Published: on 11 Jun 2012
I have always been amazed at how Japanese SMEs are able to marry off innovation and high technology — reason for which they are highly regarded as leaders in the automobile sector and trend-setters in electronic equipment, machinery and chemical products. So much so that “copycat” products mushroomed all over the world!
During one of my trips to the Land of the Rising Sun, I was fascinated by their power of imagination and mind-blowing inventions. Not just ordinary inventions, but one that could really make a big difference in everyday lives.
A particular invention that remains etched in my mind is the phenomenal concept of a bedroom: practical for both senior citizens and those living alone.
This first-ever mechanism is based on a forced wake-up system.
If you are one of those who set up your alarm and decided to take a long, deep snooze later, think twice!
This particular invention actually detects body temperature and weight of a person on the bed.
After about 15 minutes, your alarm goes off and if it still detects body temperature and weight, the bed will automatically rise from a flat position to a 45-degree angle.
If the body temperature and weight are still detected in the next few minutes, it will straight away prop the person up to a 90-degree position.
By this time, if the person has not yet left the bed, it will trigger the bedside telephone connecting it to the nearest hospital — and within minutes, an ambulance will be right at the doorstep.
An absolute marvel indeed! From time to time, I dream that Malaysian SMEs would one day level up to the standards of the Japanese SMEs, in business ethics as well as in producing innovative and high technology products.
To encourage Malaysian corporates to move in this direction, SME Corp will showcase the best of
innovation and inventions by our local SMEs at the annual SMIDEX 2012, between June 20 and June 22, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
This platform provides the best opportunity for SMEs to put their best foot forward and present their cutting-edge services and products to the public, while basking in the various business matching activities organised during the three-day event.
Themed “SMEs — Shaping The Future”, the showcase will feature an innovative lifestyle concept, bringing in new elements such as modern padi fields, cargo container smart homes and LED remote maintained street lights, all nicely fitted into the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
I am truly excited to display these innovative SMEs that are gifted with extraordinary abilities.
I personally would regard this year’s showcase as exclusive, since only the “crème de la crème” are invited to participate.
More than 300 exhibitors have been lined up, including international companies from Japan, India, Korea and Iran.
Watch out for our local big corporates, Proton Holdings Bhd, Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua), Celcom (M) Bhd, Telekom Malaysia Bhd, Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Bhd, RHB Bhd, which will be alongside international big names such as Boeing and British Aerospace Engineering Systems (BAE Systems), just to name a few.
Annually, the pinnacle of the showcase is the one-to-one business matching sessions. SMEs that have participated in these sessions should grab the opportunities to create linkages with large companies such as global hypermarkets and other multinational corporations (MNCs).
As SMEs are a vital part of every MNC’s supply chain, this platform also acts as a “buyer-meet-seller” ground for both parties.
Last year’s business matching session saw a total of 178 sessions materialise with negotiations valued at RM194.7 million. A total of 7,043 visitors were recorded for the three-day showcase.
This year’s suspense of who will walk away with the RM1 million SME Innovation Award 2012 continues... so lock your dates (between June 20 and June 22) to catch the winner who dares to dream the impossible and turn innovation into a futuristic, practical masterpiece.
He was only doing what Eric Hoffer (The Passionate State of Mind: And Other Aphorisms) said, “The only way to predict the
future is to have the power to shape the future” and he did just that!
Datuk Hafsah Hashim is the chief executive officer of Small and Medium Enterprises Corporation Malaysia (SME Corp Malaysia)
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