KUCHING: Sarawak must turn its research, innovation and rich natural resources into new industries, commercial opportunities and solutions that deliver tangible benefits to the people.
Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said Sarawak’s rich biodiversity, natural resources and growing pool of talent provided a strong foundation for building a knowledge-driven and innovation-led economy.
“Our challenge is to transform these assets into knowledge, innovation, new industries and opportunities for our people,” he said in his closing remarks at the Sarawak SHInE International Conference 2026 at Imperial Hotel here on Friday (Sept 11).
Sagah said the Sarawak Bioeconomy Roadmap, announced by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg on Thursday (Sept 10), was an important step towards strengthening the link between research and industry.
He said the roadmap, being developed through collaboration between the Sarawak Research and Development Council (SRDC) and BioVerde Technologies Sdn Bhd (BVT), had kicked off with a roundtable involving 50 stakeholders from industry, research and government.
“The roundtable brings these key stakeholders together to strengthen industry-research linkages, better align research with market needs, and establish clear pathways from the laboratory to commercialisation.”
Sagah said the roadmap would be actionable and designed to complement, rather than duplicate, existing initiatives while ensuring Sarawak’s bioeconomy development remained responsive to industry priorities.
He said the true measure of SHINE 2026 would be what happened after the symposium, including whether new collaborations emerged, ideas became innovations and innovations reached industry and society. “These are the outcomes that matter.”
He also commended SRDC and all partners involved in organising SHINE 2026, saying the symposium had evolved from a platform for SRDC grant recipients to share their research into an increasingly international platform connecting researchers and collaborators across borders.
He highlighted the role of the Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (SIDC), as co-organiser, in strengthening Sarawak’s biomedical and infectious disease research capabilities and connecting local researchers with national and international networks.
He also congratulated the SRDC BrightSparx participants and award winners, describing young innovators as future shapers of Sarawak’s innovation ecosystem.
“You are not simply the beneficiaries of today’s innovation ecosystem—you will be the people who shape it tomorrow.”
He urged participants to carry the momentum from SHINE 2026 forward by strengthening connections, deepening collaborations and turning knowledge into impact.
“Ultimately, Sarawak’s future will not be determined only by the resources we possess, but by what we are able to discover, create and innovate from them.”
