Invention Asia|Vol 1|No 2|2015|ITEX 2015

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/ C O N T ENTS/ PROFILE

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EIGHT DONS HONOURED

Emeritus Professor Tan Sri Dr Augustine Ong formerly from Universiti Sains Malaysia was bestowed the 2015 National Academic Laureate Award recently.

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FEATURE

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ITEX 2015 CONNECTING INVENTIVE MINDS

The International Invention and Innovation Exhibition 2015 raised the bar higher by drawing the brightest minds in the region and showcasing their revolutionary inventions. The recently concluded ITEX 2015 saw an extensive array of inventions.

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ITEX 2015 BEST INVENTION AWARD INTERNATIONAL TOUCH

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A quick look at some of the invention associations that participated at the recent ITEX 2015.

NATIONAL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AWARD

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BOOSTING INNOVATION

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Technology transfer and commercialisation among the highlights of AIM’s Innovating Malaysia Conference 2015.

MESINIAGA BERHAD WINS ASIAN INVENTION EXCELLENCE AWARD 2015

Workforce+, the country’s first mobile Internet-based productivity optimisation tool, offers innovative features.

THE VOICE FOR INVENTORS

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Dato’ Vincent Lim, President of C.I.S Network Sdn Bhd SUPPORTED BY Asian Caucus of Invention Associations (ACIA) POWERED BY Invention & Innovation Exhibition Malaysia (ITEX)

Since 1968, the International Federation of Inventors’ Association has been tirelessly championing the common interests of inventors.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Academian Tan Sri Emeritus Professor Dr Omar Abdul Rahman

GRAPHENE, MATERIAL OF THE FUTURE

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Dr Leo Ann Mean, Academian Datuk Hong Lee Pee, Janice Gan, Stephen Poon, V. S. Ganesan and Yuhanis Latif

Developed by Associate Professor Toshimasa Yamamoto, ‘Magic’ water changes the future of aqua culture where sea and freshwater fish swim together in the same tank.

GREEN FOOD

Plant-based sustainable versions of meat may soon become a reality.

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Several inventors and innovators from various universities and organisations honoured at annual award ceremony.

Five award-winning Malaysian women inventors share the spotlight.

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IMPRESSIVE INVENTIONS AT ITEX 2015

Spotlight on some of the inventions that impressed not only the exhibition organisers and judges but visitors as well.

MALAYSIAN WOMEN INVENTORS IMPRESS

PUBLISHERS Academician Tan Sri Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr Augustine Ong Soon Hock, President of Malaysian Invention & Design Society (MINDS)

THINKING

Two inventors of the Embrace Infant Warmer share their thoughts on how they came up with the idea of creating the sleeping bag for infants.

ETHICAL DESIGN: KILLING THREE BIRDS WITH TWO STONES ASIA’S INNOVATIVE COMPANIES

The spotlight falls on four companies – Malaysia’s Maybank, Japan’s Fast Retailing Co. Ltd, Russia’s Magnit and South Korea’s Naver Corporation.

ON INVENTION: AWAKENING THE INVENTIVE MIND

This informative book spins captivating tales of intriguing inventions.

EDITORIAL ADVISOR Academian Tan Sri Emeritus Professor, Datuk Dr Augustine Ong Soon Hock EXECUTIVE EDITOR V.S. Ganesan EDITOR Sharmila Vella

Invention Asia is produced by

HMS Harini Management Services Sdn Bhd (609031-W) W-9-12, Menara Melawangi, Amcorp Trade Centre, 18, Persiaran Barat, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Tel: 603-7932 3259 Email: harini.mservices@gmail.com

DIRECTOR N. Premala CONSULTANT V.S. Ganesan CREATIVE ART DIRECTOR Goh Wei Lee ADVERTISING CONSULTANT Faridah Ismail Malaysian Invention And Design Society (MINDS) C-3A-10, 4th Floor, Block C, Damansara Intan, No. 1, Jalan SS20/27, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Tel: 603-7118 2062 Email: minds.invent@gmail.com Website: www.minds.com.my C.I.S Network Sdn Bhd 9-1-6, Jalan 3/109F, Danau Business Centre, Danau Desa Off Jalan Kelang Lama, 58100 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.

Tel: 603-7982 1648 Email: info@cisnetwork.com Printing Percetakan Skyline Sdn Bhd (135134-V) 35-37, Jalan 12/32B, TSI Business Industrial Park, Batu 6 1/2 Off Jalan Kepong, 52100 Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: +603-6257 4846 / 1217 (Hunting)

All authors automatically agree to indemnify C.I.S Network Sdn Bhd, MINDS and Harini Management Services Sdn Bhd against any loss, costs, expenses (including legal fees), damages and liabilities that might arise from their own incapacity, negligence, breach of contract or other civil misdeeds. We reserve the right to edit all articles. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2015 by C.I.S Network Sdn Bhd and Harini Management Services Sdn Bhd. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the publisher. The views expressed in the articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of C.I.S Network Sdn Bhd, MINDS and Harini Management Services Sdn Bhd. C.I.S Network Sdn Bhd, MINDS and Harini Management Services Sdn Bhd accept no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photography, illustration and other editorial materials.

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FROM THE EDITORS’ BOARD

Welcome to Invention Asia, a publication devoted to inspiring invention and championing commercialisation.

