Kuala Lumpur: The three-day BioMalaysia Conference & Exhibition (November 5-7, 2012) opens today in Kuala Lumpur. The event, being held at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, is the largest and Malaysia's premier biotechnology event in the region.

Biotechnology has been recognized by the Government of Malaysia as one of the key growth drivers in aiding the country to become a developed nation by 2020. Recenetly, the government has taken many initiatives to boost the policy environment, investment climate and infrastructure to support the industry's growth. (Also read Bio-XCell emerges as bio-hotspot in Malaysia) 

More than 10,000 trade visitors from every region are expected to visit this international showcase that will feature breakthrough inventions from more than 350 leading corporations, research institutions, universities, government agencies and prominent individual researchers. Exhibits will include products and solutions for healthcare and pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and bio-processing, biochemical and biofuel apart from agriculture, food and beverage, environment, water and wastewater management, forestry and mining.

The exhibition will offer networking opportunities to the visitors, exhibitors and conference delegates expected to be in attendance. Visitors will be from ASia Pacific, West Asian countries such as Saudi Arabia and UAE, Africa and Europe

The conference will have presentations, business matching and creative booth design competition apart from the BioInnovation Awards 2012. The main agenda of the conference is 'Driving innovation and wealth creation through bioeconomy'. There will be sessions on

The BioInnovation Awards is an initiative by the Malaysian Association of Research Scientists, BiotechCorp and PROTEMP Exhibitions to honor scientists and researchers from the private and public sector for outstanding achievements in research and development of biotechnology. In 2011, the awards received 161 entries and awarded 34 gold awards, 46 silver awards and 48 bronze awards.