Representatives from eight academic and research institutes in ASEAN and ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity met in Bangkok, Thailand to launch an ASEAN Network on Microbial Utilization on 21 February 2014. ASEAN Network on Microbial Utilization aims to strengthen ASEAN research community towards sustainable utilization of biological resources which can be achieved through an efficient management of microbial resources and research on microbial utilization. The main activities of this Network will be sharing of knowledge and best practice, as well as human resource development.
In addition to eight institutes present at the inaugural meeting, three institutes also have accepted invitation to join the meeting. In total, the Network now has the following members:
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• Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Indonesia
• University of Diponegoro, Semarang, Indonesia
• Agency for Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), Indonesia
• Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology (IMBT), Vietnam National University Hanoi, Vietnam
• University of Santo Tomas, the Philippines
• National Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (BIOTECH), University of the Philippines Los Banos, the Philippines
• Natural Sciences Research Institute, the Philippines
• Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Malaysia
• Mandalay Technological University, Myanmar
• Technological University, Kyaukse, Myanmar
• National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), Thailand
An announcement of Human Resource Development Program in Microbial Utilization 2014 was made at the meeting. Under this program, BIOTEC will offer six training fellowships to Network members on three topics: microbial genome annotation and analysis; discovery of microbial-derived bioactive natural products; and screening and optimization of production conditions for biomass-degrading enzymes.
Source: Inaugural Meeting of ASEAN Network on Microbial Utilization