Published jointly by C.I.S Network Sdn Bhd and MINDS, Invention Asia was first introduced in May 2014 as a special publication commemorating the Silver Jubilee of the International Invention & Innovation Exhibition or ITEX. Encouraged by a good response, a second issue was published in conjunction with ITEX 2015. The publishers have now decided to make Invention Asia a regular biannual publication, the current issue being designated Vol 1, No 2. An Editorial Board comprising representatives of CIS and MINDS is now established.

It is the mission and commitment of the Editorial Board to make Invention Asia a platform for the invention communities, not only in Malaysia but also in Asia, particularly members of the invention societies who regularly participate in ITEX in Kuala Lumpur, and to share experiences, news and exciting new developments. Invention Asia will also be a mouthpiece for your views and comments.

The publication features a broad spectrum of articles, including new developments in policy and management matters related to invention, commercialisation and innovation. Invention Asia also features exciting new discoveries and stories of high-impact inventions and innovations.

The Editors’ Board is the column for both the Publisher and the Editorial Board, the latter being both individually and collectively, to communicate with you, our readers.

Where Invention Thrives, the Economy Flourishes TAN SRI OMAR ABDUL RAHMAN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF tansriomar@gmail.com

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History has revealed that people from Asia have a scientific and innovative mind. Asians were responsible for the discovery of optics, paper-making process, development of mathematics and the understanding of astronomy.

However, the Western world has effectively developed modern sciences to an advanced stage through its management of science and technology.

The impact of modern science and technology on the development of the world has been a great success.

It is timely therefore that efforts be made to spur the Asian mind to be more creative and innovative to address the needs of the Asian population and to contribute to scientific knowledge and strive towards Asia’s past glory for the benefit of mankind. ~ TAN SRI AUGUSTINE ONG

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P R O F I L E

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Eight Dons Honoured For Contributions To Higher Education Emeritus Professor Dr Augustine Ong, formerly from Universiti Sains Malaysia was bestowed the 2015 National Academic Laureate Award at the 9th National Academic Awards held recently

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e was among eight academicians who were honoured for their contributions to the higher education sector and the country’s progress. Dr Augustine Ong who is the founding president of the Malaysian Invention and Design Society (MINDS) received the award from Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh for his contributions in chemistry and the palm oil industry.

He received a cash prize of RM200,000, a trophy and a certificate presented by Datuk Seri Idris.

Dr Augustine Ong is a Senior Fellow of the Academy of Sciences, Malaysia, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry London, a Fellow of the Third World Academy of Sciences and a Fellow of King’s College London.

Other award recipients were Associate Professor Fatimah Puteh (Teaching Award in Literature and Social Science Cluster); Associate Professor Dr Raja Nor Safinas Raja Harun (Teaching Award in Literature and Social Science Cluster) and Professor Dr Rahmah Noordin (Innovation and Product Commercialisation Award). Associate Professor Dr Mohd Fauzi Sedon @ M. Dom received the Arts & Creativity Award; Associate Professor Dr Lean Hooi Hoo (Journal Publication award in Social Science and Literature Field); Professor Dr Hany Mohd Ariffin (Journal Publication Award in Science field) and Associate Professor Dr Lim Jit Kang (Promising Academician Award).

Also present were Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching, Higher Education Ministry secretarygeneral Datuk Seri Ir Dr Zaini Ujang and Higher Education Director-General Datuk Professor Dr Asma Ismail.

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ITEX 2015

Connecting Inventive Minds True to form, the International Invention and Innovation Exhibition 2015 raises the bar higher by drawing the brightest minds in the region and showcasing their revolutionary inventions.

by Sharmila Vella

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1. The launch of ITEX 2015.

2. The official announcement of the International Conference on Invention & Design 2016, held in conjunction with ITEX 2015.

3. Heads of international and local delegations during the reception to welcome them.

4. Guest-of-honour, Tan Sri Omar Abdul Rahman, at the official opening of ITEX 2015.

5. Among the special guests at the official opening of ITEX 2015 was Tan Sri Law Hieng Ding.

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International Touch

en Yangs Industrial Co. Ltd which sells insole products, took part in 2013 ITEX and successfully found an agent in Malaysia during the exhibition. “ITEX is a great platform for business, for us,” said a spokesman for the company.

ABOUT TIPPA

Taiwan Invention Products Promotion Association (TIPPA) was set up in 1993 to boost the status of inventors and their inventions at home and abroad, coordinate with government agencies and participate in exhibitions worldwide.

TIPPA, a non-profit organisation with over 60 members, has more than 200 patent inventions ranging from toys and electronic equipment to industrial products. The association’s President, Hsieh Hsin Ming said, “With much advancement in technology and science, coupled with a conducive environment, the younger generation can be motivated to become inventors and Taiwan can become an invention kingdom.”

Participating at international and national exhibitions also encourages the inventors to improve their product and promote cooperation between inventor associations and enterprises, he said.

Tan Sri Dr. Ong with the international leaders.

The Taiwanese inventors who won medals at 2015 ITEX.

ITEX, the Catalyst for Founding of INNOPA

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ssociation makes headway in motivating Indonesian inventors to compete and excel at international level events.

