INFORMM WINS ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT BANK'S SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AWARD
Universiti Sains Malaysia created history when it became the first Malaysian university to bag the Islamic Development Bank's Science and Technology Award through one of its research centres, the Institute for Molecular Medicine Research (INFOMM).
The award which carries a cash prize of USD100,000, a trophy and a certificate was first introduced in 2002 with the aim of promoting research and knowledge development, particularly in the field of science, amongst institutions in member countries of IDB.
Prof. Asma Ismail, the Director of INFORMM is expected to receive the award from His Excellency, Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali, the IDB chairman at the IDB Board of Directors' meeting scheduled to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on the 4th of June 2008.
Before being declared winners, INFORMM's entry was first vetted by a panel of adjudicators from 5 Islamic countries.
The IDB Science and Technology Award is divided into three categories:
Category 1: for scientific and technological contributions to the social and economic development of IDB member states;
Category 2: Excellent contributions in any fields such as Engineering Science; Agriculture; Medicine; Biotechnology; Information Technology; Optronics; Material Science; Pharmaceutical Science; the Microelectronics Industry and Alternative Energy Resources.
Category 3: Renowned research institutions in developing countries which are also IDB members.