MPOBSTANDARD OPERATING

PROCEDURE (SOP) FOR RESPONSIBLE

RESEARCH

MALAYSIAN PALM OIL BOARD (MPOB)Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Malaysia6, Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Selangorwww.mpob.gov.my

i

Foreword iii

Preface v

1.0 Introduction 1

2.0 Responsibilities of Researchers 2

3.0 Research Misconduct 6

4.0 Conducting Research 11

5.0 Intellectual Property Rights 15

6.0 Summary 23

7.0 Acknowledgement 23

References 24

Appendix 1 25

Appendix 2 31

Appendix 3 33

CONTENTS

iii

FOREWORD

The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) is a leading government agency entrusted to serve the well-being of the Malaysian oil palm industry. The publication and implementation of this MPOB Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Responsible Research is timely, as high impact research outcomes are expected to align with MPOB’s vision and mission.

This SOP aims to provide guidelines to achieve the highest standards of integrity in all aspects of research and development (R&D) according to appropriate ethical, legal and professional frameworks. This SOP intends to inspire confidence in the value of government and public funded researches, to ensure the integrity of research outcomes, to raise awareness on the importance of research integrity and of the possible consequences for MPOB if appropriate operating standards are not practised.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate MPOB scientists on their endeavour in drafting, revising and publishing this SOP.

Finally, I hope that this SOP can be used as a benchmark and practical research guide for all MPOB researchers to enhance the competitiveness of the Malaysian oil palm industry.

Director General Malaysian Palm Oil Board

v

PREFACE

The absence of a standard operating procedure (SOP) for research activities in MPOB raises concerns about potential violations of research ethics. When there is no clear code of conduct for the research staff, research misconduct such as unethical authorship, falsification of data and plagiarism may happen due to lack of awareness and understanding of the consequences. This scenario will worsen if the management of such allegation of misconduct is not conducted in a fair, orderly and transparent manner. Therefore, with the establishment and implementation of MPOB Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Responsible Research, it is hoped that the integrity of MPOB’s researchers and the quality of MPOB’s R&D will reach greater heights and will be internationally recognised.

As a whole, this SOP outlines the procedures and the responsibilities of MPOB researchers in research ethics, data management, publishing and avoidance of research misconduct. This SOP covers the following topics: Responsibilities of Researchers, Research Misconduct, Conducting Research and Intellectual Property Rights. It covers the scope of research in all R&D divisions at MPOB.

Finally, we hope that this SOP sets the standards for quality research and provides an oriented set of practical suggestions to maintain the integrity of research activities at all levels of MPOB.

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) is a government agency which is responsible for the promotion and development of the oil palm industry in Malaysia. It is one of the agencies under the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC).

Its main role is to promote and develop national objectives, policies and priorities for the well-being of the Malaysian oil palm industry. It was incorporated by an Act of Parliament (Act 582) and established on 1 May 2000, taking over, through a merger, the functions of the Palm Oil Research Institute of Malaysia (PORIM) and the Palm Oil Registration and Licensing Authority (PORLA). Each of these respective organisations had been involved in the oil palm industry for more than 20 years and it was to render more effective services as well as to give greater national and international focus to the industry that they were merged and MPOB was instituted. MPOB’s vision, mission and strategy are given in Figure 1.

Figure 1. MPOB’s vision, mission and strategy.

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2.0 RESPONSIBILITIES OF RESEARCHERS

Responsibility for conducting ethical scientific research [1-4], within a framework of good governance and appropriate training is compulsory for all researchers.

Figure 2. Research lab activities.

2.1. Ethicsa. The researcher must be truthful in conducting and presenting his/her own research as well as in

response to others. This situation is applicable to every aspect of the research process inclusive of grant application, research design, experimentation, data generation and analysis.

b. The researcher must focus on and prioritise high quality research.c. The researcher must commit to and welcome research supervision.d. The researcher must practice high standards of accuracy and comprehensive recording and

reporting of research activities and results.e. The researcher must be ethical on the aims and the objectives.f. The researcher must ensure the credibility of data. g. The researcher must practice transparency and be cooperative with fellow colleagues and other

researchers.h. The researcher must commit to publishing and/or further developing and commercialising

research findings.i. The researcher must manage both financial and professional conflicts of interest.j. The researcher must act in a timely manner in accordance with organisational policies and

procedures when research misconduct occurs. k. The researcher should recognise and acknowledge the direct or indirect contributions of

colleagues, collaborators, and others in publications.

