The MRC Industry Linkage Fund is a funding programme for the Malaysian rubber products industry to collaborate with universities and research institutions on research projects that will contribute to development of rubber industry in Malaysia in the following areas:
The MRC Industry Linkage Fund provides a platform for the industry to leverage on the strengths and expertise of public and private universities in Malaysia, as well as Malaysian research institutes to undertake market-driven research which will benefit the industry in terms of innovation as well as research and development (R&D).
The programme aims to strengthen rubber – university/research institution linkages in Malaysia for the development of the rubber products industry. The MRC Industry Linkage Fund was officially launched by Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities on 26 September 2017.
The focus of the programme will be on projects that have the potential to improve competitiveness of Malaysian rubber products in the global market. Priority areas and products for research are as follows:
Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria.
The project must be scientifically sound, technically feasible with achievable milestones, and has the potential for further development and commercialisation
The research team must have the knowledge and competency to carry out the project successfully to completion
The project must indicate whether it is a recombination, fusion, integration, replication or refinement of existing technologies with improved value, enhanced efficiency or cost reduction. Applicant must conduct a Prior Art Search to verify on the patentability aspect
The project must be clear, accurate and consistent with the objective of the MRC Industry Linkage Fund. The project must also describe appropriate methodologies and the type of output expected which benefits the rubber products industry
For pre-commercialisation projects, the proposal submitted for funding must have a proven concept which ready for commercialisation to test the market. The project must theorise a technology solution to a problem and have a reasonable basis that there is a market opportunity. The theory must be ready to test by building something that is only advanced enough to prove that the concept can work
The MRC Industry Linkage Fund will be in the form of research grants. A full grant will be awarded to project that will offer industry-wide solutions while a matching grant will be awarded to a specific project which will benefit individual companies, especially the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The quantum of fund approved will be assessed based on the project proposal and is up to the maximum of RM300,000 for both full grant and matching grant. The duration of each project shall not be more than 3 years from the commencement date. The funding can be utilised for the following categories of research expenditure.
Application is open to all researchers who are employed on a permanent or contractual basis with the following organisations:
Applicants are only required to submit a "Preliminary Proposal" or a research brief prior to submitting a "Full Proposal". Submission of "Preliminary Proposal" is via the MRC ILF online system. All research projects are required to have an industry collaborator to be eligible for the funding. The project leader is required to identify an industry partner and specify the role of the industry partner in the application.
Research proposal can be submitted throughout the year.
Industry-University Interaction Session
The ILF programme's Industry-University Interaction Session is organized by MRC to provide a platform for the exchange of information between the rubber industry and universities/research institutions. During the session, participants from both sides will share their research interest as well as research capabilities and facilities for a potential R&D collaboration under the Fund. Since the launching of ILF, the Interaction Session has been successfully organized in 2017, 2019 and 2021.
Listed here are the presentation slides of participants from the previous sessions which highlight their areas of interest and capabilities.
Rubber Associations and Companies
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Universities and Research Institutions
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