MREPC News

MREPC's inaugural Industry Linkage Fund was officially launched by YB Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong, Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities at an event themed 'Enhancing Competitiveness through Research Collaboration' on 26 September 2017. Marking another initiative to support the rubber products industry, the Industry Linkage Fund will encourage research and development (R&D) in the industry, apart from activities related to market promotion and human capital development. The industry linkage fund serves as a platform to leverage the strengths and expertise of local public and private universities, as well as Malaysian research institutes to undertake market driven research. This will benefit the industry in terms of enhancing innovation and competitiveness and help increase exports of Malaysian rubber products. At the event, MREPC signed a Certificate of Cooperation with the Malaysian Rubber Board, Malaysian Rubber Products Manufacturers Association, Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association and ten universities, namely Universiti Malaya, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Monash University, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia and Universiti Malaysia Perlis. YB Datuk Seri Mah witnessed the signing ceremony. In conjunction with the launching of the fund, YB Datuk Seri Mah also presented MREPC Scholarship Awards 2017 to 29 recipients who are currently pursuing undergraduate programmes at public and private universities. Introduced in 2010, the MREPC Scholarship programme is aimed at providing financial support to deserving young Malaysians as well as supplying a pool of talents to the rubber products industry.