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2.2. Laws and RegulationsThe researcher must establish ownership of the data/technology (intellectual property and copyright) as much as the situation permits, and ensure data security. The researcher should also recognise the legal (and moral) sensitivities surrounding the topic of research. Written approval from the appropriate ethics committee, safety and relevant authorities and bodies must be obtained when required.

2.2.1. Human Clinical Studiesa. Ethical clearance for research involving human subjects, e.g. as a subject of survey

or interview, or as a subject of clinical trial in research should be sought prior to any research work being undertaken, including pilot studies or focus groups interviews.

b. Any human trial conducted in MPOB must adhere to the guidelines from World Health Organization (WHO) International Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research Involving Human Subjects by the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (Geneva 2002) and other internationally recognised human research guidelines.

c. The researchers involved in clinical trials are required to follow the Malaysian Good Clinical Practice (GCP) as highlighted in the website [5, 6].

d. Clinical research proposals can be submitted to the Medical Research & Ethics Committee (MREC), Ministry of Health Malaysia or any local university with a Medical Research and Ethics Committee.

e. A research proposal should be designed, evaluated and reviewed in accordance with the GCP Guidelines to ensure integrity and quality, which is in line with the following Malaysian Guideline for GCP [5].

f. To ensure the quality and integrity of a research proposal, all research staff and trial subjects involved must be notified of the objectives of the research, the procedures, and benefits of their participation in the research; and foreseeable risks or inconveniences should be weighed against the anticipated benefit to the individual trial subject and society.

g. A trial should be initiated and continued only if the anticipated benefits justify the risks.h. Any potential hazard to the subject must be prevented. The rights, safety, and well-being

of the trial subjects are the most important considerations and should prevail over the interests of science and society.

i. Trial subjects and the anonymity of respondents should be appreciated.j. The trial subjects should always take part in the study voluntarily and not by force. k. The objective of the clinical trial should be well-defined. Any conflicts of interest or bias

and prejudice should be avoided. l. All research trials need to be registered in the public domain such as the National Medical

Research Register [7, 8].m. All adverse events (if any) must be reported immediately to the Medical Research Ethics

Committee, Ministry of Health [6].

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HUMAN CLINICAL STUDIES WORLDWIDE

Malaysia

Australia

China

India

South Africa

United Kingdom

USA

Figure 3. Human clinical studies on palm oil and palm tocotrienols conducted by reputable research agencies in Malaysia and international organisations.

2.2.2. Animal Studiesa. To protect the welfare of the animals and to ensure that they are used in a scientifically

worthwhile way. b. Under the Malaysian Animal Research Act, approval by an Animal Care and Ethics

Committee (ACEC) is required for the use of any vertebrate animals for research and teaching.

c. The researchers must respect the animal they use in their research and in accordance with Malaysian Laws, regulations or organisation policies including the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The guidelines can be referred at the website [9].

2.2.3. Study involving Biological Resourcesa. Where applicable, researchers should apply for permission from local authorities to

conduct research on biological resources / collect samples of biological resources, especially pertaining to what is being practised in Sabah and Sarawak.• For the State of Sabah, the research permit information and forms can be downloaded

at: Sabah Biodiversity Council’s website [10], select Research Permit and choose either: Legislation/ Access Licence Application Form/ Export Licence Application Form/ Statutory Declaration Form.

• For the State of Sarawak, the permit information and forms can be downloaded at: Sarawak Forest Department’s website [11], select Nature Conservation and Constitution, then select Permits and Licences.

b. The researcher should apply for a licence to import or export of any wildlife (under the Wild Life Protection Rules 1998: Section 27) or plant material.

c. Researchers are advised to verify with the supplier/collaborator whether the research materials are living modified organisms (LMO) or produced from modern biotechnology techniques.

