Co9P). Such programmes have empowered TechCapital to see extensive growth over recent years. MTDC has recently assisted TechCapital in collaborating with MSME entrepreneurs who are in the process of undertaking technology transfer, distribution, and joint ventures, as well as providing technology related training. Understand your market and your solutions well. If there is room to compete and your solution is unique, then the venture is worth the risk. into a company he later established, TechCapital Resources Sdn. Bhd. TechCapital has become one of Malaysia’s pioneer companies in the full development of robotics within the furniture and woodworking industry. So, Ishkandar did fulfil the dream his father had for him, but with something that perhaps exceeded the expectations of a shop lot that was assigned to him. In 2016, TechCapital Resources Sdn. Bhd. received funding from MTDC’s Business Start Up Fund (BSF) with the
MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 53 R&D INVESTMENT RM1.5 MILLION TRAINING CONDUCTED IN ROBOTICS & I4.0 UPSKILLING PROGRAMME 20% INTERNATIONAL LOCAL 7ROBOTICS AND IoT CO-FOUNDERS TEAM MEMBERS 28 80% SMES 1200 LECTURERS 1000 STUDENTS 1200 MITI PIONEER STATUS IN ROBOTICS MSC STATUS MOSTI MCY WINNER OF EMERGING INNOVATOR CATEGORY FOR 2021 OFFICIAL TECHNOLOGY CENTER OF MALAYSIAN PRODUCTIVITY CORPORATION (MPC) HRDCORP APPROVED TRAINING PROVIDER MALAYSIA BOARD OF TECHNOLOGIST (MBOT) APPROVED TRAINING PROVIDER 4 ROBOTIC LABS COLLABORATION C09P ROBOTIC EXPERIENCE CENTER MARii ROBOTIC LAB SDEC PROTOTYPING LAB MARDI LAMAN AGRO ROBOTIK OMAN INDIA TANZANIA CHINA SOUTH KOREA SINGAPORE MALAYSIA INDONESIA GLOBAL MARKET COUNTRIES 8 YEARS IN BUSINESS FROM TO ACHIEVEMENTS MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 53 TECHNOLOGY FOCUS TechCapital Resources Sdn. Bhd., an MSC-status company, was established to develop robotics and automation solutions to support the Malaysian manufacturing industry. Their certification as an Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) approved training provider and their recognition as consultants for robotics, automation and IoT, allows them to offer greater value-added propositions to potential clients. Under the name of T-Robot, TechCapital supplies both linear robots and arm robots. Their linear robot model operates with three degrees of freedom by the use of three principal axes of control, which are at right angles to each other. This allows for movement to be up-down, in-out and back-forth, ensuring that the movements of this easily customisable robot are simple and economic. Complementing the linear robot, T-Robot’s arm robot models are the 3-Axis Planar Robot (Pal i3), the 4-Axis Scara Robot (Pal i4) and the 6-Axis Articulated Robot (Pal i6). While the Pal i3 can work in the vertical plane, the Pal i4 moves through the x-y plane with z-axis depth motion. Combined with its “high speed” movement, the Pal i4 is ideal for handling small work pieces, such as electronic parts. The Pal i6 takes the movement further by reaching all coordinates within the x, y and z threedimensional space, and it can be equipped with many different tools, so as to be suitable for a wide range of tasks throughout multiple industries. Currently, TechCapital’s list of clients includes government organisations and institutions, multinational companies and key industry players, but they continue to seek opportunities to replicate their success across multiple industries.
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MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 55 In this era of I4.0, it would be a good idea to introduce policies like tax rebates to encourage the use of robotics. It is proven that such policies affect regional and global competition. veprogroup.com Chu Chee Seng fondly remembers his wonderful childhood where his multi-racial neighbours co-existed harmoniously. “People were sincere back then. Everyone met at the coffeeshop in the afternoon to chat. I remember Chinese New Year and Raya as times when we visited each other’s house,” he reminisced. His father always advised him, “Never stop what has been started-Ban Tu Er Fei.” And this became Chee Seng’s life-long motto. He carried on this Muhibbah spirit when pursuing a mechanical engineering degree at University of Malaya (UM); a popular choice back then. This was in the early 1990s. It was at UM where the young Chu met Prof Zahari Taha in his robotics lab. Prof Zahari introduced Chu to the world of robotics. Chu Chee Seng Managing Director Vepro Group Sdn. Bhd. A DREAM IN ROBOTICS
56 30 TECHNO DREAMS And hence, his passion and journey into robotics grew and culminated with the establishment of Vepro Group. Chu Chee Seng was inspired and fascinated that robots could really do what humans commanded. Prof Zahari Taha became his mentor and Chu acknowledged that the UM professor was the prime mover for his career choice. After a stint in local companies, Chee Seng joined a German robotic company, KUKA Robotics. He discovered that robotics is a niche business with a high entry level that made competition difficult. With three university mates, Chee Seng, Lim Swee Peng and Chin Khai formed Vepro Group Sdn. Bhd. in 2003 and had not regretted this major step that they had taken. Having MNCs as customers ensure the stringent system performance and high safety standard, this further improve Vepro’s solutions reliabilities and stabilities. This helps the company manage cashflow which is crucial. As the CEO, Chee Seng hopes that the government would consider the introduction of policies such as tax rebates to encourage the use of robotics. It is proven that such policies affect regional and global competition. Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia are moving ahead in robotics by leaps and bounds. It is imperative that Malaysia must realise to this reality to remain competitive. In the world of robotics, progress waits for no one. It’s essential to keep up with the rapid advancements or risk falling behind the competition. The company has been spearheading robotics in Malaysia ever since and focuses on a mix of local companies and MNCs as clients. In business, it is crucial to develop sound financial planning, to have a good client-base and to keep abreast with technology. Taking part in local and international conferences as well as trade exhibitions is crucial to building the business and reputation.
MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 57 TECHNOLOGY FOCUS Vepro Group Sdn. Bhd. specialises in Robotics and Packaging Automation. The company’s core business activities are Robotic applications, Automatic Filling and Packaging Machinery, Customised software, Flexible Plant Automation as well as Quality Control inspection system. Automation and Robotics improve productivity and efficiency, reduce dependency of production labors. Vepro’s system design and factory automation solutions are applicable in Food & Beverage, Pharmaceutical and Chemical Industries. MTDC supported Vepro’s expansion with a Business Growth Fund (BGF) funding for End-of-Life (EOL) automation, product development, packaging automation and marketing activities. 20 38 CO-FOUNDERS 60% INTERNATIONAL LOCAL 40% • MOST PROMISING AWARD, EXPORT EXCELLENCE AWARDS (EEA) , THE STAR • MEMBER OF INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF ROBOTICS (IFR) • COUNCIL MEMBER OF THE MALAYSIAN CONSORTIUM OF MID-TIER COMPANIES (MCMTC) • EXCO MEMBER OF MALAYSIA AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION (MATA) • EXCO MEMBER OF MALAYSIA ROBOTICS AND AUTOMATION SOCIETY (MYRAS) THAILAND VIETNAM TAIWAN MALAYSIA PHILIPPINES AUSTRALIA SINGAPORE INDONESIA AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS YEARS IN BUSINESS TEAM MEMBERS FROM TO GLOBAL MARKET COUNTRIES 8 ACHIEVEMENTS MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 57
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MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 59 ideasparq.com Asyraf Abdul Rahman Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder Ideasparq Robotics Sdn. Bhd. Robotics is one of those things that I have dreamt about since childhood Asyraf Abdul Rahman has always been into technology and software development, and has most especially been inspired by how much the robotics industry can change human lives for the better. However, his desire to help others is far broader than robotics. That is just one way, albeit one that excites him. When talking about setting up Ideasparq Robotics Sdn. Bhd. Asyraf says, “I wanted to help as many people as I could, and to help new startups like us to succeed in their journey.” Asyraf draws his entrepreneurial inspiration from looking at businesses in the USA. He is impressed by how innovative ideas have enhanced the nature and creativity of the design thinking processes there, and this is something he wants to see happen in Malaysia. Ideasparq Robotics Sdn. Bhd. began in 2012 and in these first 10 years of their existence, Ideasparq have built up an impressive portfolio of customised projects that include the setting up of data logging for various industries, process control in industrial applications, and the customised logging of telemetry data from a hydroelectric power dam. However, the most surprising job may be their development of a miniature device to measure the speed of a bullet fired from the barrel of a gun. LIVING A LIFELONG DREAM
60 30 TECHNO DREAMS As with other robotics and automation companies, the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic had its effect on Ideasparq’s profile, with the company being catapulted into the centre of national attention. They rose to the challenge presented by those unprecedented times, and within two weeks deployed three new robots to aid frontliners in the COVID-19 Quarantine Centre. Over this past decade, Asyraf has found one of the toughest challenges in running a company is that of getting everyone to share the same values and vision, and to all move in the same direction. Humans are not robots, of course, but Asyraf is keenly aware of the need for all the team to be as one, in order that they can move forward as quickly and as easily as possible. In time he has come to recognise the value of four key principles, which are relentless, resilience, humility and integrity. It is these principles he wants to ensure are understood by his team, and therefore as to accelerate the development of innovation from the R&D stage to being commercially ready. It was through MTDC’s Sandbox Fund that Ideasparq was able to receive the support they needed. This was in 2020, 2021, and 2022, which respectively saw the utilisation of COVID-19 Delivery and Disinfectant Robots, Autonomous Robots, and Telepresence Robots. Asyraf Abdul Rahman (Co-founder and CEO) says, “MTDC supported us to progress our innovation from prototype and testing to the deployment and commercialisation stages, from one technology readiness level to the next.” Ideasparq also found that MTDC’s involvement was able to provide them with better exposure, as they could now participate in the roadshows and marketing programmes that MTDC hosted. Focus. As an entrepreneur, we have tendencies to do too many things, we have to learn to focus on what we are doing for us to be successful he is often thinking about how to get the right people. However, Asyraf has also learnt the significance of perseverance and patience. “Nothing comes easy,” he says. Ideasparq Robotics Sdn. Bhd. needed to test their products in a live environment and bring those products to market. As a young local homegrown technology company, one of Ideasparq’s challenges came from the need for a smoother pathway in bringing their technology to the marketplace, as well
MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 61 “We have the opportunity to collaborate and expand our business network to improve existing solutions and technology. With the funding and business advisory support, MTDC has helped us to further catalyse the growth of our company.” TECHNOLOGY FOCUS Ideasparq Robotics Sdn. Bhd. is a specialist in Mobile Robotics Automation solutions. They provide cost reductions and productivity improvement solutions through the use of mobile robots in a variety of industries. Their key products are Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), developed by their own homegrown R&D team, who have created two firsts for Malaysia in robotics. These are their Autonomous Floor Scrubber and their Autonomous Delivery Robot. Ideasparq also pride themselves on ensuring the best after-sales services to their customers, meaning that their team is available 24/7 if there are any issues after installation. The product and service offerings from Ideasparq create an ecosystem that makes them a one-stop supplier of industrial mobile robot systems and accessories that are integrable with modern manufacturing, warehousing and service industry processes. This has put Ideasparq at the heart of Malaysia’s Industry 4.0 transformation efforts with clients in many industrial sectors. As part of Ideasparq’s fleet management software, swarm robotics research is now being conducted, the results of which will be targeted at warehousing clients. 