It all began in 2012 when Andi Dwi Putra who was then a student in Universitas Negeri Jakarta, participated in ITEX 2012. His two inventions – a health drink made from Javanese ginger, and mathematics book in batik motif – won him a silver medal and bronze medal at ITEX 2012.

Participating in the exhibition was an eye opener for him. He not only met many inventors from other countries but also realised that the growth and exposure of inventions and innovations in Indonesia was not on par with other countries as Indonesia did not have an association or institution which focused on the development of innovation.

Although Indonesia has many potential inventors, innovators and researchers, whether in the schools, universities, or companies, there was no specific body or organisation to represent them and guide them to channel their potential at international levels.

Returning home from the ITEX exhibition, Andi decided to set up an association with a vision “to build an innovative future generation of Indonesians”.

Together with his partners, who were the winners of other research competitions in

Indonesia, he established the Association of Young Innovators and Scientists Indonesia (AYISI). It attracted 500 members comprising youths, students and adult inventors, including lecturers and teachers. In 2014, AYISI changed its name to Indonesian Invention and Innovation Promotion Association (INNOPA).

“As an association, we are committed to helping Indonesian inventors promote their inventions to the world. More importantly, INNOPA has succeeded in motivating many Indonesian inventors to not only compete but excel at international level events. It’s all thanks to ITEX,” said Andi.

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Dynamic Duo

T Russian House for International Scientific and Technological Cooperation

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ollowing Russia’s transition to a market economy, the Russian House for International Scientific and Technological Cooperation was formed in March 1992 by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Academy of Sciences and the Foundation for Fundamental Research.

A member of the International Federation of Inventors’ Associations (IFIA), the Association of European Inventors (AEI) and the Institute of Foreign Trade of Italy, the association actively promotes Russian achievements in the field of science and technology to the world market and establishes practical cooperation between Russian and foreign organisations in the field of scientific-technological and educational innovations.

Russia will be taking part in ITEX 2016, its 10th participation at this exhibition. “We consider ITEX as a very important platform to present, expose and commercialise Russian technological inventions in this region. ITEX also provides an avenue to introduce to the Asia Pacific region leading Russian universities and research centers, where students from other countries may further improve the quality of their education. This is an avenue to attract extra funds for science and industry and for inventors and researchers to have more links to worldwide markets,” said the association.

ITEX was a startup platform for the commercialisation of Russian inventions such as the slotted filter pipes used in the oil and gas industry and the self sustaining centripetal partial turbine, among others.

During ITEX 2016, the association, together with its Malaysian travel coordinator, GM Travel House, will initiate a new program for Malaysian inventors and businessmen to visit Russia in September 2016.

“In the program we will organise visits to Russian Technology Parks and research centres.”

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wins from Saudi Arabia invent a single, multifunctional tool that combines the uses of the Allen key and wrench.

Allen keys and wrenches are extremely important tools for many people who use them on a daily basis.

Despite its many uses, many people have complained about problems in using in these tools. The Allen keys come in many sizes and some of the keys are very small which make them easy to lose.

Furthermore, when you lose an individual key, you need to buy the whole set again in order to replace that individual key.

To find a solution to this problem, 16-year-old twins, Amaar Abdulrazack Amir and Baraa Abdulrazack Amir from Saudi Arabia, put on their thinking caps and invented a single, multifunctional tool which combines the uses of both the Allen key and wrench.

“But truth be told, we never in our wildest dreams thought that we would ever go as far as we did and achieve what we’ve achieved,” they said.

How did they come up with the idea for the project? Simple, the twins have always participated in robotic competitions in the past and they continue to do so. “In these competitions, we used to always deal with screwdrivers, metal plates and nuts and bolts, among others. The most frequently used tool was the Allen keys.”

Faced with the two problems where Allen keys are concerned, the duo, after some brainstorming sessions, came up with a solution.

“We were able to combine all the keys into one screwdriver in a way not seen before. So, instead of carrying a set of a dozen individual keys or more, you now carry only one screwdriver with all the main Allen key sizes.

“Plus, in order to use it, all you

have to do is place the screwdriver’s head in the bolt, push the handle a little, and the correct size of Allen keys would automatically fit the screw!

Once they put together their invention, they were ready to participate in a school science fair by an organisation called Mawhiba, a Saudi Arabian gifted and creative education programme.

Their invention impressed the judges and qualified them to participate at the national level. “The national level competition was one of the hardest things we have ever done, but a few extra hours of work on the invention made all the difference. We won the grand prize. Our invention took the first prize, and in addition, we had a special award from Saudi Aramco.”

Their journey didn’t end there.

They participated in ITEX 2015 in Malaysia and won a gold medal – the only gold medal won by a foreigner in that category. They also received a special award given from WIIPA. The twins credit their family for their success. “We couldn’t have achieved all this without the support of our family. Our sisters and our younger brother always motivated us and pushed us to be better. Our parents, too, have been extremely helpful in many ways. They helped us find certain components that were necessary for our invention.”

Personal Experiences of AYIE 2015 Participants

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y name is Prawit Fongmoon and I am a teacher at Chumchon Ban Mae Hang School, Amphoe Mae Ai, a remote area in northern Chiang Mai province in Thailand. My students were Master Sompong La-air and Master Daeng Lungor. I was told by the Office of the Basic Education, Ministry of Education that our invention was selected to be one of 10 to showcase at the AYIE 2015 in Malaysia.