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2.2.4. Study involving Modified Organisms (LMO)a. LMO produced through powerful biotechnological approach have raised concerns on

the potential hazards, and ethical and legal aspects of this technology. The ‘Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety’ (CPB) was established to ensure safe implementation of activities involving LMO to avoid any adverse effect on biodiversity, human and animal health. The Biosafety Act (Act 678) was enforced on 1 December 2009 and its Regulations (Approval and Notification) were enforced on 1 November 2010. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Malaysia (NRE) is responsible to ensure the implementation of the Act through the National Biosafety Board (NBB). The Biosafety Regulations (2010) require all institutions involved in LMO/ rDNA research.• To establish a formal expert committee, i.e. its Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC).

MPOB (then PORIM) established its IBC in 1999. Besides research on transgenic oil palm at the Advanced Breeding and Biotechnology Centre (ABBC), MPOB researches may also use LMO such as rat, rabbit, tobacco, tomato and fungi.

• The Principal Investigator (PI) and the researchers involved in export, import, contained use and field experiment of LMO materials shall comply with the relevant requirements of the Act, Biosafety Regulations and other Biosafety Guidelines.

• PI should submit all applications for approval and notification that have been approved by the IBC to the NBB. Once an acknowledgement of receipt has been obtained for contained use or a certificate of approval has been granted for field experiment of LMO materials for the research project from the NBB, the PI should not modify the research project involving LMO materials such that it requires a change from the biosafety level (BSL) and/or Risk Group or change of premise that has already been assessed by IBC.

• When in doubt, the PI should consult the IBC and immediately report any significant problems with respect to the implementation of relevant laws, regulations and guidelines.

• PI should promptly notify the IBC of any significant research related accidents that have resulted or could result in human illnesses, unanticipated plant or animal diseases, or in the unintended release of the organism under study from an intended confinement.

• PI should complete the required training as specified in the IBC guidelines.• PI should develop and obtain IBC approval for emergency response plans to handle

accidental spills and personnel contamination, and strictly adhere to such plans.• Part III of the Act requires that any person, who intends to engage in activities related

to the release or the importation of LMO, needs to obtain an approval from NBB. Detailed information on the approval process can be obtained at the website [12].

• Part IV of the Act requires that any person, that intends to engage in activities involving the exportation and the contained use of LMOs, and also the importation of LMOs for the purposes of undertaking a contained activity, needs to submit their notification to NBB. Detailed information on the notification process can be obtained at the website [13].

• Additional information on biosafety can be found in the website of the National Biosafety Board [14], Act 678, Biosafety Act 2007 [15], Biosafety Law and Regulations [16], Biosafety Guidelines [17], Guidelines for Institutional Biosafety Committees [18].

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Complete

Acknowledge

Approved PersonAction NBB1

Approved

Appeal toMinister

Relevant Department

NBB1

NBB1

Govt. Ag.3GMAC2

Notifier

YES

YES

YESNO

NO

APPEAL

Note: 1National Biosafety Board 2Genetic Modification Advisory Committee 3Government Agency

Figure 4. The researcher involved with living modified organisms (LMO) shall comply with the relevant requirements of the Act, Biosafety Regulations and other Biosafety Guidelines.

2.3. Top Management Approvala. The researcher is responsible to obtain permission from management to disseminate research

findings through media such as seminars, web documents, leaflets or media interviews. b. Researchers should not discuss any policy issues with the public.

3.0 RESEARCH MISCONDUCT

Scientific misconduct is a form of violation to standard codes of scholarly conduct and ethical behaviour in reporting or performing professional scientific research.

3.1. Definition of Research Misconducta. Research misconduct can be defined as creating, altering, or copying data in proposing,

conducting, or reviewing research, or in writing research reports (Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), Federal Record, 12/6/2009). Further information can be obtained at the website [19].

b. Fabrication in research refers to creating results or data from unverified or unscientific sources and reporting them as scientifically sourced.

c. Falsification in research refers to manipulation and alteration of research materials, equipment, protocols, data or results, or modification of the data or results that are not correctly represented in the report.

d. Plagiarism is a form of piracy that involves the inappropriate use of another person’s ideas and thoughts, processes, data, or sentences and using them as one’s own original work without permission and giving appropriate credit. This should be strictly prohibited to avoid unhealthy research competition, prejudice and condemnation that lead to demoralisation of genuine researchers.