11AUTOMATION AND MOBILE ROBOTICS CO-FOUNDERS TEAM MEMBERS 25 MALAYSIAN INVENTED AUTONOMOUS FLOOR SCRUBBER YEARS IN BUSINESS FROM TO 4 PATENTS IP HOMEGROWN R&D FOR AUTOMATION SOLUTIONS THROUGH MOBILE ROBOTICS • 6 NEW PRODUCTS LAUNCHED WITHIN 3 YEARS • 3 NEW ROBOTS DEPLOYED IN 2 WEEKS TO AID FRONTLINERS AT COVID QUARANTINE CENTERS • WINNER – WORLD ISLAMIC ECONOMIC FORUM (WIEF) 2015 IDEAPAD COMPETITION • TRAILBLAZING INNOVATION AWARD – NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION SANDBOX (NTIS) • TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE AWARD – MALAYSIA TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION 1 st MALAYSIAN INVENTED AUTONOMOUS 1DELIVERY ROBOT st ACHIEVEMENTS ENDORSEMENT MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 61
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MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 63 Long before we talked about the Internet of Things, Shak Tiam Choy was considering how internet technology could enhance home security systems. He had always been interested in electronic gadgets and a degree in electronics validated his passion, paving the way for him to enter the industry. Teaming up with his childhood friend, Yap Thiah Huat, and two other engineering colleagues, Shak began a start-up that they called ‘Archtron’. Their dream was to design, create and commercialise their own brand of products; locally created for the local market. In those early days, they did all they could to save on operating costs. All four moved into their office premises to reduce their rent. They mortgaged their cars, and some months they would even forego their full salary. Those days were tough, but Archtron was noticed. Property developers Eco World, SP-Setia, Mah Sing, and IJM, all reached out to Archtron and engaged them to find the right solutions for each of their security systems. Archtron was among the earliest companies to venture into intelligent smart home solutions. However, they were focusing on product development without the essential revenue to take the company forward. While they struggled with insufficient capital, as well as a lack of marketing capabilities, opportunity arrived in the form of a soft loan from the Malaysian government. The younger we start a venture, we have more buffer to fail and learn from our mistakes bluguard.com.my Shak Tiam Choy Chief Executive Officer Archtron R&D Sdn. Bhd. SECURING THE DREAM
64 30 TECHNO DREAMS This initial capital investment enabled them to launch their first product, the Bluguard L Series. That was 20 years ago, and now Archtron delivers a product that competes with various renowned foreign brands. Not only are they selling across South East Asia, but Archton has entered the Middle Eastern market. Now they see that their trust in their R&D engineers, as well as the capacity of the local supply chain, was truly justified. Having been on this journey, Shak’s advice to up and coming technopreneurs is to focus and to specialise in one key product, then to concentrate one’s efforts to trademark that product and safeguard their intellectual property. Shak clearly recognises the need for Archtron’s creations to be as secure as their systems. After all, everyone wants to protect what they have worked hard to accumulate. And so, Shak Tiam Choy now lives in the world that he once envisioned long ago. commercialise these three models. Recognising the significant milestone these products represent in Archtron’s journey, Shak says, “MTDC’s commercialisation programme helped us to speed up the process of launching the product. This is crucial in capturing the market share and positions our brand in the high-end market. This has truly enabled our company to capture an array of the market segment; from residential, commercial, and industrial.” TECHNOLOGY FOCUS Archtron R&D Sdn. Bhd. is committed to investing in R&D and employs a talented team of engineers to stay at the forefront of technology. Such a strategy has given them marked success in the design and development of an intelligent electronics system, which is one of the company’s core products, being patented and widely utilised in the local market. Specialise in one key product and concentrate one’s effort to trademark the product, so as to safeguard your company’s intellectual property MTDC’s Commercialisation of R&D Fund (CRDF) of 2007 came at a critical stage in the survival of Archtron R&D Sdn. Bhd., giving them the boost to build on their learning and see their range expand. Due to MTDC’s support, Archtron were able to launch three new products in just two years. If Archtron had sourced their own funds, then this gestation period would have been much longer. The reduced time and subsequent achievement allowed Archtron to rapidly launch products tailored to different markets, namely the Bluguard V series, T series and Senseries. MTDC’s assistance continued as they worked with Archtron to
MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 65 Archtron’s Bluguard smart home systems comply with the internationally recognised ISO-9001 standard, as well as the European Standard (CE), Electromagnetic Compliance (EMC), Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Low Voltage Derivatives (LVD). Archtron’s comprehensive provision includes smart home technology, home automation, energy management, and security systems. Their objective is to educate the homeowners in understanding the security technology now available, as well as assisting them in selecting the right components to provide a complete solution that fits their lifestyle and budget. Archtron also works alongside contractors, builders, interior decorators, and developers to demystify the concept of smart homes and show its potential for enhancing the way we live and work. An extensive example of this can be seen in Archtron’s collaboration with Telekom Malaysia, with whom home security systems were installed, complete with Smart Home automation across 2,258 households. All thanks to the installation of Blugard’s L9 Home Security System, P2P Smart Alarm Control Apps and Z-Wave Smart Home Devices. MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 65 R&D INVESTMENT RM7 FACILITIES 20 500 50 CO-FOUNDERS TEAM MEMBERS YEARS IN BUSINESS LOCAL AND REGIONAL DISTRIBUTORS CERTIFIED 50 PRODUCT RANGES 20 PARTNERS FROM TO SMART HOME & AUTOMATION SYSTEM THAILAND VIETNAM CAMBODIA MALAYSIA 10% INDONESIA INTERNATIONAL LOCAL 90% ACHIEVEMENTS GLOBAL MARKET COUNTRIES 5 15,000 SQFT MILLION MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 65
