KUALA LUMPUR, Jul 4 (Daily Express) -- Fourteen biotechnology companies from South Korea will be in Kuala Lumpur next week in a quest to forge collaborations with their Malaysian counterparts.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said they would participate in a Biotechnology Business Matching Summit on July 7.

"The meeting will bring together entrepreneurs in the field of healthcare, agriculture and industrial biotechnology with the South Korean group being led by the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnlogy," he said in a statement Friday.

He said that during his five-day working visit to South Korea that ended yesterday, many Korean companies were keen to start their operations in Malaysia to cater to the Asean and Middle East markets.

"For example, KBT Co Ltd plans to open its contract research facilities in Kuala Lumpur followed by a manufacturing facility," he said.

KBT Co Ltd would also be establishing collaborations with Universiti Putra Malaysia and Sirim in bio-processing of natural products, he said.

Meanwhile, bio-processing company Biotron wanted to introduce to Malaysia a new process in the production of bio-fuel using tropical biomass, he said.

The company was also expected to form a pact with Malaysia's InnoBIo Sdn Bhd in the production of bio-pharmaceutical products and was keen to work with Sabah to develop the marine biotechnology industry.

Dr Ongkili said South Korea was one of the main players in biotechnology with more than 640 large companies spearheading businesses in pharmaceutical, agricultural and marine biotechnology and bio-engineering services.

"I believe KBT Co Ltd and Biotron will provide platform technologies for bioreactors for enzyme production which will enable Malaysia to commercialise its patents from the local research institutions and universities," he said.