Global Bridge™ Malaysia CAP launched successfully

Larta Institute, in partnership with Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Government of Malaysia, launched the much-anticipated Global Bridge Malaysia CAP in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last week. Joining Larta CEO Rohit Shukla in Malaysia for the 2-day event were Constanza Pachon, Larta Institute COO and Carlos Gutierrez, Larta Institute Chief Strategy Officer. Larta also invited four senior Principal Advisors (PAs) involved in Larta's NIH CAP and USDA CATP programs to participate.

The program, which features emerging innovations (and researchers) from Malaysian universities and research institutes, will work with 12 individuals over a period of four months to help them craft a commercialization "roadmap", develop elements of their business plan and an investor-ready presentation, provide web-based feedback from industry and investment professionals, and mentor them in continuing one-on-one sessions.

The launch event (referred to as the "Kick off") was enthusiastically received by executives from Malaysia Biotechnology Corporation, including CEO Iskandar Mizal Mahmood, who provided opening remarks, Mohamad Yazid Abdul Hamid, Senior VP, Strategy & Planning, under whose area this program falls, and Juanita Joseph, VP of Infrastructure (Strategy & Planning). CEO Iskandar Mahmood placed this program in the context of Malaysia's overall plan, which calls for effecting transitions from science to business, and accorded it some prominence in the activities of the organization. Senior VP Yazid Hamid, who has shepherded this program from its inception as an idea developed in 2008, was on hand to encourage participants to take on the challenge of moving their innovations into the commercial marketplace.

Participants in the program are primarily emerging from research, and are assessing their options to start enterprises around their innovations. Malaysia is exploring various issues associated with technology transfer, which promises to be a strong effort to ensure that its research assets are well exploited for commercial advantage. A principal target of the program is to ensure migration to what is referred to as "Bionexus status," under which companies may be eligible for a range of incentives which promise to accelerate their commercial presence.

In addition to seminar sessions where issues of global entrepreneurship, funding, IP and marketing were led by Larta PAs, the launch event featured participant presentations and one-on-one meetings between the participants and their assigned Larta advisors, in order to develop a work plan for the program moving forward. After the kick off, the program will now be conducted virtually, via Web sessions, remote mentoring, and electronic communication, including an anticipated Feedback Session, during which all participants will receive unfiltered feedback on their plans and presentations from industry and investment professionals recruited for the purpose by Larta Institute.

The Malaysia CAP is one element of a wide-ranging partnership between Larta Institute and Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation, which includes a program for technology transfer offices (TTOs), a professional-in-residence program (shadowing Larta's professional staff) and assistance to Malaysia on its inward investment program for small and large companies interested in tapping into one of the world's most diverse countries. Malaysia is one of only 18 countries worldwide classified as "mega diverse", and its botanical and ecological diversity, ethnically diverse population, world-class facilities and leading position in palm oil, rubber, tin and other natural resources make it an attractive partner for innovators in the life sciences and in agriculture and food sciences.