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MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 67 We make 3D Printing technology a reality in today’s neuro-surgery and maxillofacial procedures, making it accessible and affordable for Malaysians 3dgens.com Dr. Izhar Aziz Chief Executive Officer 3D Gens Sdn. Bhd. For Dr Izhar Aziz, inspiration came when as a child he watched the TV show, ‘MacGyver’. It was this hero’s creativity and innovation that showed the young Izhar how your mind, knowledge and skills could be used to help others in surprising ways. Following this example, Izhar chose to study Mechanical Engineering at University Malaya. He was soon winning awards on innovation, both locally and abroad, including the MIMICS Innovation Award in Belgium. After a period of invaluable learning, researching cranial facial work for a USM-UTM-SIRIM partnership, Izhar was offered a SIRIM scholarship to do a Masters in 3D printing materials at the University of Waikato, New Zealand. This led to the government of New Zealand offering him a scholarship to do a doctorate in 3D printing materials. This in turn opened the door for him to relocate to London, UK, where his work experience gained him the invitation to be a researcher with the Innovative Product Development Centre (IPDC). On his return to Malaysia, Dr Izhar started his own business; thanks to the inspiration of all those he had met on his travels. This was in 2015, and he established 3D Gens Sdn. Bhd. with two other individuals. SHAPING THE DREAM INTO REALITY
68 30 TECHNO DREAMS Located in the small room of a shared office, they began with a minimum capital of RM46,000 borrowed from friends. Initially, the manufacturing process of their designs was outsourced to companies in Europe. This allowed them to focus their resources on introducing, and marketing, their radical new procedure for surgical planning and the manufacturing of implants. Their forthcoming success highlighted a way for healthcare to be greatly advanced with the adoption of this new technology. In Year 1, SIRIM awarded 3D Gens with a RM700,000 tender, their first contract in producing customised implants. This was followed by a RM350,000 two-year contract with a hospital in Johor Bahru. The resulting RM1million revenue for Year 1 was therefore a most welcome milestone. Since then, 3D Gens has been leading on the cutting edge of 3D printing technology for highly specialised cranial hospitals had meant that certain procedures could not be completed and they were unable to address complicated cases. However, the latest technology has been able to resolve this, and being suitably equipped, 3D Gens has been able to provide patients with bone implants that are shaped exactly as the original bones. With such technology being in its infancy, much capital was needed, and MTDC’s support in this area has fostered a strategic partnership in developing this technology. MTDC has also assisted 3D Gens through their advisory services, especially with regards to marketing and the further development of the company. 3D Gens is one of the companies that offers a chance to see their work in action at their 3D printing experience centre in UPM-MTDC Technology Centre under the flagship of MTDC-Co9P. Find your niche and keep working on it to achieve success and facial surgeries. Concentrating on those areas in which they excel, they manage to stay ahead of the competition, while maintaining the trust they have gained through the quality of their implants. Their continued success has allowed them to create jobs and internships for many graduates and skilled individuals. You could say that Dr Izhar now has his own team of MacGyvers. MTDC’s Business Start Up Fund (BSF) support, allowed 3D Gens Sdn. Bhd. to gain the materials and technology needed to begin producing aesthetic customised implants, fashioned according to the patients’ requirements. The conventional method used in
MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 69 3D PRINTING PIONEER IN HEALTHCARE 95% CUTTING SURGERY TIME ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING 530 2700 TRAINING CONDUCTED IN 3D PRINTING & IR4.0 UPSKILLING PROGRAM SMES 50 LECTURERS 200 STUDENTS 650 INDUSTRY AWARDS MALAYSIA TECHNOLOGY EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2021 IN THE BIOTECHNOLOGY - HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY (3D) CATEGORY UK MALAYSIA INDONESIA 8 CO-FOUNDERS TEAM MEMBERS 35 YEARS IN BUSINESS FROM TO GLOBAL MARKET COUNTRIES 3 NUMBER OF PROJECTS/PROCEDURES CLIENTS 15% INTERNATIONAL LOCAL 85% MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 69 TECHNOLOGY FOCUS An innovative entrepreneur in 3D printing technology, Dr. Izhar Aziz established 3D Gens Sdn. Bhd. with the aim of industrialising 3D intelligence and 3D printing for customised products in the medical field. His vision was to be the pioneer in digital manufacturing anchored by a solid foundation in CAD/CAM and Additive Manufacturing Technology. 3D Gens is a technology-oriented engineering company that adopts 3D printing technology to revolutionise conventional manufacturing for better quality services. Working primarily in the healthcare sector, 3D Gens promotes a 3D printing marketplace. The dedication of their marketing and R&D teams contribute to continual brand awareness and to keeping them on top of the technology. Dr Izhar Aziz says, “We want 3D printing and virtual 3D modelling to be a routine procedure and preparation in neuro and facial surgery.” 3D Gens aims to be a certified and accredited e-manufacturing company for engineering and bio-medical devices. Their vision is to establish a Centre of Excellence for 3D printing technology that will pioneer digital manufacturing and drive product innovation to deliver the best manufacturing solutions to their clients.