Our invention is called “Mr. Slurpee” which is an automatic bottle buying machine. At first, we were very happy then we were worried because we had a lot of things to do such as adjusting our inventions and preparing ourselves for travelling abroad. We had never been abroad before and our hill tribe students had to prepare their documents in order to get their passports. It was tough on the students as they had to travel to another province to get their passports, but they did not mind it as it was a chance for them to travel abroad. It was also the biggest event of their lives.

It took more than two months to finalise everything.

It was also an opportunity to discover and learn about new and interesting inventions from other countries, and making friends with other Thai and foreign participants.

We exchanged ideas as well. Most of all, attending the AYIE 2015 has inspired us to create new inventions.”

“Peel & De-vein” Shrimp Device

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epresentatives from the Thung Yai School in Nakhon Si Thammarat province located in south Thailand won the silver medal at the recent AYIE2015 for their invention “Peel and De-vein” Shrimp Shrimp device. This device also won a special award from Hong Kong.

The team adapted a secateurs to be an efficient device.

The Peel and De-vein Shrimp device not only saves time but is easy to use and more importantly, reduces risk of injury to the finger when peeling or deveining shrimps.

“Our invention was small, portable and meet users’ need,” says a team member. During the exhibition, these students also had an opportunity to see inventions by students from other countries. “Some of the inventions were outstanding and creative. We are inspired to invent new inventions in the near future.”

They also had an opportunity to understand the Malaysian way of life, culture and sample the local food.

Association of Polish Inventors and Rationalizers

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he current Association of Polish Inventors and Rationalizers (API&R), a continuation of the statutory goals of the two previous associations of inventors, has 10 local branches and it consists of about 1,450 inventors and 65 supporting members.

The association is supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, and the Ministry of Environment.

The association was primarily set up to promote Polish inventions in the country and abroad, protect the inventors’ and rationalisers’ copyright for their invention, as well as help create a conducive environment and provide a platform for the inventors.

As a collective voice of Polish inventors, API&R, since 1990, has been promoting Polish inventions at specialised international inventions exhibitions and fairs. To date, over 2,000 Polish innovative technical and process-related solutions have been showcased at numerous exhibitions worldwide.

In 2014, during the international exhibitions and innovation fairs, API&R promoted almost 500 inventions which were awarded 319 medals (116 of them were gold) and 87 special awards. API&R is a member of the Association of European Inventors (AEI), and is active in the International Federation of Inventors’ Associations (IFIA) and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

As Polish companies are more interested in innovations presented abroad, API&R has been organising the International Warsaw Invention Show (IWIS) for the ninth time in cooperation with the Polish Patent Office and Warsaw University of Technology.

During IWIS 2015, API&R and IFIA organised the 4th World Contest of Chemical Inventions.

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MyIPO National Intellectual Property Award Several inventors and innovators from various universities and organisations honoured at annual award ceremony

by Sharmila Vella

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Boosting Innovation Technology transfer and commercialisation among the highlights of AIM’s Innovating Malaysia Conference 2015

by Sharmila Vella

(From left) Muhammad Lofty, AVP PlaTCOM Ventures Sdn Bhd; Faizal Hamid, Manager, PlaTCOM Ventures Sdn Bhd; Michelle Lim, Commercialisation Specialist, PlaTCOM Ventures Sdn Bhd; Karunajothi Kandasamy, SME Corp’s Deputy CEO II; Dr.Viraj Perera, CEO of PlaTCOM Ventures Sdn Bhd; Biruntha Mooruthi, VP PlaTCOM Ventures Sdn Bhd; Dr. Ng Sing Kwei, Commercialisation Specialist, PlaTCOM Ventures Sdn Bhd; and Matt Van Leeuwen, Commercialisation Specialist, PlaTCOM Ventures Sdn Bhd; at the Launch of Innovating Malaysia Conference 2015.

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Mesiniaga Berhad Wins Asian Invention Excellence Award 2015 The country’s first mobile Internet -based productivity optimisation tool, Workforce+, offers award winning innovative features

by Sharmila Vella

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nation’s backbone is in their workforce and the level of skill and expertise. Understanding how technology is changing the world, Mesiniaga Berhad moved from a product-based economy to a services-based economy.

The company, together with its subsidiaries, sells information technology (IT) products and related services in Malaysia. It designs and builds end-to-end ICT solutions and services such as Workforce+, a mobile solution that offers real-time tasks assignment to on-field staffs.

To cater to the industry’s increasing demand for mobility

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business solutions, Mesiniaga developed, marketed and operates a mobile workforce management system called Workforce+.

Workforce+ is Malaysia’s first mobile Internet-based productivity optimisation tool, offering innovative features such as auto-dispatch, mobile form generator, auto claims, and real-time dashboards, statistics and analytics.

Mesiniaga won the Asian Invention Excellence Award 2015 for the product invention of Workforce+ at the 26th International Invention, and Innovation Exhibition (ITEX 2015).

Workforce+, which also won the ITEX 2015 Gold Medal, drew

attention because of its unique market relevant features and IoE (Internet of Everything) Mobility Platform readiness support.

Workforce+ is Malaysia’s first Mobile Internet based productivity optimisation tool, designed to maximize the productivity of any mobile workforce by using a mobile application (installed in iOS, Wins or Android smartphone) that connects to a Workforce+ system platform via any mobile broadband or wireless connectivity.

