22 June 2008
For immediate release
Many developing countries suffer greatly from the brain drain phenomenon. Academic institutions tend to suffer more as they lose talent to businesses, multinationals as well as to academic institutions in developed countries. Today, Universiti Sains Malaysia launched the Science and Arts Innovation Space in a move to strengthen innovation and retain the best talents, while attracting international collaborators to Malaysia’s burgeoning knowledge industry.
Penang, Malaysia - With the rise of the knowledge economy, science and business parks have thrived. Today, Universiti Sains Malaysia took this further with the launch of Science and Arts Innovation Space also known as sains@usm, which is dedicated towards nurturing innovation in science and the arts.
The sains@usm space is created to enable entrepreneurs, investors, scientists and artists to blend their respective fields in a sustainable environment. sains@usm recognises that the arts contribute to society in tandem with science and technology and together act as catalysts for a balanced society.
With sains@usm, the university hopes to retain the best talents within the university system, nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs and showcase its research achievements and academic talents.
It will create high value jobs as well as boost the surrounding economy. The facility is designed to foster a closer relationship between academia and industry, fast track technology transfer, commercialisation of technology and create a springboard for new Intellectual Property creations.
sains@usm will bring forward Universiti Sains Malaysia’s research towards a sustainable future especially for the people at the bottom of the “economic pyramid” who stand to benefit from the many cutting edge research in University Sains Malaysia.
The Design
Sustainability is at the heart of this concept. The architecture of the Science and Arts Innovation Space (sains@usm) embodies a contemporary design influenced by traditional indigenous architecture for the tropical climate which is respectful of nature and the ecosystem as well as local cultural values. Each habitable room will face a picturesque view of greenery and water elements, bringing nature indoors so as to ignite the creative energy.
The buildings will be highly energy efficient, with tropical microclimate features such as large overhangs and well-ventilated spaces. The facilities will be built along contour lines, creating green environments and a reduction in energy needs.
For pictures of the artists’ impression and more information, please contact
Professor Zainul F. Zainuddin
Director of USM’s Innovation Office
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Mobile Tel: +6012-9006730
Further information for Editors:
1. Please download the fact sheet on sains@usm
2. sains@usm was launched by The Chancellor of USM, His Royal Highness, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail.
3. For science and business, there will be spaces for university start ups, research centres of excellence*, collaborating research organisation from other countries and a business space for commercialisation ready research, companies interested in knowledge based business and a science gallery. For the Arts, there will be a fine arts gallery, performing arts theatre and the all important artists colony.
4. *The Research Centres already confirmed to be in sains@usm are the Collaborative Microelectronic Design Excellence Centre, Institute for Pharmaceuticals and Nutraceuticals Malaysia, National IPv6 Research Centre and Doping Control Centre. In addition negotiations are ongoing with a government-linked organization and a multinational company to set up their respective research centres in sains@usm.
5. The facility will also house an international level Convention and Exhibition Centre, Apartments and boutique hotel catering to the hi-tech “digital” traveller. There will also be leisure and wellness facilities, retail space, day care centre and other community linked facilities including an international school for primary and secondary levels and a neighbouring private college offering diploma and bachelor degrees. All of these will be built on 31 acres of land in Bukit Jambul, Penang.
6. USM is popularly known as the “University in a Garden”.