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MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 71 NEW medical FRONTIERS breaktHROUGH health SOLUTIONS
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MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 73 Prosthetics is such a rich field that requires approaches from different fields, such as electrical, mechanical, and medical, which allows a unique and creative solution for the prosthesis user bioapps.com.my Prof. Ir. Dr. Noor Azuan Abu Osman Director Bioapps Sdn. Bhd. BioApps Sdn. Bhd. Is a spin-off company of the University of Malaya (UM) and was established under the Centre for Applied Biomechanics (CAB), Faculty of Engineering, in 2012. The directors, Prof. Dr. Ir. Wan Abu Bakar Wan Abas and Prof. Dr. Ir. Noor Azuan Abu Osman draws on their vast experience of over 30 years in the engineering field. Prof. Ir. Dr. Noor Azuan Abu Osman vividly remembers how back in the late 1990s, when he was doing research in Glasgow, Scotland, he was sitting in the university library overlooking a green field where many of the locals were picnicking, reading and chatting. He then noticed a gentleman crossing the field to join his friends wearing a prosthetic leg. That was the first time Prof. Noor Azuan had seen someone walking with an exposed artificial leg. He noted the man’s confidence, how he had the opportunity to socialise despite his amputation, and how the people accepted his condition. This deeply moved Prof. Noor Azuan and he decided then that his PhD would be in prosthetics. “I wanted to create such awareness among Malaysians and that all amputees will have the opportunity to lead a quality life and decent employment despite their physical limitations.” DREAMS OF SOCIAL MOBILITY
74 30 TECHNO DREAMS Prof. Noor Azuan did exactly what he’d decided that day, and at the end of his research he was asked, “How do you intend to apply the knowledge you’ve gained from the research to serve the community back in Malaysia?” He decided he would set up a Bachelor’s Degree programme in Prosthetics and Orthotics under the Faculty of Engineering at UM. Upon returning to Malaysia, Prof. Noor Azuan presented his proposal to the Ministry of Higher Education. He was convincing, saying that the new programme would be the best opportunity for the doctors and engineers to work as a team in producing qualified prosthetists to fill the emerging need for better rehabilitation services in this country. There were initial setbacks and challenges, but finally the proposal was accepted and the first Prosthetics Orthotics Degree programme in Malaysia Bioapps received the Commercialisation of R&D Fund 2 (CRDF 2) for the commercialisation of Prosthetic Suspension System in 2016. Bioapps received another funding under the MTDC Sandbox Fund in 2021 for the commercialisation of RoMicP (TM) - an ankle joint prosthesis powered by artificial intelligence control system and AC motor to improve quality of life for lower limb amputees. In addition, BioApps made good use of MTDC’s Advisory and Value-Added Services (AVAS), guiding them through such decisions as company logo design, corporate structure, and business strategy. BioApps staff benefited from training with MTDC regarding Industry 4.0 and the making of prosthetics through 3D printing, and the company has connected with the business network made available through MTDC’s ReUNITES. Before I got involved in this prosthetic field, I never knew that different amputees’ stories would move me from all walks of life. How I learn to be thankful for every day I’ve survived was launched in 2009 with an initial intake of 18 students. Since that time, Malaysia has been listed as the second highest country in the world for its number of published articles on prosthetic limb suspension. The first cohort graduated from the programme in 2013 and gained careers in the prosthetic and orthotic (P&O) industry in Malaysia, and good collaborations have been established with universities all over the world.
MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 75 • 2017 - DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF PROSTHESIS FOR THE “BIONIC LOVE EXPEDITION” PROJECT, FOR THE “EKSPEDISI KASIH BIONIK (EKB)” • PUBLISHED > 200 INTERNATIONAL-SCIENTIFIC -INDEX ACADEMIC JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS 11 CO-FOUNDERS TEAM MEMBERS 21 YEARS IN BUSINESS FROM TO POTENTIAL MARKET COUNTRIES 6 PROSTHETIC AND ORTHOTIC ACHIEVEMENTS 1 TRADEMARK PROSTHESIS 1221PRODUCED PROSTHETIC 15EXPERTS TRAINED TECHNOLOGY 3LICENSING SATISFIED PROSTHETIC 5000PATIENTS 2016 GOVERNMENT/ PRIVATE • HOSPITALS • CLINICS CERTIFICATIONS CLIENTELE THAILAND VIETNAM SOUTH KOREA JAPAN MALAYSIA INDONESIA MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 75 TECHNOLOGY FOCUS Initially, the main activities of BioApps Sdn. Bhd. were in biomedical engineering research, training, and consultation. However, in 2013 they began to focus on prosthetic and orthotic services, operating at the Brace & Limb Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering at UM as the location to produce P&O devices. In 2015, BioApps started its operation at the Ground Floor, South Tower, UMMC, and now acts as the sole prosthetic and orthotic service provider for the UMMC. BioApps provides prosthetic and orthotics services, combining a personal service tailored to specific individual needs with the most advanced products and manufacturing techniques available today. The current conventional approach in the rehabilitation industry for prosthetic and orthotic services is based on the reliance of human expertise and subjective evaluation, which increase the cost and lead time. By utilising advanced fused deposition modelling (FDM), 3D scanning and computer-aided design (CAD) technology, new devices are customised and strengthened with minimised human error and rapid manufacturing ability. In addition to his roles and contributions as a founder, director, researcher and academician Prof. Ir. Dr. Noor Azuan Abu Osman endeavours to assist the government in fully establishing this new field of prosthetics in Malaysia.
