LESS than 20% of small and medium scale industry (SMI) operators carry outtheir own product research and development (R&D) to enable them upgradesand create new inventions.Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry parliamentary secretary WongKam Hoong said only 3% of their total income was spent for the purpose.He said that in the manufacturing industry, only 5% of the localsregistered their patents while the rest were foreign manufacturers.“There are more than 100,000 SMIs nationwide. Out of the total, less than20% carry out their own R&D to enable them compete in a global market.“This is not encouraging and I hope that they will be more creative withmore inventions to enable them sell their own design as it will give themmore value added,’’ he said.He said after opening the Introduction to Malaysia Intellectual Propertyseminar here on Tuesday, Wong said to achieve this, the ministry hadrecently tabled the Intellectual Property Cooperation Act.He said the act would provide guidelines to locals not only in theindustrial and manufacturing sector but also in the agriculture sectorsuch as rubber and palm oil.Wong said this would also encourage more locals to create their ownpatents and trademarks to enable them stay competitive, adding that theywould table six other related acts in line with the act.“Our statistics reveal that less than 5% of inventions are owned by localsand that is why we are encouraging manufacturers to come out with theirinnovations,’’ he said.Friday, August 24, 2001The Star