The product was recognised at ITEX 2015 for its cutting-edge and innovative features such as Auto Dispatch, Mobile Form generator,

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M a l ays i a n Wo m en

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by Dr. Leo Ann Mean

nvention does not discriminate by gender and women inventors have always been around. In fact, it is the imaginative and creative mind that invents things and that characteristic cuts across both genders.

Today there are as many award-winning inventions by women as there are winning inventions by men. Many of the inventions by women have impressed invention exhibition and competition organisers and judges all over the world. Over the years many Malaysian women inventors have won awards not just in local competitions but overseas as well. Many of these inventions have benefited not only the local community but society at large across the globe.

The following are five awardwinning Malaysian women inventors.

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Datuk Professor Dr. Asma Ismail

Dr. Asma Ismail of Universiti Sains Malaysia discovered an antigenetically specific biomarker for the rapid detection of salmonella typhi, the causative agent for typhoid fever. This scientific discovery was translated into a diagnostic kit which makes available the results of the test within three hours. The test kit, trademarked Typhidot, has been successfully commercialised to more than 18 countries since and has generated millions in sales and more than 500 jobs worldwide.

Dr. Asma helped set up a biotech company pioneering in biodiagnostics with Typhidot as its flagship product. She became a technopreneur and continued further R&D to develop three improved kits. The latest kit, TYPHIRAPID, includes both protein and DNA tests and is able to produce results in 15 minutes.

Professor Datuk Dr. Halimaton Hamdan

Prof. Halimaton Hamdan of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia won awards at ITEX 2008 and the British Invention Show (BIS) 2007 with her Maerogel, an improved version of aerogel. Aerogel, invented in 1931 by an American scientist, is the lightest substance ever created, being 99% air. It looks like frozen smoke, and is strong, light, and translucent. Aerogel is excellent for soundproofing, but its high cost has limited its use.

Maerogel, transformed from discarded rice husks into a high-tech insulation material, can help reduce electricity bills, protect buildings from bomb blasts and make aeroplanes and tennis rackets lighter.

Her breakthrough was accidental. She wanted to do research on silica, but was having a hard time finding the raw material.

One night, she saw a television programme on the difficulty of disposing rice husks.

Rice husks, it turns out, are composed of 20% silica. After eight years of work, she finally found an inexpensive way to produce pure silica from rice husks, and the next step was Maerogel.

Maerogel has been hailed as an exciting breakthrough by experts and Professor Halimaton has been recognised worldwide for her research. In 2009 she received the Merdeka Award for outstanding contribution in the development and application of Maerogel as a commercially viable multipurpose material.

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The Voice for Inventors Since 1968, the International Federation of Inventors’ Association (IFIA) has been tirelessly championing the common interests of inventors

by Sharmila Vella

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Alireza Rastegar, second from left, with some of the speakers at the IFIA conference in Stockholm.

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ounded in 1968, the International Federation of Inventors’ Association (IFIA), is the only international umbrella non-governmental organisation which groups inventor associations globally and acts as the voice for inventors.

With more than 100 inventors’ associations and organisations from the five continents under its wing, IFIA connects, supports and represents the common interest of inventors. Its mission is to disseminate knowledge of innovation development and to promote inventive and entrepreneurial spirit. Apart from inventor associations, IFIA members include foundations, universities, corporations, companies, and research centres.

IFIA was established in London in 1968 by seven European countries – England, Sweden, Norway, France, Netherland, Switzerland and Germany. The founders of IFIA were Dr. Harald Romanus (Swedish Inventors Office director) and Leif Nordstran (Norwegian Inventors office

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director) who together formulated the first statute for the organisation.

Since then, IFIA has tirelessly been disseminating the culture of invention and innovation, and to make the public aware of the importance of inventors for the welfare of society. It has also been championing the protection of the inventors’ rights.

It is interesting to note that the annual International Invention & Innovation Exhibition (ITEX) by the Malaysian Invention and Design Society (MINDS) has the support of IFIA which enjoys observer status at the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and European Patent Office (EPO). ITEX’s objectives are also in line with that of IFIA: to improve the status of inventors at home and abroad as well promote cooperation between inventor associations.

Since 1st September 2015, six new members have joined the IFIA. They are Istanbul Aydin University – Turkey (Corresponding Member), Anatolian Inventions and Inventors Association – Turkey (Full Member), The First Institute of Canadian Inventors – Canada (Full Member), Inventors club of Georgia – Georgia (Full Member), Iraqi Inventors & Innovators Society (Corresponding Member) and United Arab Emirates University, UAE (Collaborating Member).

IFIA also organises international invention exhibitions, scientific seminars and workshops with the cooperation of other international organisations to provide an opportunity for its members to showcase their innovations and benefit from its wealth of knowledge. Social networking at IFIA events are encouraged as this allows organisations to expand their contacts and knowledge base to explore possible commercialisation with various stakeholders.

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GRAPHENE

Material of the Future

by Sharmila Vella

Graphene Nobel Laureate Sir Kostya Novoselov (left) and UK Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne light up one of the graphene LED lamps at the University of Manchester’s National Graphene Institute.

