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BUSINESS SECTORS
years, as well as import duties. The air and water
quality in Brunei are suitable to grow microalgae.
Brunei offers among the lowest utility rates in
the region.
MC Biotech’s BND20 million production facility
is called the ‘Sinar Suria Bio Center’. In Malay,
‘Sinar Suria’ means ‘sunlight’, a testament to MC
Biotech’s desire for eco-friendly growth methods
using natural means, and the needs of the
haematococcus algae in producing astaxanthin.
The facility aims to be one of the top suppliers
of quality astaxanthin. Sinar Suria Bio Centre
is the first commercial biotechnology facility at
the Bio-Innovation Corridor, an industrial park
geared to attract Halal and bio-industry related
investments.
Executive Director Yuki Kaneda said MC Biotech
Sdn Bhd was formed as a result of putting forth
a proposal of cultivating astaxanthin-producing
microalgae in Brunei. A collaborative research
effort was carried out with the government. MC
Biotech successfully cultivated the microalgae
and extracted astaxanthin. Based on the results,
a promising future lies ahead to develop the culti-
vation of microalgae and related-biotechnological
industries due to Brunei’s naturally purer air and
water, and cleaner environment which positively
affects the growth of the microalgae.
MC Biotech received support from DARe, a
statutory body that has helped many local
startups. DARe assisted MC Biotech with
networking and logistics. MC Biotech announced
they would transition to the commercial phase in
the DARe Bio Innovation Corridor.
In September 2017, MC Biotech participated in
the 7th Vitafoods Asia Event in Singapore. The
company joined more than 200 global suppliers
in the nutraceutical industry to showcase their
latest products and innovations.
One of the challenges MC Biotech faces is
the amount of time and discussions needed to
proceed with commercialisation. To assist MC
Biotech, the Brunei government has given them
permits and licenses to begin operations.
MC Biotech uses their commercially proven
Japanese technology. As part of their
procedures, they must have an astaxanthin
concentration of more than four per cent. To
increase the astaxanthin concentration, MC
Biotech will continue their research. They
have found local strains of the algae isolated
in Brunei. Some of them produced astaxanthin.
As such, these strains may be potentially
used for commercial purposes. MC Biotech
will conduct further research on the optimal
conditions needed to produce astaxanthin.
Microalgae cultivation technology is not limited
to astaxanthin production. Microalgae is a
potential source for food and fuel. MC Biotech
aims to expand its horizon beyond health
supplements and cosmetic products.