From left: UCSI International Institute of Science Diplomacy and Innovation director Distinguished Prof Tan Sri Dr Zakri Abdul Hamid; UCSI chancellor YAM Tunku Zain Al-‘Abidin ibni Tuanku Muhriz; UCSI deputy vice-chancellor (Research and Postgraduate Stud

KUALA LUMPUR: UCSI University and Bio Bureau Biotecnologia - a leading Brazilian biotechnology firm - will team up to impact the global seaweed market that is valued at $7.5bil (RM31bil).

This comes after both parties signed a memorandum of agreement at the recent Brazil-Malaysia Business Summit that was graced by Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

Under the MoA, both parties will commit to high-impact seaweed research and mass production techniques to spur the development of downstream products like PPE fabrics and bioplastics.

UCSI chancellor Tunku Zain Al-‘Abidin Tuanku Muhriz talked up the potential of the tie-up at the Summit, highlighting that the global seaweed market is projected to grow to $18.1bil (RM75bil) in 2034.

“In Malaysia, the seaweed market is growing at over 8% annually, expected to double by 2033,” he said.

“This is not just about cultivating seaweed - it is about cultivating innovation, sustainability, and shared prosperity.

“Technological innovation is key -from genetic and genomic improvement, automation in cultivation, nanotechnology applications, to bioreactor-based production systems.

“These advancements will help us produce high-yield, disease-resistant super strains, enabling precision farming at scale.”

He added that commercialisation opportunities lie in biostimulants, nutraceuticals, plant-based animal feed and biosynthetic textiles.

UCSI University council chairman Dato’ Peter Ng; UCSI International Institute of Science Diplomacy and Innovation director Distinguished Prof Tan Sri Dr Zakri Abdul Hamid; and UCSI deputy vice-chancellor Distinguished Prof Dr Phang Siew Moi were present at the Summit.