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MPOB also follows the definition of research misconduct by OSTP which includes, but is not limited to the following:

e. Gift authorship – the practice of arranging to credit someone with authorship or co-authorship in a way that deliberately exaggerates or gives a misleading impression of the actual contribution.

f. Infringement of generally accepted research procedures: Major divergence from the accepted procedures in planning or executing research, improper handling of experiments in acquiring prejudiced results, misleading statistical analysis and inappropriate reporting of results.

g. Non-compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements concerning research: Including but not restricted to serious or considerably repeated unruly breach of appropriate local rules and laws which involve management of funds, animal care, human subjects, experimental drugs, recombinant products, radioactive, biological, or chemical substances.

h. Improper actions related to misconduct: This involves unproven or knowingly false allegations of misconduct, failure to report existing or suspected cases of misconduct, denial or destruction of information related to a prerogative of misconduct and retaliation against the individuals involved in the investigation.

i. Violations of property: Pilfering or damaging property of others which include research papers, data and equipment.

j. Mishandling of funds: Failure to expend research resources according to the objectives stated in the contract documents and/or failure to sustain clear and good accounts on expenses.

k. Human research subject exploitation: Failure to get permission of research on clinical trial patients/informants, failure to defend the patient/informant confidentiality, failure to protect the research subject’s anonymity as well as the confidentiality of information sources (including information on small holders).

l. Cruelty against animals: Failure to give proper care and treatment to the animals involved in the research.

m. Failure to report any incidents of serious research misconduct: Failure to report major offences of research known to oneself; and/or covering up or otherwise.

n. Retaliation: Taking retaliatory action against a person who reports a suspected major research wrong doing.

o. Research misconduct does not involve honest error or unintended disagreement for example the design, execution, interpretation or decision in assessing research methods or results.

p. For avoidance of uncertainty, research misconduct comprises acts of omission and commission. The criteria for allegations of misconduct should be evaluated based on those prevailing at the date that the activities under investigation took place.

q. Research misconduct may transpire if the manner signifies a substantial divergence from accepted practices; has been committed deliberately, meaningfully, or irresponsibly; and can be proven by collecting evidence.

r. Research misconduct may be caused by the lack of documentation, communication, compromised objectivity, pressure to finish or publish, missing leadership, lack of training, too much work or recognition and distinction, and other reasons.

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s. Staff undertaking research are able to exercise their freedom under the Laws of Malaysia 582 (Malaysian Palm Oil Board Act, 1998) [20] and Akta Badan-Badan Berkanun (Tatatertib dan Surcaj) 2000 [21], but must also be accountable to ascertain and defend the integrity of research and be conscious of the legal requirements that regulate their work. To assure all stakeholders that high standards of research integrity are maintained by MPOB at all times, claims of research misconduct should be investigated and appropriate remedial and punitive measures undertaken as reasonably practicable.

3.2. Management of Misconduct in ResearchAny misconduct in research either minor or major in nature must be managed accordingly by the responsible entity or entities appointed by the MPOB Management.

Figure 5. MPOB Organisational Structure.

3.2.1. Appointing Committee for Misconduct in Research The MPOB Board must establish a committee which is responsible to assess and solve issues of misconduct in research collectively. The Deputy Director-General (R&D) is to chair this committee with all Divisional Directors as members and the Head of Integrity Unit as the Secretary. This committee is responsible to give proposals and recommendations to the Director-General on actions to be taken if evidence of misconduct in research is found (Figure 6). If any Divisional Director is allegedly involved in research misconduct, he/she shall not be in the committee. Where the Deputy Director General (R&D) is allegedly involved, then the Director-General shall chair the committee which shall comprise four other Board Members. Where the Director-General is allegedly involved, the committee shall consist of five Board Members including one chairman who is to be determined/appointed by the Board.

