CSIRO has taken a significant step which may open new possibilities for Australian business cooperation with Asia.

Today CSIRO, Australia's largest R&D organisation, and SCS Computer Systems Sdn Bhd (SCS), a leading Malaysian IT service provider, signed a relationship agreement.

The agreement establishes a long term research relationship between SCS and CSIRO to apply Information Technology & Telecommunications (IT&T) technologies to Service Industry sectors including:

Speaking after the signing, Mr. Looi Kien Leong, CEO/MD of SCS, said that the strategic partnership with CSIRO will provide a framework for successful research activities in IT&T.

"By partnering an international research organisation, SCS aims to become a regional leader in IT services through exploring opportunities across many industries," he says.

Dr Ron Sandland, Deputy Chief Executive, signing for CSIRO, said that the relationship with SCS in Malaysia will provide a new route for the successful commercialisation of Australian technologies.

"This relationship will benefit Australia by creating opportunities for partnerships with Australian companies who are looking for regional business opportunities," he says.

The partnership is the result of a trade delegation to Malaysia, led by Dr Sandland in August 1999.

"The eight-member delegation looked at developing commercial partnerships in Malaysia. SCS was selected for the first strategic partnership in Malaysia because we have a mutual interest in IT&T and because SCS has customers across a broad spectrum of industries," says Dr Sandland.

"CSIRO's industry-focussed research capabilities and SCS's industry and regional knowledge are a powerful combination which we expect will deliver considerable benefits to the economies of both countries," he adds.

Mr. Looi said that the partnership is in line with the SCS strategy of venturing into the Research & Development (R&D) area.

"With this expansion into R&D, we can provide better service to our customers by satisfying their needs for a particular solution or system.

"With this agreement in place, SCS will have access to more than 6000 research experts from CSIRO. This will assist in planning for its existing and potential customers, giving SCS a further competitive edge."

Dr Sandland adds, "If Australia is to be globally competitive in IT&T, relationships like this one are crucial. It will allow us to apply our skills to problems that extend beyond the Australian context - into South-east Asia and the world. We are expanding our horizons internationally but the benefits will come home to Australia."

Commenting further on the relationship, Mr. Looi says, "As IT&T solutions play a major role in competitiveness in every part of the value chain and economy, it is essential for SCS to offer globally competitive products and services. This strategic partnership with a renowned international research institution will enable us to access specialists capable of developing innovative solutions to leading-edge competitive problems. We will work with CSIRO to explore opportunities for R&D in each of the industries."

Dr Sandland agrees, "There is plenty of opportunity out there for innovation to have a real impact on business outcomes. Our aim is to be right at the forefront of that process."

Chairman of the Malaysia Australia Business Council (MABC), Y.A.M Tunku Shahabuddin comments, "MABC has always played an pivotal role in strengthening bilateral commercial ventures between Australia and Malaysia. We are indeed delighted to see this partnership between Australia's international research institution and Malaysia's leading IT service provider. We are confident that both businesses will reap benefits from this venture and apprise each other of economic developments and business opportunities globally."

Mr Alexander Gosling, National President of the Australia Malaysia Business Council (AMBC) sees the relationship as an excellent match.

"At the recent 'Targeting the Opportunities' business conference organised by the AMBC in Kuala Lumpur, I emphasised a major area of opportunity in marrying Australia's acknowledged strengths in R&D/technology development with Malaysia's obvious capability to commercialise and deliver, especially to regional markets. This is an excellent example of two organisations getting together to take advantage of this important natural fit," he says.

The media are invited to attend the signing of the CSIRO/SCS relationship agreement at 1pm today, 13^th July, in the Meeting Room, DCE Offices, Riverside Corporate Park, Delhi Rd, North Ryde.

Photographs of the signing are available. Contact Tom McGinness on 02 9325 3227.

For more information contact:

Background information

About CSIRO

Since its inception in 1926, CSIRO has grown to become one of the world's largest and most diverse scientific research institutions. Its research covers many areas of economic, environmental and social value to the nation, including agriculture, minerals and energy, manufacturing, communications, construction, health and the environment.

Science and technology can give your business a competitive edge in the tough, global marketplace. Many companies now use technology as leverage into future markets. But few companies can afford to maintain in-house all the expertise and facilities they need. Nor can they afford to back basic research; in which the potential of individual companies to capture return is low, but in which Australia needs a stake.

CSIRO offers access to a multi-disciplinary pool of talent and facilities that are at leading edge of international research. CSIRO is dedicated to working with industry and other groups to apply its research capability for their benefits.

CSIRO enquiries:
www.csiro.au
enquiries@csiro.au
Ph: 1300 363 400
Fax: +61 3 9545 2175

About SCS

A leading Information Technology service provider with business expertise in various industries, SCS' key competencies include:

• Systems Integration
• Project Management
• Application Implementation
• Networking
• Outsourcing Services
• Data Recovery Services

Our emphasis on quality solutions and services is enhanced by our motto "Customer Satisfaction is our Top Priority". SCS is the first IT vendor in Malaysia to be awarded the MS ISO 9002 Certification in Networking Systems, and was later conferred the MS ISO 9001 Certification in 1998. In March 2000, SCS was given the Merit Award in the Best of Software Applications category of the Asia Pacific Multimedia Super Corridor Information Technology & Telecommunications Awards (APMITTA). This recognition was awarded based on the Clinical Information System that showcases the close collaboration between the health workers and software vendors.

For more information on SCS, please contact Ms CP Ong at 603-7512605 or email ongcp@scs.com.my or visit our website at www.scs.com.my