NILAI, April 19, 2021 – A recent memorandum of understanding (MoU) saw both Duopharma Biotech and Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) agreeing on a collaboration including research, training programme, student internship and staff exchange. This collaboration was brought in through higher education leadership academy (AKEPT) under CEO@Faculty programme cycle 3.

University-industry collaboration is of growing importance in Malaysia. Policymaker (i.e. AKEPT) is putting efforts to promote knowledge transfer between science and industry to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems. CEO@faculty programme comes from the innovation model which focuses on industry engagement with university research.

From historical achievements, Duopharma Biotech is one of Malaysia’s leading pharmaceutical companies. Being a government-linked company, it is listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Berhad. Duopharma Biotech has core competencies in the pharmaceutical industry inclusive of manufacturing, research & development and commercialization. It has marketed over 300 generic drugs. Meanwhile, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) is an emerging public funded Islamic university. It aims to be the global reference centre for Islamic Science. The education paradigm at USIM is based on integrating religious sciences with social and physical sciences to provide a more comprehensive understanding of current global challenges and offer alternative to solve them.

Furthermore, one of the significant challenges is how we bridge the experience gap in between university graduates and industries. While university needs to improve professional experiences embedded in the curriculum, and replicate and simulate workplace challenges; industry use graduates to build business productivity and competitiveness. Therefore, both parties embark on an initiative forging a long-term strategic alliance.

Mr. Leonard Ariff, the CEO of Duopharma Biotech said pharmaceutical industry is one of the most demanding knowledge-based industries. As Malaysia is in its course to graduate to high income country status, Duopharma is climbing its global value chains. It is important to encourage local innovation and technology transfer.

Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mohamed Ridza Wahiddin, the vice chancellor said USIM strives to be the global reference centre for Islamic Science. By having naqli and aqli integration in place, USIM revives the scientific and technological feats of Muslim scholars.

“Duopharma Biotech has been working on the halal pharmaceutical market in the country. Several products are in the progress to apply for halal certificate.” This initiative could be the pillars of potential collaboration. This movement further extends to the USIM’s existing centre of excellence, International Fatwa and Halal Centre (iFFAH) which aspires to be fatwa and halal scholarly centre for the well-being of ummah and universal.

Besides, USIM strives to simulate workplaces at the university together with industry partners in improve graduate employability. Through this MoU, USIM intends to boost the employment prospects of graduate via engaging USIM students to have internships. It works with industry on projects that helps to build the Uni-industry ecosystem.

USIM honourably welcome Duopharma Biotech onboard with the university-industry collaboration. It is deemed to launch a successful and rewarding collaboration with faculty of medicine and health sciences who are leaders in medical health sciences field.

Prepared by:
Dr. Tan Ka Liong
Lecturer
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FPSK)
Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)