KUALA LUMPUR: Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) Ministry is working in collaboration with the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) and the Higher Education Ministry to provide funding and support for university research and development of new technologies to detect Covid-19.
Its deputy minister Ahmad Amzad Hashim said this included developing Covid-19 testing using DNA and fiber-optic sensor to detect the virus from saliva samples.
"The local universities are working on Covid-19 solutions (for virus detection) and they are still at the development phase or test planning stage to ensure its safety and accuracy.
"This is important to ensure the level of sensitivity in Covid-19 detection, so that the technology is reliable and effective," he said in a statement today.
In addition, he said several research and development initiatives were under way to prepare low-touch, high technology economy to facilitate everyday life in adjusting to the new norms.
Last year, he said Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC), an agency under MOSTI, introduced robotics technology to solve hygiene issues including transportation of goods in wet markets.
"A delivery robot named MCK19 or Makcik Kiah 19, or Key Innovations Assisting Healthcare (KIAH), also made news for its role in assisting doctors or nurses deliver food or medicine to a patient's room.
"MOSTI also launched the Malaysia Grand Challenge to help commercialise products and innovations in facing current challenges.
"We now have MyHackathon, the National Technology Industrial Sandbox (NTIS) and so forth," he said, adding the government welcomed new ideas to help improve the quality of public services. – BERNAMA