Friday, September 14, 2012

National Instruments, Technology Park And SME Corp Collaborate To Establish NI-AIN

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v6/newsbusiness.php?id=694554

Published: September 14, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 13 (Bernama) -- United States-based National Instruments Corp, in collaboration with Technology Park Malaysia Corporation Sdn Bhd and SME Corp Malaysia, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish the National Instrument Academy and Innovation Nucleus (NI-AIN).

Managing Director for Southeast Asia Chandran Nair said the company will be investing US$80 million (US$1=RM3.08) in the shared laboratory infrastructure, expected to be fully operational by the first quarter next year, which is aimed to lower entry barriers and enable access to facilities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

"(This is) to nurture innovation, develop the talent pool, build capabilities and capacities and promote intellectual property creation among SMEs in Malaysia," he said in a statement today.

Chandran said the NI-AIN would house eight unique technology laboratories that are fully equipped with the latest hardware and software from the company in automated test, control and measurement.

The laboratories will be used for training and certification, human capital development in science, technology and innovation and enabling local SMEs to innovate in vertical industry applications such as control and instrumentation, radio frequency and wireless applications, green technology, energy, oil and gas, transportation and agro-science.

SME Corp Chief Executive Officer Datuk Hafsah Hashim said the NI-AIN will further enhance SMEs as the backbone of the Malaysian economy.

"We are envisioning that NI-AIN will become an SME incubator centre for high-value design and engineering services and in the long-run a full-fledged technology commercialisation hub," she added.

Located in Penang, the NI-AIN is one of the Entry Point Projects under the Economic Transformation Programme, geared towards enabling and supporting the building of a "Test and Measurement Innovation Hub" at Malaysia's industrial corridors.

-- BERNAMA

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