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3.2.2. Appointing Integrity Unit to Look into Research Integrity Issuesa. MPOB Management must appoint a designated person in the Integrity Unit, to whom

allegations of research misconduct must be directed officially. The Unit needs to establish a Domestic Inquiry Panel (DI) to carry out investigations on allegation for misconduct in research for further evaluation by the Committee of Misconduct in Research.

b. The Domestic Inquiry Panel (DI) is to be chaired by one out of the seven members. The members of DI will consist of seven people to be appointed from among the Heads of Unit (HOU) and Senior Principal Research Officers (VK7) from all R&D divisions. To ensure the smooth operation of the DI, the appointment of permanent and alternate DI members will also be carried out, subject to the approval of the Director-General.

Rejecti. Case Closedii. Refer to Integrity Unit

Administrativeaction

Administrativeaction (1)

DiciplinaryCommittee (2)

Report toSPRM/PDRM (3)

Diciplinary Committee

Report toSPRM/PDRM

Administrativeaction

Research Officer/Staff

Integrity Unit

Domestic Inquiry

Accept

Committee of Reasearch Misconduct

Director General MPOB(Decision Making Process)*

Integrity Unit(Action)**

Official Report of Allegation by memo/

email/ form

Calling Domestic Inquiry Panel (DI) Meeting for

Assessment

Investigation and Preparing Report

i. Hearingii. Whether there is

sufficient evidenceiii. Whether there is

insufficient evidenceiv. Recommendation

Note: * The Director General will make a decision between(1) (2) or (3) ** Integrity Unit will act in accordance with the decision of the Director General

Figure 6. Management of misconduct in research.

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3.2.3. Policy on Allegationa. MPOB must have a written policy (this SOP) on receiving complaints or allegations

related to misconduct in research. b. The policy should recognise the following categories:

• Failure to implement the Research Misconduct code. • Research misconduct (any allegation must be managed accordingly as even a small

allegation in nature can become a bigger issue if it is not addressed appropriately).c. A staff who is subject to an allegation should be treated fairly. He or she must be given

opportunities to respond to the allegation orally or in writing.d. Any complaints on possible research misconduct should be sent directly to the Integrity

Unit by the person who has the information. However, it is encouraged that the complaint to be sent through his/ her HOU and Director. Only complaints that carry the officer’s name, designation and signature will be investigated without prejudice. The accused staff must be treated in accordance with any legislative or administrative provisions when an investigation is taking place.

3.2.4. Reviewing Employer-Employee AgreementsThe process of handling research misconduct must be relevant to the workplace Agreements and the Laws (Malaysian Palm Oil Board Act 582/ Akta Badan-Badan Berkanun (Tatatertib dan Surcaj 2000) which can be obtained at the websites [20, 21].

3.2.5. Responsibility of Research Unit or Division a. The most effective way of preventing research misconduct is to establish a responsible

research environment. When a misconduct allegation arises, the HOU and Director of the respective division in MPOB should be the first points of contact.

b. Units/Divisions are expected to: establish and maintain a responsible research environment in which a high standard of research practice is expected; declare any actual or apparent conflicts of interest related to an alleged breach of the SOP; if possible, manage breaches of the SOP that do not constitute research misconduct in accordance with MPOB policy; keep a complete record of the process used to investigate and resolve allegations of SOP breaches.

3.2.6. Responsibility of Researchers a. The researchers in MPOB are responsible for reporting any known research misconduct

cases in a timely manner in accordance with the MPOB policy.b. Staff who report any misconduct in good faith have provided a valuable service to MPOB

and will be protected under the Malaysian Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 (Act 711).

3.2.7. InquiryAn inquiry consists of a pre-investigation for gathering information and facts to prove the truth of any allegation of misconduct. The decision on whether to investigate or not depends on the outcome of the inquiry.

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3.2.8. InvestigationAn investigation is an official assignment to search for evidence to justify any misconduct. Further actions on any allegation that includes investigation, arbitration and decision making should be carried out according to the MPOB staff disciplinary procedures.

3.2.9. Disciplinary Action There will be grounds for MPOB management to take disciplinary action on staff involved in research misconduct. The management should take disciplinary action against the staff based on advice from the appointed committee of misconduct.

4.0 CONDUCTING RESEARCH

A researcher is responsible for his or her research project, from the proposal stage to implementation and subsequently completion of the project.