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MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 77 Despite all the entrepreneur heroes that mass media like to single out, in reality even the smartest entrepreneur needs to work with good people biogenestech.com Many years ago, a close friend asked Tan Kok Mun, “What is your purpose in life?” His answer was, “To have a lifetime of experience and knowledge.” To Tan, the entrepreneurial journey has freed him from the shackles of previous 9-to-5 jobs. Now he is able to explore different ways of doing things, and this has included starting and running a business. “One day I might be negotiating pricing discounts with my customer’s procurement. The next day, I might be debating new technology ideas with a professor. Such extremes excite me and keep me alive! So I would say it’s more of the journey rather than a dream that drives me forward.” Tan grew up in a traditional environment, studying hard to be able to go to university with the aim of securing that 9-to-5 job. However, he sees that his breakthrough came when he took an MBA course and started to see that there are many facets to any problem, including problems that people are willing to pay for, from which new business opportunities arise. Tan set up his first start-up in 2008, thinking that the company could build every piece of technology for themselves. It became Tan Kok Mun Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder Biogenes Technologies Sdn. Bhd. THE DREAM JOURNEY
78 30 TECHNO DREAMS clear that this would be too expensive and time-consuming, and so Tan saw the value of working with external parties, to either build, acquire or even licence the technologies he needed. It was probably from learning these lessons that Tan became the right person to help found Biogenes Technologies Sdn. Bhd. It was in 2015 that he teamed up with Adrian Joseph, who brought along his knowledge and experience of the biotech industry, and Cheng Kim Sing, who matched his own decade-long business experience. They had all seen how their ageing parents needed regular check-ups and the hassle it was for them, getting out of the house, the travel and then waiting in the queue, just to do a 5-minute test before having to wait for more hours for the test results. Knowing that products such as the glucose meter were already available for home testing, they wondered why this could not be extended to other types of Biogenes did so and gained validation from the American company, who then discontinued the project. Biogenes decided to continue here in Malaysia. However, they needed virus protein samples to test against and getting samples into Malaysia was impossible at the time. The alternative then was to grow the samples needed. This was when they connected with MTDC, thanks to the NTIS programme. Biogenes presented a proposal to upgrade the capacity of an existing lab in Malaysia, which would be fitted with the capability to grow virus samples. The investment from MTDC was agreed, and Biogenes was able to run extensive tests on the device they had created. Once their technology platform was developed, Biogenes extended beyond COVID-19 testing to other types of diseases such as sepsis, HPV, and bacterial infection in pregnant women. We believe that our business expansion will extend globally in the near future. This is our commitment. testing. The three of them envisioned a single universal testing device, one that could test strips for different diseases with a handphone app for collecting all the test data and records. The work on this continues and a prototype is ready to roll out for trials next year. With all that has happened since 2008, it seems that Tan has already accumulated one lifetime of knowledge and experience, on which he can certainly build. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Biogenes Technologies Sdn. Bhd. was approached by a company in the United States of America to design the aptamer (synthetic antibody) for COVID-19.
MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 79 APTAMERS & 8BIO SENSORS CO-FOUNDERS TEAM MEMBERS 26 YEARS IN BUSINESS FROM TO USA UNITED KINGDOM THAILAND VIETNAM PHILIPPINES MALAYSIA INDONESIA AUSTRALIA 20% INTERNATIONAL LOCAL 80% GLOBAL MARKET COUNTRIES 8 12 TRADEMARKS 16 IPs 4 PATENTS ANIMAL CRUELTY FREE PRODUCTS THE ONLY STARTUP GLOBALLY USING DIGITAL TOOLS TO DESIGN SYNTHETIC ANTIBODIES (APTAMERS) WITH SUCCESSFUL, CLINICAL TRIALS AND COMMERCIAL APPLICATION CROSS SECTORAL APPLICATIONS - HUMAN HEALTHCARE, ANIMAL HEALTH & AGRICULTURE DISRUPTING THE $145 BILLION ANTIBODY MARKET ACHIEVEMENTS • 1ST IN THE WORLD TO SUCCESSFULLY TAKE A DIGITALLY DESIGNED APTAMER AND USE IT IN A HOSPITAL OR MEDICAL USE • 1ST & ONLY MALAYSIAN START UP TO HAVE SECURED INVESTMENT FROM GLOBAL VC, ANTLER • 1ST MALAYSIAN STARTUP IN MERCK ACCELERATOR PROGRAMME • 1ST COVID 19 DIGITAL DIAGNOSTIC TEST USING APTAMER • 300 AVAILABLE APTAMERS DESIGNED - CANCERS, INFECTIOUS & NON-INFECTIOUS DISEASES TECHNOLOGY FOCUS Biogenes Technologies Sdn. Bhd. is a Malaysian-based deep-tech startup in the filed of molecular diagnostics and genomics. Biogenes is the only Malaysian company that develops and commercialises aptamers for various applications ranging from human healthcare to animal health, agriculture, aquaculture, food safety and environmental monitoring. Biogenes’ dream is to disrupt the diagnostics industry in a vast array of industries by introducing aptamers as a replacement for the longstanding technology of antibodies. So, why aptamers instead of antibodies? Compared to antibodies, aptamers are smaller in size, can be easily modified, are cheaper to produce, and can be generated against a wide array of target molecules making it the ideal replacement for antibodies. In addition, as aptamers are synthetic, it does not require animals to produce making it a friendlier and more sustainable production method for diagnostics, not to mention being more robust and cheaper. Biogenes complements its aptamers with its proprietary platform technologies including printed nanocoated sensors, immobilisation of DNA probes and in silico design and validation software. The biocomputational software by Biogenes enables the reduction of laboratory work by 9-%, allowing Biogenes and its clients to create diagnostic products for any new disease in a much shorter time than conventional lab-based technologies. The ease and speed in which their know-how can help deploy technology to the market faster and better is the reason why Biogenes was able to be the first Sandbox Fund company to complete their validation project and graduate on to the Commercialisation phase in less than 6 months. MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 79
