Biotechnology: What it takes

(Note: Impromptu and not well researched)

For those of you wondering what the big hoo-haa about biotechnology is, read the news around you. Genetically modified plants. Cloning of animals and possibly humans. Research into the levitation of cells using electrical dipoles to simulate vacuum to enable cells to grow in a proper 3D environment. Separation and purification of biological products to produce (medical) drugs. Cereal technology. And so on.

One of the biggest problems of biotechnology and biochemical engineering in particular, is cost. There is a big need to investigate alternative methods to allow affordable public access to biotechnology solutions. Unfortunately it (research) appears to be a low priority, at least in Malaysia.

I myself would be reading a Masters course along the lines of biotechnology later this year; and I am also considering doing a PhD in biochemical engineering in a couple of years, amongst other things. However, why should I return to Malaysia? Besides some of the troubles highlighted here. Plenty of graduate engineers end up doing sales, or in the case of PhDs, get mostly relegated to lecturing, or get no job because of 'overqualification'.

The mentality has to change. Patronisation and appointments of position without the appropriate qualifications must be shed. Promotions, pay increments and the like are to be done on merit, and not based on whims and fancy and arse licking. People with the suitable qualifications would usually be smart enough to smell a rat easily, therefore not even a stealth patronisation policy is recommended.

The ability to THINK is most crucial. You have to be innovative, and be able to approach the problem from an entirely new angle. Following blindly will not get anywhere. It is also a fast growing multi disciplinary field, and anyone doing it needs to be able to be able to adapt.

The employees should be willing to accept that a sizeable proportion of the employees would most definitely be much more qualified than them. It is after all, an industry that requires a highly qualified and specialized workforce to go far. Better still, the employer (or at least the supervisor/ immediate boss) should hold an equal or higher qualification. This is to help the employees feel more at home and have less resentment at having 'a less qualified person as their boss'. This in effect implies that practically everyone should be suitably qualified. And of course, pay is another issue, I shall not delve into it.

And of course, the appropriate equipment is required. It is unreasonable to expect the research facilities to have a piece of analytical equipment worth over one million ringgit (such as one of the latest purchases of the chemical engineering department of Imperial College) unless they have sufficient capital and can justify a need for it. But the most important thing is that the equipment should be appropriate and actually works for its purpose. No mysterious disappearances of funds should occur either.

But where should the money for all this be gotten from? The government has to recognize and to help out universities by giving research grants. Commercial companies could depend on loans initially along with the manufacture of OEM and generic products to generate sufficient revenue.(unless they have a wealthy investor). Eventually they will obtain sufficient income to be able to pay off their own research costs. Even better is if a bigger company takesover / merges (choose whichever you prefer) with the smaller company. More equity can be injected into the financially tighter subsidary from the parent company.

And so on. I'll stop here I guess.

To sum it up: In my opinion, research needs to be a priority and be given a prominent role, along with competent workers.

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The above is a response to Andreas' entry about Malaysia's biotech ambitions, from my perspective.