UMK invites workforce to submit innovation ideas to help frontliners

KOTA BHARU, April 12 -- Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) is inviting its workforce from all managerial levels to propose innovative ideas for products that could be used by frontliners.

Its vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Noor Azizi Ismail said the call was also for existing product innovations not only aimed at improving its quality but to further enhance the UMK fraternity’s creative skills. 

He said those interested in submitting their ideas can do so via email at icd@umk.edu.my.

“The project will be headed by the Research Management and Innovation Centre (RMIC) and we welcome any suggestions submitted to the university in developing the best mechanism to support frontliners deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

“To date, UMK has developed five products involving design and technology as well as expertise such as face shields, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), isolation gown, hand sanitisers, and the 'Smart Tracking' application," he said in a statement here, today.

Noor Azizi said the Faculty of Creative Technology and Heritage (FTKW) and the Office of Library and Knowledge Management have produced 818 pieces of 3D Face Shield Visors as well as PPEs, comprising 5,220 units of head covers, shoe covers (540 units) and isolation gowns (1,046 units), all of which have been distributed to several health facilities.

He said the researchers from the Faculty of Bioengineering and Technology (FBKT) and the Faculty of Earth Science (FSB) had produced 1,816 units of hand sanitisers which have been handed over to 10 agencies across Kelantan, while the university's Computing and Informatics Centre (CIC) has also developed the 'Smart Tracking' application, used as a monitoring tool for COVID-19 among its staff and students.

-- BERNAMA