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MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 81 A dream is meant to be chased. Don’t wait for opportunity. We make the opportunity happen cell-tissue.com Dr Khairul Idzwan Baharin Chief Executive Officer Cell Tissue Technology Sdn. Bhd. Cell Tissue Technology Sdn. Bhd. (Cell Tissue) is a Malaysian advanced medical technology-based company, a spin-off from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). Ever since their establishment in 2010, Cell Tissue has become the prime mover and renowned leader in both Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine fields. Their mission is to solve unmet medical needs, particularly tissue and organ regeneration as part of an holistic medical approach. Cell Tissue has Dr Khairul Idzwan Baharin at the helm as CEO and he has some big dreams. He referred Tun Mahathir Mohammad, Malaysia’s 4th and 7th Prime Minister, as a key figure in his inspiration as a leader. A fellow medical doctor, of course, but also Dr Khairul recognises Tun as a man of vision. With Tun as his example, Dr Khairul dreams big and hopes to see 1 billion people helped by Cell Tissue by the year 2030. Over the past decade, Dr Khairul has seen Cell Tissue face many challenges, especially as they have tried, as a medical startup, to achieve major things with extremely limited resources. He is of course grateful to have met MTDC on this journey, and received the support and guidance they have given, but Dr Khairul has also learnt that success is a process, and that business is really about people. He recognises that the experiences of these past years has brought about some tremendous changes in himself, causing him to become more versatile and innovative, and a better leader for Cell Tissue. DREAMS FOR THE PEOPLE
82 30 TECHNO DREAMS During this time, Dr Khairul recognises the mentorship he has received from Prof Dato’ Dr Ruszymah Idrus who guided him in the technology and innovation relating to tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Since their inception, Cell Tissue has been about the power of new ideas and the differences they can deliver to individuals. Dr Khairul hopes that Cell Tissue’s combined dedication will continue to enable doctors and their patients to access and benefit from cutting-edge technology, bringing scientific discoveries to the people who need them most. UKM-MTDC Symbiosis programme was held in year 2008. It was a technopreneurship training programme as well as a platform to match trained technopreneurs with inventions for them to bring to market. The programme was where Dr Khairul Idzwan Baharin, CEO and Kulitku (the original name of the product) first met. The two had such affinity towards each other the company in 2016 via Business Startup Fund (BSF) to expand the business of cell tissue engineering. Other than nurturing, mentoring and fundings, MTDC also helped to open the door for Cell Tissue to other fundings, networking and business opportunities as well as gaining much needed exposure, all of which Dr Khairul sees as being of immense value. “We would be nothing without MTDC’s support,” he says, “We could not have done this on our own.” Cell Tissue raison d’etre is still about new ideas and how they make lives better for individuals. But when asked about what he sees the future is for the company, the now more versatile Dr Khairul said, he hopes that Cell Tissue’s combined dedication will continue to enable doctors and their patients to access and benefit from cuttingedge technology, bringing scientific discoveries to the people who need them most. Upgrade your knowledge, never stop learning. Trust the process. Keep improving and focusing on the end goal that it was inevitable that Cell Tissue Engineering Sdn. Bhd. would be the one taking the product from its humble lab beginnings to where it is now. At the point of inception, Cell Tissue was about the power of new ideas and the differences they can deliver to individuals. What Cell Tissue needed was guidance and MTDC was able to help them, initially in knowing how to best pitch to investors. In 2011, Cell Tissue obtained the Commercialisation of Research & Development Fund (“CRDF”) to commercialise MyDerm - autologous bilayer tissue engineered human skin. MTDC further invested in
MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 83 TISSUE REGENERATION TECHNOLOGY FOR SOURCE OF TECHNOLOGY • 2022 - THE BRANDLAUREATE SMES BESTBRANDS AWARD WINNER 2022: MOST VALUABLE HEALTHCARE - TISSUE ENGINEERING & REGENERATIVE MEDICINE • 2022 - TOP 50 SME AWARDS 2021 BY RICHWORKS INTERNATIONAL • 2019 - TOP PHARMA INNOVATION AWARD - PHARMA GORILLA, INDIA • 2019 - SME100 AWARDS – MALAYSIA’S FAST MOVING COMPANY BY BUSINESS MEDIA INTERNATIONAL • 2019 - TOP 100 HEALTHCARE LEADERS AWARD BY INTERNATIONAL FORUM OF ADVANCEMENT IN HEALTHCARE, USA • 2019 - GLOBAL LEADERSHIP AWARDS - LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE IN STEM CELLS AND TISSUE ENGINEERING BY THE LEADERS INTERNATIONAL 13 28 CO-FOUNDERS TEAM MEMBERS YEARS IN BUSINESS TISSUE ENGINEERING & FROM TO REGENERATIVE MEDICINE 50% MEDICAL AESTHETICS/ WELLNESS UNMET MEDICAL NEEDS/ UNTAPPED NEW MARKET ACHIEVEMENTS st MALAYSIA’S FIRST MANUFACTURER OF TISSUE ENGINEERED HUMAN SKIN 10% RESEARCH & INDUSTRIES 40% MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 83 TECHNOLOGY FOCUS Cell Tissue Technology Sdn. Bhd. is a well-renowned national and global provider of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine products and services including Stem Cell Therapy, Cell-Based Immunotherapy, as well as Secretome and Exosome Therapies. The discipline of Tissue Engineering or Regenerative Medicine is seen as an emerging multidisciplinary field that is expected to revolutionise the way we improve and enhance the health and quality of life for people worldwide, through the restoration, maintenance and enhancement of tissues and organ functions. Cell Tissue aspires to not only become a world class player in the Tissue Engineering field, but also as a corporate body with its own capacity to generate new discoveries, technologies and knowledge through a wide range of research and study projects. Cell Tissue plans to establish themselves as the industry mover and preferred choice for the development, exploration and empowerment of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine in the country and the region beyond. Cell Tissue’s products range from life-saving to rejuvenating purposes, proving their commitment to building a new advanced medical ecosystem that complements current available treatments.
