Why is biotechnology suddenly receiving so much attention? Biotechnology has been hailed as the new engine of growth and some have predicted that it could be bigger than the information and communication technology revolution.

The Malaysian government has identified biotechnology as one of the five core technologies that will accelerate Malaysia’s transformation into a highly industrialized country by 2020. The setting up of the National Biotechnology Directorate (BIOTEK) and BioValley Malaysia are intended to spearhead biotechnology research in Malaysia and the development of the biotechnology industry respectively. It is expected that some 30,000 new jobs will be generated from the creation of 250 new biotechnology-related companies.