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cientists are constantly finding new technology or substance that can change or improve our modern lifestyle. Graphene has been heralded as the gateway to a new era in science and technology.

Called the “wonder material”, graphene is one of the simplest allotropes of carbon and it exhibits a wide range of capabilities that have not only amazed the world of invention but also caused a research frenzy.

At one atom thick, it is a twodimensional substance, and the thinnest material known to mankind. It has nearly zero mass, is flexible as rubber and impermeable to gases. The wonder material is said to be 200 times stronger than steel even though it is 60,000 times thinner than cling film.

Graphene is a single, thin layer of graphite — the soft, flaky material used in pencil lead. Graphite is an allotrope of the element carbon, meaning it has the same atoms but they’re arranged in a different way, giving the material different properties.

In its simplest form, graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagon.

When placed under a microscope, it looks like a honeycomb and it is this structure that is the secret to its incredible strength.

The discovery of graphene is set to revolutionise every part of everyday life – medicine, electronics, computing, and aviation, among others. After years of experimenting and researching, scientists have created what they’re calling the first commercially-viable graphene product: the light bulb. The bulb does not use a regular filament like incandescent bulbs.

Instead, its filament is coated with graphene.

The graphene light blub is said to reduce electricity use by around 10%, and will last longer than a conventional LED bulb.

Graphene is not a naturally occurring substance. Even though it had been theorised by physicists since the 1960s, it was only discovered for the first time in 2004

by Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov from the University of Manchester, England.

This discovered earned each of them a Nobel Prize and knighthood.

Although production methods made graphene usage very expensive, over the past decade, academics and corporate researchers have made great discoveries in reducing the production costs. With each passing year, the costs continues to drop, making it more accessible for industries to produce them.

As graphene is a carbon allotrope, it is available anywhere. Because of this, the best investments will be from companies that can successfully use graphene in beneficial ways. It is interesting to note that a team of scientists and researchers from the University of Wisconsin has discovered a new way to “grow” graphene, enabling the material to be used in electronic devices.

Realising the potential of this material, several countries have begun investing money into the research of this wonder material. It was reported recently that over the next 10 years the EU will invest €1 billion in developing graphene-based technologies through the Graphene

Flagship initiative, which is part of the Horizon 2020 programme.

The Manchester National Graphene Institute, which is tipped to be the world’s leading centre for graphene research, has had £61million investment from the government to date. In South Korea, China, Singapore, and the US, hundreds of millions are being spent on research. Worldwide, there have already been more than 11,300 graphene-related patents. Almost two thirds of these have been filed by Asian companies.

Chinese and South Korean companies hold 43 percent of global graphene patents, and US companies hold about 23 percent.

And the list is growing.

GRAPHENE & ITS POTENTIAL

• SUPERCONDUCTORS Due to its high electrical conductivity, graphene makes an excellent superconductor.

This paves the way for nanoscale electronic devices.

• OPTICAL ELECTRONICS Technologies that use displays, touch screens, light panels, and photovoltaic cells require a conductor with low resistance and high transparency.

Graphene is the answer. Furthermore, as graphene is super strong and flexible, a smartphone display infused with graphene wouldn’t break easily.

• BETTER BATTERIES By incorporating graphene, batteries and capacitors can have higher storage capacities, better longevity, and quicker charge time. These upgraded batteries can be used in manufacturing machinery, electric vehicles and appliances, among others.

• SOLAR CELLS Researchers are looking into replacing the silicon in solar cells with graphene which is thermally and electrically conductive, transparent and flexible. Graphene photovoltaics would also be much cheaper to produce than silicon cells.

• AIRCRAFT Graphene has the potential to replace carbon fibres in aircraft production. Graphene could be incorporated into plastics that could replace steel in aircraft structure making it a stronger and lighter plane.

• BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING Graphene is ideal for biological engineering applications as it absorbs to DNA well, is protected from enzyme cleavage and is chemically stable.

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‘Magic’ Water Developed by Associate Professor Toshimasa Yamamoto, ‘Magic’ water changes the future of aqua culture where sea and freshwater fish swim together in the same tank

by Sharmila Vella

T

hroughout history, inventions and innovations have helped people discover new worlds, build communities, develop resources, increase productivity, cure diseases and ease the burdens of humanity. One of the innovations that is changing aqua culture is the technique of creating artificial river and seawater, which enables saltwater and freshwater fish to swim together in the same tank.

Toshimasa Yamamoto, an Associate Professor at

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Okayama University of Science, discovered that both saltwater and freshwater fish can live in fresh water if three elements — salts of potassium, sodium and calcium – are mixed in the water.

“This ‘Third’ water or ‘Magic’ water enables aqua farming without chemicals. We can turn a mountain village into a fishing village,” says Yamamoto who developed the technique which was patented in 2012.

‘Magic’ water was the result of years of ongoing research

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Green Food Plant-based sustainable versions of meat may soon become a reality.

by Sharmila Vella

M O R F E MAD !

S T N A PL

I

magine a plant-based hamburger patty that not only looks and tastes just like meat but bleeds as well. Or how about trying some meatless chicken strips with the same fleshy and fibrous texture as cooked poultry.

There is a strong chance that the above scenario may soon become a reality.