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MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 85 If you want to build a multimillion dollar company, then you will experience a lot of pain, but that is how it is paid for doctoroncall.com.my Hazwan Najib Managing Director and Co-founder Health Digital Technologies Sdn. Bhd. (DoctorOnCall) It began with a fateful meeting, when two former colleagues who had been working in consultancy happened to meet up. Hazwan Najib was still working in banking and strategy, while Maran Virumandi, whose expertise was in supply chain and technology, shared with Hazwan that he now had acquired several clinics as a way to help his family. From the ensuing conversation, Hazwan came to understand this wasn’t really a money making exercise, but he was surprised at how difficult it is to make money in healthcare. Curious about this situation, both Hazwan and Maran started looking at the trends for telehealth in USA and China, and the more they looked the more they realised the potential for such a service in Malaysia. Although access to healthcare is something close to everyone’s heart, especially in regards to our parents and our children, Hazwan could not believe how little things have progressed over the generations. “We all know how a visit to the hospital or clinic requires us to take time off work, then we join a queue and wait. It’s been like that for as long we can remember.” Hazwan had seen massive changes happen in the banking industry, thanks to the development of online technology, but this had not happened with health care. The more he and Maran looked at it, the more possibilities they could see. SLEEPLESS NIGHTS, WHILE LIVING THE DREAM
86 30 TECHNO DREAMS “How many issues do people worry about; men’s issues, women’s issues, all things that people think twice about discussing with others, and maybe they don’t want to have to explain why they’re going to see a doctor. You can Google stuff, but how do you know that you can trust what you’re reading and not dealing with product peddlers?” So, in late 2016, Hazwan and Maran stepped up, and inspired by Grab’s meteoric rise, they decided to be the leading telehealth provider in Malaysia and start up Health Digital Technologies Sdn. Bhd., launching their platform onto the internet as ’DoctorOnCall’. Initially, there were a lot of scepticism and they had to prove that they were genuine to the regulatory authorities and the Ministry of Health. Hazwan describes those early days as being filled with sleepless nights and headaches. However, their knowledge grew, discovering that 60-70% of consultations can be done online and that they could link up with pharmacies Health Digital Technologies Sdn. Bhd. received funding from MTDC’s Business Start Up Fund (BSF) in 2021 for the expansion in the provision of a digital healthcare platform called Doctor On Call (“DOC”) with an artificial intelligent (“AI”) solution. The company also received funding under the MTDC Sandbox Fund to conduct market and technology validation for DocPOD, a telemedicine kiosk which provides access to healthcare services. Hazwan Najib (Managing Director) says that the association with MTDC gave his company a lot more credibility, especially as the conversations began with the Ministry of Health. However, as the services of DoctorOnCall became more known to MTDC, it was seen that there would be room to offer an innovation grant to DoctorOnCall in order that they could provide DOCPods to their users. You may contact 100 leads and get 95 rejections, but you have to focus on the 5 who believe in you to offer home delivery for those patients who could not leave their home. This was before the COVID-19 pandemic. Suddenly, the lockdowns were put in place and DoctorOnCall experienced a huge escalation in users. With it now being unsafe for people to visit clinics in large numbers, the Ministry of Health wanted to talk to them about how to better use their platform. Before COVID-19, Hazwan and Maran had to ‘knock on doors’ and used lots of time and energy trying to convince the medical services of what they had, but now the Ministry of Health was knocking on their door!
MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 87 TECHNOLOGY FOCUS In the early days as a start-up, Health Digital Technologies Sdn. Bhd. operated with minimal resources using a basic video platform and had everything running in-house, overseen by their CTO. However, as their user numbers gradually increased, DoctorOnCall needed to upgrade. This was especially so when they began to link up with insurance companies and corporate health programmes, such as AIA and Prudential, managing the members and their medical needs via the upgraded platform. At that point, DoctorOnCall was operated by a 15 person tagteam of technicians. However, with COVID-19 the numbers vastly escalated, rising from 500,000 a month to some 5 million per month. Then everything had to change, requiring a massive upgrade, which MTDC was helpful in making happen. The DOCPod, funded by the Sandbox Fund of MTDC, is essentially a small mobile clinic, similar in concept to a personal blood pressure monitor or oxygen reader. However, the DOCPod has multiple functions allowing it to perform health diagnostics that can be sent immediately to an online doctor. It has proved to be especially useful to those living in rural areas away from public health facilities. A single unit can be located within a community, where patients with chronic diseases can regularly and easily check their vitals. As well as allowing anyone in the kampung to provide accurate information to a doctor online whenever this may be needed. Hazwan and Maran see that through DoctorOnCall and DOCPod they are closing the gap to ensure that more people are able to access qualified healthcare. DIGITAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDER • 2022 1st MENA INSURTECH HACKATHON – GROWTH STAGE TRACK WINNER • 2022 INSURANCE INNOVATION NATIONAL WINNER • 2021 LISTED AS 1 OF FORBES ASIA 100 COMPANIES TO WATCH • 2021 HUAWEI SPARK MALAYSIA 1st RUNNER UP • 2020 & 2018 NTT COMMUNICATIONS CHALLENGE CHAMPION & 1st RUNNER UP • 2020 FROST & SULLIVAN – MALAYSIA BEST TELEHEALTH COMPANY 7 CO-FOUNDERS 120 TEAM MEMBERS YEARS IN BUSINESS FROM TO 10% INTERNATIONAL LOCAL 90% GLOBAL MARKET COUNTRIES 4 ACHIEVEMENTS 1.02 REGISTERED USERS >2.0 MONTHLY VISITORS ONBOARDED MORE THAN 600 PHARMACIES 400 CLINICS AND LABORATORY LABS 25 HOSPITALS PUBLISHED >100,000 INTERACTIVE HEALTHCARE ARTICLES & VIDEOS ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE SERVICES 24/7 MILLION MILLION SINGAPORE MALAYSIA UAE INDONESIA MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC) 87
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