KUALA LUMPUR: Five innovations emerged winners in a competition in conjunction with the Selangor Research, Development and Innovation Expo yesterday, winning a total of RM250,000 in research grants from the Selangor government.
Grants worth RM50,000 for each category are provided based on cluster, namely, food and beverages; electrical and electronic; machination and equipment; and transportation and life sciences for research project development.
The recipients were researchers from University of Malaya (food and beverages; electricity and electronics), Universiti Putra Malaysia (transportation), Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) (machination and equipment) and Malaysian Nuclear Agency (life sciences).
Selangor Mentri Besar Amirudin Shari presented the research grants at the Malaysian International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec) here yesterday.
Meanwhile, MBSA engineer Datuk Ts Feroz Hanif Mohamed Ahmad whose innovation was in the form of a “composite porous concrete slab” drain cover, said the grant would be used for further research into improving the product.
“Among the advantages of this drain cover is that it can scale down excess water that can cause flash floods. For now we are using ordinary concrete but maybe we will advance and use lighter concrete to facilitate the drain cleaning work for the relevant party,” he said.
Amirudin told reporters when met that the inaugural programme showed that Selangor had many world-class research projects and initiatives that can bring Selangor to a higher level and improve the quality of life of the people and communities of the state.
He said the expo would be held again next year.
According to him, RM11 million had been allocated by private companies for the expo aimed at expanding study and research projects.
The four-day expo started on Oct 10, bringing together more than 250 research findings from higher education institutions, government agencies and various companies in Selangor. It also featured design competitions, Selangor State Innovation Awards, seminars and research institute exhibitions. — Bernama
