CREST spearheads collaboration network in health, wellness

  • New collaborative initiative to steer, disrupt innovation in health and wellness
  • Invites research community to apply for grant focused on deployment phase

CREST spearheads collaboration network in health, wellnessTHE Collaborative Research in Engineering, Science and Technology (CREST) has been appointed as the neutral entity for the i-Connect health and wellness sector, an initiative introduced by Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM), under the purview of the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation (MOSTI).  

This appointment will allow CREST to steer a consortium, consisting of 15 founding members which will represent the industry, academia, government and civil society, to catalyse innovation, nurture talent and increase Malaysia’s competitiveness in developing health and wellness solutions for local and global markets.

CREST spearheads collaboration network in health, wellness“CREST is thrilled to be selected as the neutral entity for i-Connect to advance health and wellness innovation and solutions for Malaysia,” said Jaffri Ibrahim, chief executive officer (CEO) of CREST (pic, right), in a statement.

“The appointment is a testament of the effectiveness of our collaborative model, which facilitates linkages between industry and academia, bringing them together to jointly create solutions for the ecosystem.”

According to Jaffri, the launch of the i-Connect Health and Wellness network is timely as the need for health and wellness solutions is more critical than ever.

“We look forward to working with ASM, the founding members and potential collaborators to develop innovative, enduring solutions that create value for all.”

The collaborative network in i-Connect is an alliance constituted by a variety of entities among the quadruple helix (industry, academia, government and civil society), coming together to work together to better achieve common or compatible goals.

“Being a country that aims to become a developed and high-income nation by 2030, Malaysia has the potential to leverage on new economic opportunities and enter global markets through science, technology and innovation-based industries, collaboration and open innovation,” said Hazami Habib, CEO of ASM.

“Through i-Connect, we aspire to disrupt current practices and leverage on new economic opportunities, in order for Malaysia to break new grounds by entering emerging and global markets.”

The i-Connect Health and Wellness network is helmed by 15 founding members who represent the industry, academia, government and civil society.

They will lend their expertise in suggesting best practices for the sector, in addition to determining research, development and commercialisation related to health and wellness in order to increase Malaysia’s competitiveness locally and globally, CREST said.

The i-Connect Health & Wellness founding members“Our founding members, who serve on a pro-bono basis, represent thought leaders and instrumental figures within their respective industries, actively championing technology and innovation in health and wellness,” said Rajifah Ramli, chairperson and representative of the i-Connect Health and Wellness’ founding members, and founder and CEO of DATA8.

“Their extensive experience will lend invaluable insights and credibility to the network and I look forward to working alongside them and our potential collaborators in creating solutions for the health and wellness industry.”

i-Connect will be implemented in four strategic industry sectors: health and wellness, Industry 4.0, fintech in Islamic finance and the halal supply chain.

The Health and Wellness network is the first to make its debut and its key focus areas are: healthy aging, community health, communicable diseases and non-communicable diseases.

CREST said through the use of digital technologies – Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, data analytics, blockchain and bioscience technology, the network aims to create solutions that address health and wellness challenges in areas such as:

  • Epidemiology and surveillance for prevention and early detection of endemic;
  • Environmental and community approaches to promote health, support healthy behaviours, including the promotion of healthy lifestyles; and
  • Intervention to reduce barriers to care and improves the effective use of clinical and preventive services for patients and caregivers.

In tandem with the launch of the i-Connect Health and Wellness network, CREST is inviting the research community to apply for the i-Connect Health & Wellness Technological Development Grant to fund their projects focused on development and deployment phases, namely, technology readiness level 4 and above.

Further information on the Technological Development Grant, can be obtained here: i-Connect Health & Wellness Community Platform on LinkedIn.

 

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