NEW IDEAS SHOULD BE SHARED AND TESTED

ADDITIVE ....A participant introducing the 3d printer, a type of additive manufacuring which translates a 3D image into a physical object. Left to Right Bruno Vun - Permanent of Ministry of Resource Development and Information Technology Datuk Yee Moh Chai - Minister of Resource Development and Information Technology.

By : M. IZHAM HASHIM

IDEAS have their own dynamics and must be tested and given space to grow. This can only happen when they are shared. There is untold wealth to be gained from such sharing,especially when the ideas are rigorously tested and allowed to develop and  branch out to manifold possibilities and opportunities.

These were thoughts that Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Yee Moh Chai expounded  when he launched the Sabah Entrepreneurs Summit at 1 Borneo Grand Ballroom, Thursday.

"We must not be overly secretive about our ideas that we think are innovative and original,It is unwise to think that they should be kept as family secrets, to be handed down from generation to generation.

"People can protect their interests by taking out copyrights or patents on their ideas or inventions, and then let them blossom and yield benefits in the form of royalty payments and recognition and, above all, benefit to humanity," he told the gathering.

Earlier in his speech, Datuk Yee urged budding entrepreneurs to be more versatile to maintain a competitive edge and meet the demands of a rapidly evolving world.

Sabah’s first Technology and Entrepreneur Expo (Texpo.asia) together with Sabah Entrepreneurs Summit (SEED 2012) was a pioneer gathering of entrepreneurs throughout the state aimed at pooling ideas, knowledge,experiences, and promoting networking and the spirit of entrepreneurship during the two-day event.

Datuk Yee, who is also Minister of Resource Development and Information Technology, underlined the importance of entrepreneurship, saying that it occupies a central position in generating creative ideas, and innovations.

LAUNCHING .....Signing marks the official launching of Sabah Entrepreneurs Summit (SEED 2012) Left to Right: Darwin Tan Bruno Vun - Permanent of Ministry of Resource Development and Information Technology Datuk Yee Moh Chai - Minister of Resource Development and Information Technology.

Although ideas take time to flourish, Datuk Yee believes that efforts to accelerate entrepreneurship should come even as new ideas are in the process of being tested in real situations.

The Expo provides an opportunity for traders and entrepreneurs alike to showcase their products and clever ideas to the public. There were  plenty of high-tech gadgets, art pieces, collectibles and computer games on display at the Expo to keep the public entertained.

“It is heartening to see even rural communities showcasing their own products, which goes to show that entrepreneurship is widespread, encompassing all fields including traditional agriculture” Datuk Yee told reporters at  a press conference.

The Sabah Entrepreneurs Summit and Texpo.asia was held in conjunction with the ICT Month, being part of the joint-effort organised by NGOs, Sabah West Coast Entrepreneur Network Association (SEA), Sabah Techpreneur Association (SATA), KL business counterpart MAD Incubator  and supported by the Ministry of Resource Development and Information Technology (KPSKTM) as well as government agencies such as the Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). -Insight Sabah.