BACKGROUND

The Malaysian Government's call to public universities to operate more effectively and efficiently as corporate entities, saw the incorporation of the USAINS Group of Companies (USAINS) in 1998 under the Companies Act 1965. As the corporate arm of  Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) , USAINS is made up of Usains Holding Sdn Bhd and four subsidiaries - Usains Tech Capital Sdn Bhd, Usains Tech Services Sdn Bhd, Usains Infotech Sdn Bhd and USM Enterprises Sdn Bhd.

OBJECTIVES

USAINS manages any and all properties, projects or enterprises which have the potential to benefit USM. Each company in the group operate as a private company, limited by shares. The holding company is wholly-owned by USM, while the four subsidiaries in turn are wholly-owned by the holding company.

Kompleks Eureka on USM's main campus - which has been granted Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) incubator status - serves as home to USAINS and its incubatees. The main objective of the incubation services offered are aimed at spawning related industries in carrying out more focused research and development activities - such as applied R & D - by leveraging on the university's technical resources. What results from this are more viable prototypes/products which are ready to be commercialised. And this in turn, serves in boosting USM's vision to create a research park.

In managing USM's pool of experts who are undertaking multi-disciplinary contract research projects and consultative works (including clinical trials and bio-equivalent studies), USAINS facilitates and links the university's wide ranging research and scientific facilities with international and local commercial, industrial and public-sector bodies.

USAINS accords strict confidentiality to projects it undertakes or helps facilitate, in a bid to ensure the preservation of intellectual property rights and commercial considerations.

Companies engaged in R & D activities with USAINS in collaboration with USM, stand to qualify for tax benefits. Current contributions made to USM are tax-exempt for the amount of contribution made, as provided under Section 44 (6) of the Income Tax Act 1967 (Act 53). This exemption status has been granted to USM via Government Gazette No. 251 dated 20th July 1972.

USAINS is also initiating efforts to obtain double tax deduction benefits for research related expenses, as per provisions of Sections 34A and 34B of Act 53 and as per Public Ruling No. 5/2004 on Double Deduction Incentive on Research Expenditure issued by the Inland Revenue Board (Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri).

USAINS is an Approved Training Programmes provider Class A under the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDC) Employers, who are registered with the Human Resources Development Council, can obtain partial or full refund from the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF), of the fees and allowances incurred in sponsoring their employees in the manufacturing and services sectors to attend the approved courses offered through USAINS under the SBL Scheme (Training Assistance Scheme), PROLUS Scheme (Approved Training Programme Scheme) and SBL- Khas Scheme  In addition, professional courses are also tailor-made to suit the needs of individual client or industry and international organizations.

USAINS is registered as Consultant with the Ministry of Finance, with FINAS, with Kastam & Eksais Di Raja Malaysia, with Ministry of Education, with Majlis Perbandaran Kuantan, and with TM Research & Development  for various fields of:  Engineering works; for Architectural and Planning related works, for EIA works; for Aerospace works, IT/ICT works; for Documentary Filming works; for Socio-Economic Management works; Hospital Management works; Traffic Management works; Safety management works; Marine Management works; Research and Marketing Management works; Courses/Seminar Management works; Food Technology works; Telecommunication works; Culture, and Arts and Handicraft Management.  With these registrations, USM academic staff with the appropriate qualifications would be able to provide consultancy services in their respective fields to the various Governmental agencies.

USAINS also manages for Hospital USM through it's subsidiary, Usains Tech Services Sdn. Bhd., an Executive Health Services Scheme (EHSS).  Under the EHSS, patients of HUSM can choose to pay full-fee in order to receive medical and dental treatments in a more comfortable environment and by USM's Medical and Dental specialists of their choice.  USAINS in managing the EHSS ensures that all parties involved (HUSM patient, HUSM/USM, Medical Specialists, and Supporting Staff of HUSM/USM) benefit from this scheme, without placing undue stress and pressure on public resources. 

Usains Infotech Sdn. Bhd., a wholly-owned subsidiary, is a specialised vehicle undertaking the operation and management of the Northen Corridor Implementation Authority's (NCIA) Centre of Excellence for Electrical and Electronics (IC Design).

USAINS also spearheads the direct commercialisation of USM's inventions and R, D & I products and processes.  In line with this objective, USAINS conducts from time to time a Technology Innovation and Funding Programme (TIFP) aimed at equipping the inventors and scientists with the realities and expectations of the industrial sector so that they can better promote their inventions, products and processes to the industry.  The collaboration usually takes the form of licensing arrangements, out-right sale of IPs, formation of joint-ventures and collaboration for proto-typing. 

Since 2006  USAINS has been directly marketing USM's R & D products and services under a branding scheme known as `Equipment USAINS' or EQ-USAINS. Among the first batch of equipment offered under this scheme are a glass airlift culture vessel, an automated membrane fabricator and fish-breeding tank. These products share the distinction of originating from research, development or innovation at Universiti Sains Malaysia, in meeting niche market demands.

USAINS also provides events management solutions through its modern facilities in Kompleks EUREKA, which comprise two well-equipped auditoriums, meeting and discussion rooms and a fully air-conditioned exhibition area. Comprehensive secretarial, refreshment and accommodation packages can also be arranged.

MANAGEMENT

Leadership for USAINS is provided by its Board of Directors, comprising five members:

Chairman (member of the Board of Directors of USM itself),

the Vice Chancellor, and two other nominees from USM; and

Managing Director.

USM's Bursar serves as the Corporate Representative of USM at all meetings of Usains Holding Sdn. Bhd. and as the Corporate Representative of Usains Holding Sdn. Bhd. at all meetings of the whollyowned subsidiary companies.

For further information on the services offered by USAINS, kindly address all enquiries to:

The Group Managing Director

USAINS Holding Sdn. Bhd.

Kompleks EUREKA, Universiti Sains Malaysia

11800 USM Pulau Pinang

Telephone, fax and Internet home page information are as follows:

Tel: 604-6583 655 ; Fax: 604-6572 210

Homepage: www.usainsgroup.com E-mail: mdusains@usainsgroup.com