To non-scientists, biotechnology could be defined as using living things to create or improve products. This description recognizes the role of biotechnology in creating such diverse products as vaccines, anti-cancer drugs, enhanced crops or Dolly the sheep.

The Malaysian Government, expressing strong support for biotechnology to support economic growth, plans to leverage the country’s natural resources, growing technical expertise and experience with commodity crops to make Malaysia an active player in this growing industry. As a result, the government projects the generation of RM270 (US$72 billion) in revenue by 2020. During those 15 years, it forecasts creation of 280,000 jobs in approximately 100 new companies.

Malaysia boasts natural biodiversity from its tropical rain forests, which could benefit agricultural research. It has corresponding expertise in tropical commodity crops, such as palm oil, rubber and cocoa. The government is also interested in the potential of these resources to support nutraceutical and biopharmaceutical products in the future.

While the United States leads the biotech industry, governments and companies in other countries are making strides in this area, including the UK, Germany, Sweden, Australia, Japan, India, China and South Korea.

Biotech in Top Gear, Rajan Moses; Mustapha Kamil and others, New Straits Times (Malaysia)