The team, comprising Sofian Ibrahim, Khairiah Badri, Chantara Thevy Ratnam and Noor Hasni Ali, won the grand prize through their invention, “Hybrid radiation and peroxide prevulcanised natural rubber latex”, in the event, held from Dec 1 to 4.

Malaysian Association of Research Scientists (MARS) president Muhd Noor Muhd Yunus said besides the grand prize, Malaysia also won 19 gold, 11 silver and eight bronze medals at the fair.

These were through innovations by researchers from Sirim Berhad, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Kuala Lumpur and University College Sedaya International.

Paying tribute to the researchers, he said they were still active in producing various innovations for universal benefits despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It is no surprise that the Korean Invention Promotion Association still appoints MARS as the only association, given the trust to bring innovations from Malaysia to compete in SIIF every year,” he said in a statement.

He said innovations that were entered for the contest were screened thoroughly after they had won gold medals in local competitions.