KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17 (Bernama) -- Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) emerged as a substantial winner in the Biotechnology Asia 2005 Innovation Awards when nine of its ten innovations submitted this year won awards.



The awards, which were introduced for the first time this year, saw nine innovations from UPM receiving four gold awards, three silver and two bronze.



Overall, 11 innovations from various universities and private companies received gold medals in the categories of agriculture/agro-based industry, industrial research, medical research, healthcare & pharmaceutical and waste-to-wealth.



Meanwhile, a total of 12 silver and 12 bronze awards were also presented to the winners at a ceremony, here Wednesday.



Organiser, Protemp Group chairman Datuk Ahmad Ithnin, said that the awards had received an overwhelming response with 42 entries submitted by local universities and private companies.



He said that the innovations were judged based on criteria such as originality, applicability, status and functionality, commercial value and presentation of each innovation.



Ahmad also said that he hoped there would be more submission from the private companies in the future.



The award presentation was held in conjunction with Biotechnology Asia 2005 Exhibition and Conference.



Meanwhile, the sole winner from a private company, Dr Fereidoun Mahboudi said that he was happy and hoped to be at the exhibition again next year.



The founder of the Iran-based company, CinnaGen Co, which invented DNA Extraction Kit, said that besides the award, he was lucky to meet his Malaysian counterparts to exchange ideas.



"We are currently looking for joint venture partners to set up medical biotechnology production facility here. So far, we have already talked with three parties and still evaluating the situation," he told reporters after the awards presentation.



Mahboudi, who is also a renowned researcher in Biotechnology Research Centre in Tehran, said that Malaysia is a potential partner as it had vast resources as well as potential growth in biotechnology.



-- BERNAMA