MIMOS Celebrates 25Th Years Of Research & Development

MIMOS CELEBRATES 25th YEARS OF RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT FOR THE COUNTRY

MIMOS Celebrates Technology Leadership in Research and Development for the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Industry

MIMOS, the premier national applied research centre in frontier technologies, today celebrates the impact its research and development (R&D) efforts has had across the information and communications technology (ICT) industry in Malaysia and globally over the last 25th years.

The year was 1984 when MIMOS founder Tengku Dr Mohd Azzman Shariffadeen (now Datuk) presented a concept paper, on the need for the establishment of a R&D centre for microelectronics for Malaysia to leapfrog into the Information Age, to the visionary then Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad (now Tun) who embraced the idea with an open mind and went on to champion its cause.

On January 1, 1985 the Malaysian Institute of Microelectronics Systems (as MIMOS was then known) was established as a laboratory under the Prime Minister’s Department designing microchips marking the start of Malaysia’s information and communications technology (ICT) boom and the beginning of Malaysia’s journey into the digital age.

From its earliest days MIMOS was known for many firsts. Most notably was the birth of the Internet in Malaysia with the launch of Jaring – Malaysia’s first Internet Service Provider (ISP) – in 1992, marking Malaysia’s foray into the Digital Age. MIMOS was also instrumental in the development framework for Malaysia’s information superhighway which resulted in the birth of the Multimedia Super Corridor (now known as MSC Malaysia), the brain child of Tun Dr Mahathir, in 1996.

“We are proud to celebrate this landmark achievement of 25 years in R&D for the country. The key drivers of our success have been the commitment and dedication of MIMOS employees, consistent investment in R&D, and the network of strong collaborations with our partners.
It has been a team effort to quickly adapt to new technology and market conditions while keeping MIMOS at the forefront of the rapidly changing technology market. We have worked hard to stay ahead of the technology curve and proactively developing innovative frontier technology platforms for commercialization by Malaysian companies,” said Dato’ Abdul Wahab Abdullah, President & CEO, MIMOS.

MIMOS Now
Today with its innovation life-cycle, a burgeoning Intellectual Properties (IPs) portfolio locally and abroad, frontier technology platforms and prototype developments, MIMOS is recognized as the premier applied research centre in frontier technologies that develops technology platforms for commercialization by local industries.

MIMOS has demonstrated its capability in turning ideas into technology platforms and moving its technology platforms from its labs to the market place as business opportunities via the transfer or license of its technology platforms to its technology recipients for commercialization.

To date, MIMOS has also developed more than 20 technology prototypes and transferred 18 of its technology platforms, which cut across all industry verticals, to 23 technology recipients.

This has resulted in the creation of a RM1.092 billion business market funnel of innovations, that cut across all industry verticals, for commercialisation by Malaysian companies aimed at pushing Malaysia’s local ICT industries to the global market.

In early 2011, MIMOS registered 810 patent disclosures, and counting; and filed 365 patents, six of which have already been granted.

Last year, MIMOS contributed 40.4% to Malaysia’s total filed patent applications at the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), positioning Malaysia at the 25th country ranking at the global level. MIMOS was the only Malaysian applicant in the Top 500 PCT application list.

“Our ultimate goal is to drive technology from a tool to an enabler integrating multiple technologies and domain knowledge and subsequently as a sector, pushing for technology to be adopted as a standard,” said Dato’ Wahab.

MIMOS is among the top 100 elite corporations worldwide that meet the highest software quality standards. What we are most proud of is that MIMOS is also the first GLC to achieve Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMi) Maturity Level 5 and fifth worldwide to put in place the People Capabililty Maturity Model (P-CCM) P-CMM.

Going forward, MIMOS will continue to pursue its innovation strategy – nurturing the technology eco-system towards driving Malaysia’s technological advancement, further intensifying technology transfer and commercialization, and charting further technology roadmaps all while continuing to develop its people, which remain MIMOS’ most important asset.

Recognition Awards
At the event, MIMOS through the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), honoured Tun Dr Mahathir with a National ICT Leadership Award. MIMOS is the result of Tun Dr Mahathir’s visionary leadership that provided the initial thrust for the birth of MIMOS thereby setting the stage of Malaysia’s ICT development.

Tengku Datuk Dr Azzman was recognized as the Founder of MIMOS. MIMOS was the brainchild of Tengku Datuk Dr Azzman who had laid the foundation and was the man responsible for the start of the Malaysia’s journey into ICT.

Dr Mohamed Awang Lah, together with Professor Emeritius Dato Dr Mohd. Zawawi Ismail, Datuk Dr Mohd Arif Nun and Professor Dr Ghazie Ismail was recognized as the Pioneer Management Team of MIMOS when it first began operations in 1985.

MIMOS also recognized five MIMOSians with the MIMOS Innovator Awards for R&D achievements and contributions to MIMOS’ innovation aspiration.