EU eyes more research tie-ups with Malaysia

MALAYSIA’S research infrastructure is more sophisticated than many of its neighbours, yet its research cooperation with advanced economies like Europe is still at a very low level, says a high ranking European Union official.

Ambassador Vincent Piket said Malaysians were currently involved in nine large-scale research projects funded by European Union (EU) under its Framework Programme Seven for research and technological development, with a total value of ?25 million (RM100 million).

The number, which doubled last year’s five projects, was due to a promotion campaign the EU had undertaken with the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti).

Although he was happy with the result, Piket said the potential is much greater.

“The Malaysian success rate in the EU’s Framework Programme for RTD (research and technological development) is still below the average if you compare it with other non-EU countries,” he told the Business Times.

The success rate stands at 17.7 per cent for Malaysia against the average of 23.2 per cent.