CHARTING FUTURE FOOD: BEDB AND UBD UNITE FOR ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN AND AQUATIC INNOVATION CENTER

CHARTING FUTURE FOOD: BEDB AND UBD UNITE FOR ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN AND AQUATIC INNOVATION CENTER

April 02, 2024

Tuesday 2 April 2024 – Two separate meetings between Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) and Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) underscores the potential for collaborative efforts in priority areas. The meetings, held at the UBD campus, sought to explore as well as strengthen collaborative efforts and potential synergies between academia and industry in the realms of sustainable energy and food production.

In the initial encounter, the focus was on exploring research opportunities and potential collaborations to develop alternative protein sourced from microalgae, a concept enthusiastically shared with the UBD team. BEDB presented this initiative as a means to foster research ties between UBD and a prominent Singaporean company.

In the subsequent meeting, discussions centered around the detailed proposed plan for partnering with Temasek Polytechnic to establish an innovative research hub dedicated to advancing aquaculture methodologies.

BEDB was represented by Puan Dian Teo, Lead Food Cluster, FDO Action & Support Centre (FAST), who was accompanied by her team Tuan Arifubillah Masli and Puan Dk Iffah Haziqah Pg Mohamad. UBD was represented by the Office of Assistant Vice Chancellor (Innovation and Enterprise) led by Professor Dr Mohd Ayub Sadiq @ Lin Naing, Assistant Vice Chancellor (Innovation and Enterprise). Also in attendance was Dr Haji Abdul Hanif Dato Paduka Haji Mahadi, Assistant Vice Chancellor (Research).

Joining the first meeting were three esteemed academics from the PAPRSB Institute of Health Science, Dr Suwarni Haji Mohd Diah, Deputy Dean (Graduate Studies & Research), Dr Sheikh Naeem Syafqat, Programme Leader of BHSc Pharmacy, and Dr Lim Ya Chee, Lecturer. Joining both Assistant Vice Chancellors in the second meeting were Associate Professor Dr Lim Lee Hoon, Dean of Faculty of Science, and Dr Saifullah Haji Bakar, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Integrated Technologies.

Both meetings yield intentions and strong interests to pursue further engagement to strategise plans for collaborative projects in the near future. UBD is committed to advancing sustainable development initiatives through interdisciplinary research and strategic partnerships which take in several forms which included research collaboration, students’ work attachment and internship, prospects of partnership for students-entrepreneurs, and the development of innovation lab.

By Fifi Faulina Hj Zailani