KUALA LUMPUR, December 27 – The Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation (Bioeconomy Corporation) is set to launch the BioAgrotech & BioPharmaceutical Employability and Entrepreneurship Specialised Training programme (BeST 2.0) in January 2024, extending its footprint to Sabah and Sarawak. Recognizing the escalating demand for skilled talent in the biotechnology and bio-based industries in these regions, this strategic expansion aims to foster local expertise and propel sustained growth in Malaysia’s biotechnology sector.
BeST 2.0, initiated in 2021, focuses on enhancing graduates’ employability by providing hands-on industry experience. The program, under the Twelfth Malaysia Plan and supported by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), adopts a “place-train-hire” approach, ensuring job placements for graduates in host companies after completion. In a statement, Mohd Khairul Fidzal Abdul Razak, CEO of Bioeconomy Corporation, emphasized the significance of expanding BeST 2.0 to Borneo. This move aims to infuse skilled, innovative talents into the biotechnology scene, fostering a symbiotic relationship for relevant and sustainable innovations.
The program not only addresses the talent gap but also stimulates the growth of biotech and bio-based companies in Sabah and Sarawak. The first intake in Borneo aims to place approximately 30 participants in 15 biotechnology and bio-based companies, contributing to the development of high-value products in the region.