Several Silicon Valley-funded companies are on a mission to change the way people eat by creating new plantbased food that they say will be healthier, less expensive and tasty as real meat, egg, dairy and other animal-based products. More importantly, these healthier option all have a much lower environmental impact.

One of a handful of tech start-ups that has embarked on a programme to develop animal products as well as cheese and eggs from plants is Impossible Foods.The company’s founder, Dr Patrick Brown says that its mission is to “give people the great taste and nutritional benefits of foods that come from animals without the negative health and environmental impact”.

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EMBRACING DESIGN THINKING

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by Linus Liang and Jane Chen

ur journey to becoming social entrepreneurs started over eight years ago in a design school course at Stanford. The purpose of this class was to teach the design thinking process to an interdisciplinary group of students so that these students could then invent something that would change the world for the better. Our team was challenged to create a baby incubator that would cost one per cent of the $20,000 cost of the incubators you’d see in a modern hospital – an amount that is not affordable in most developing countries.

We learned that the first step in the design thinking process was to understand the problem and define

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exactly the issue we were trying to resolve. For our group, the class identified the problem — develop a low cost infant incubator. The next step was to conduct observations, meaning we had to understand the history of the problem, collect examples of other attempts to solve the same issue, and talk to the end-users.

To do this we flew to Nepal and India, two countries with the highest infant mortality rate in the world. It turned out that some hospitals in even small towns had traditional equipment like incubators and radiant warmers — sometimes procured, sometimes donated by well-meaning foreigners.

However, they’d often be lying idle, given the lack of constant electricity to

+ power them, not to mention the lack of training for the healthcare workers to operate them. Furthermore, the majority of premature babies were dying in villages which were far away from these hospitals.

In these settings, we saw local solutions such as light bulbs or space heaters to warm babies, which are extremely unsafe and ineffective.

We also learned of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), the practice of placing a baby against a mother’s bare chest.

While this is an incredibly effective form of temperature regulation that provides numerous benefits to the infant, we found that it was difficult for mothers to provide this continuously throughout the day.

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Ethical Design:

Killing Three Birds With Two Stones

by Stephen Poon

E

thical design practice is harder to construct and interpret than it is to conceive. Ethics is a system of moral principles applied in the decision making and problem solving of particular individuals or institutions. Prof Deidre N. McCloskey of the University of Illinois, Chicago wrote in The Bourgeois Virtues (2006) that knowing right from wrong form the “moral universe within” individuals, and also form the end of human acts.

There is no fixed set of ethics to apply to problem solving as it depends on the cultural, social, political and economic climates and

particular positions on issues with regards people, groups, businesses or organisations within societies. Designers’ ethics, however, implies more than a style of exposition of work for and on behalf of their clients.

Ethics should guide in situational analysis, research, ideation, execution and evaluation; furthermore, it should define their scope of responsibilities. Let’s critically discuss this principle as it applies in today’s design practice and media contexts.

In Manifesto 2000, an updated version of the 1964 declaration, designers acknowledged that the industry had been

spending too much time and energy on promoting consumption of unnecessary products. The manifesto caused heated debates since the authors by no means implied that designing and artistic output is limited by the capacity and ability to fulfil clients’ briefs. The authors exhorted their peers to boldly address broader issues by applying an authoritative basis of their expertise: to generate understanding and create awareness on social and environmental issues that needs public attention, or those which are ignored.

The design fraternity were also told to take on controversial positions, speaking up

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ASIA’S INNOVATIVE COMPANIES Fast Retailing Co. Ltd.

This Japan-based public holding company primarily engages in the clothing business. As of May 2015, its market capital was worth USD 42.1billion.

The company operates in three business segments – Uniqlo deals with the manufacture and sales of casual clothing for men, women and children while the Global Brand segment deals with the planning, manufacturing and sales of clothing in domestic and overseas markets. The third segment is involved in the leasing of real estate. To date the company had 112 consolidated subsidiaries. Uniqlo is today the market leader in casual wear brand in Japan and is sold in 14 countries worldwide, including the U.S., U.K. and Australia.

Founder and CEO, Tadashi Yanai who is ranked the 35th richest man in the world according to Bloomberg in 2014, began his career in 1971 by selling kitchenware and men’s clothing at a supermarket in Japan. He quit a year later, joined his father’s roadside tailor shop and later opened the first Uniqlo store in 1984. He also changed his father’s company name to Fast Retailing in 1991. A savvy businessman, Todashi, 66, credits technology, innovation, R&D and the company’s corporate culture for the success of his company.

“I recognise the absolute importance of maintaining our native corporate DNA, and upholding the quintessentially Japanese commitments to indisputable quality, attentive customer service, and a managerial approach that encourages effective teamwork.

“We moulded our Global One and Zenin Keiei management principles with these commitments in mind. The former encourages our people to seek the best available global approach to everything they do; the latter encourages every employee to adopt the mindset of a manager,” he maintains. The company is also restructuring its global production network to better serve the various markets and to drastically reduce lead times on supplementary production orders.

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/ Innovation is an essential element for the durability of any business and entrepreneurs realise that it is the key not just for the growth and success of their business, but also enables them to adapt and grow in the marketplace. More importantly, businesses that innovate create more efficient work processes and have better productivity and performance. We highlight here some companies in Asia that are considered the most innovative in 2015.

This 15-year-old company is Russia’s largest grocery retailer in terms of revenue and number of stores.

Operating in four different formats – convenience store, hypermarket, “Magnit Family” store and cosmetics store – Sergey Galitsky, the founder and chief executive of Magnit, built his business from one grocery store in a midsize southern Russian city, into an empire with 8,093 stores in more than 1,800 cities. Magnit’s net income grew 41.8 per cent to USD1billion last year, as revenue rose 29 per cent. Magnit is also the largest employer in Russia with a total 260,000 employees. The company is ranked 23rd on Forbes list of The World’s Most Innovative Companies 2015.

The Magnit’s success is largely due to Galitsky’s attention to details and innovation. Combined with advanced IT systems and efficient logistics he propelled Magnit to the top of the Russian food-retail industry, a fast-growing, $300-billion-a-year market that is now Europe’s largest.

In the 1990s he began as a shuttle trader importing cosmetics and cleaning products from Dubai. Later he and his partners became the sole regional distributors for Procter & Gamble. During the country’s financial crisis in 1998, he opened his first retail shop. Magnit grew organically, with him opening up one new store at a time and building up the company’s in-house IT system and logistics network at each stage of growth.

Magnit

BRINGING YOUNG INVENTORS TO THE FORE Young inventors share their ideas & thought process

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MALAYSIAN INVENTIONS THAT HAVE IMPACTED SOCIETY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Celebration

ITEX’S SILVER JUBILEE

PowereD by

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MyIPO Director General Shamsiah Kamaruddin talks about the importance of IP protection

INVENTIONS THAT CONTINUE TO CHANGE OUR WORLD

ITEX 2015

EMBRACING DESIGN THINKING

CONNECTING INVENTIVE MINDS

Design process in the invention of Embrace Infant Warmer

MALAYSIAN WOMEN INVENTORS IMPRESS Spotlight on 5 award-winning women inventors

ITEX MALAYSIA 2014

The year that was

‘MAGIC’ WATER

A look at some inventions that shape our daily life Vol 1 No.1 / 2015 / RM10.60 ISSN 2289-9308

Where sea and freshwater fish swim together in the same tank

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ISbN 978-967-12619-0-3

9 789671 261903

KDN No PP18559/08/2014/(033967)

• This is the only magazine wholly devoted to Invention and Innovation in Malaysia.

• Publication of CIS Network Sdn Bhd and Malaysian Invention & Design Society (MINDS)

• INVENTION ASIA is the official publication of the International

Invention & Innovation Exhibition (ITEX), organised by MINDS and managed by CIS Network. ITEX is currently 15 years old in Malaysia.

• ITEX is the official event of Asia Caucus of Invention Association (ACIA) and is recognised by the International Federation of Inventors Association (IFIA). Supported by MOSTI, Ministry of Education Malaysia and Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia and MyIPO. • The Patron is the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation.

• The inaugural issue was launched in May 2014 by the Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation.

DISTRIBUTION

• Distributed during the ITEX exhibition.

• Copies distributed to all Ministries in Malaysia & relevant agencies/ • • • •

Invention Asia

KDN No PP18559/08/2014/(033967)

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1 st International Conference on Invention & Design

DRIVING INNOVATION THROUGH INVENTION & DESIGN 13-14 May 2016 | KL Convention Centre

Promoting the sharing of knowledge and experience, engagement and collaboration among educators, researchers and practitioners in innovation. In recent years, there has been an emerging movement to emphasise invention and design approaches which integrate social, business and management needs of all kinds- strategies, concepts, ideas and organisation – in new strategic relationships and collaborations circles.

Call for ICID 2016 papers The conference will cover a wide spectrum of invention and design. Authors are invited to submit original, unpublished work on the aspect of invention and design related to the following clusters but not limited to: 1. Sustainability in Science & Technology / Design / Social Sciences / Humanities 2. Creativity in Science & Technology / Design / Social Sciences / Humanities 3. Cultivating Innovation in Science & Technology / Design / Social Sciences / Humanities 4. Protecting Intellectual Property in Science & Technology / Design / Social Sciences / Humanities 5.

IMPORTANT DATES: Abstract Submission 30 November 2015 Notice of Acceptance 15 January 2016 Early Bird Registration 1 Feb - 12 Mac 2016 Full Paper Submission 15 Feb 2016

JOINTLY ORGANIZED BY:

AWARDS: Best paper and best poster for each cluster: 1. Sustainability 2. Creativity 3. Cultivating Innovation 4. Protecting Intellectual Property

“

ICID 2016 Programme Highlights Keynote Speech by: Tan Sri Omar Abdul Rahman – Ecosystem for Innovation Prof. Paul Hekkert – Industrial Design Dato Kenneth Yeang - Sustainability Prof. Dato' C T Tan - Nipah Virus

”

REGISTRATION Presenter: RM1200 (Early bird) RM1500 (Normal)

FURTHER INFORMATION: ICID2016 Secretariat www.icid.com.my

Student presenter: RM1000 (Early bird) / RM1200 (Normal)

minds.secretariat@gmail.com

+60371182062

Non-presenter: RM1000 (Early bird) / RM1200 (Normal)

Please submit your abstract and papers to: http://submit.confbay.com/conf/icid2016 ALL ACCEPTED AND PRESENTED PAPERS AND POSTERS WILL BE PUBLISHED IN CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

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