Figure 7. Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) as the custodian of the Malaysian oil palm industry continually places importance on R&D and services along the whole value spectrum.

4.1. New Project Proposal (NPP)a. All proposed research should follow the MPOB Standard Operating Procedure for Research

and Development (R&D) projects (refer to MPOB ISO document, R&D/SOP/01).b. A researcher must ensure that the various aspects of the proposal, such as problem statement,

objectives, expected benefits of the research project, time frame and financial estimation have been addressed.

c. Experimental design, methodologies and standard test methods used must be referenced or scientifically/technically sound and recognised.

d. The project proposal should include market demand and economic analysis (if applicable) in the SWOT analysis.

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4.2. Programme Advisory Committee (PAC)All NPPs should be presented at PAC for recommendations and approval.

Figure 8. Example of Program Advisory Committee (PAC) members together with MPOB top management.

4.3. Research Executiona. The ownership, collection, storage, analysis and sharing of research data are the essential

aspects of data management for research integrity. Data is defined as measurements, observations, or any other primary products of research activity including but not limited to image, audio, video, organism, software and research sample [22].

b. External personnel e.g. salesman, visitors, company’ representatives are not allowed to enter MPOB facilities such as laboratories and pilot plants without management’s approval.

c. Researchers have the responsibility to safeguard their project execution to avoid project fabrication.

4.4. Data Ownershipa. MPOB has ownership of all primary materials and research data unless otherwise specified. b. For projects involving several institutions/ organisations, the materials and data retained at the

end of the project are the property of the institution hosting the project, while other institutions/ organisations may have the right for research repository unless clearly stipulated in agreement.

c. Whenever there is a movement, departure or retirement of a researcher, all the research data must be transferred to the co-researchers of the project. The transfer of data must be completed at least one month prior to the movement, departure or retirement date. The completion of data transfer must be verified by the immediate superior i.e. Group Leader//HOU/Director.

d. Researchers shall not be allowed to reveal, share or publish any confidential information obtained during the tenure at MPOB.

4.4.1. Data Collectiona. Data collection refers not only to all recorded information and how it is recorded, but also

to how a particular research project is designed. Although data collection methodology varies by project, the aim of successful data collection should always be to uphold the integrity of the project, the research institution, and the researchers involved.

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b. Research data must be original, precise and reproducible to uphold the integrity of the project, institution and researchers involved.

c. Researchers must perform data keeping in MPOB Research Notebooks (MPOB RN) and electronic records (if applicable) to indicate the progress of project.

d. Errors should be marked, signed and dated, but never be erased as to provide a quick visual account of any changes that have occurred.

4.4.2. Data Storagea. Original research data such as viva Reports, MPOB RN, product formulation reports,

secret formulae and trade secrets should be stored at the Palm Information Centre (PMS). An additional copy could be stored at the divisional office, if necessary.

b. Researchers are encouraged to transfer all notes and research data into an electronic record as a backup, and in addition, to store a printed hard copy of the Monthly Executive Summary of Research Achievement (MESRA). This is to ensure proper retention of research data throughout the project and to allow for efficient access to research data.

c. Researchers with health problems must provide data backup to minimise the risk of data losses and to ensure the data is retrievable by co-researchers.

d. For research involving collaborative partnerships with several institutions, an agreement concerning the deposit of research data and materials should be established.

e. Research data and related research materials should be kept for a sufficient time for reference by other interested parties.

f. Research data must not be destroyed. Retention of research data of a project is necessary as long as the interest and the discussion concerning the project persist. The recommended data retention period is at least 5 years from the date of publication.

g. Research data of a short-term project such as a preliminary study should be retained for a year after the completion of the project.

h. For research data of a clinical trial must be kept for at least 15 years after completion or termination of the trial.

i. Research data in specialised areas such as gene therapy, records of patients must be retained permanently.

j. When misconduct is involved in a project, all associated research data and materials have to be retained until the matter is resolved completely.

k. A researcher must maintain the confidentiality of any confidential information after he or she has accessed it. All primary materials and confidential research data must be securely kept.

4.4.3. Data Analysisa. Every co-researcher participating in the project must be familiar with the data analysis

and interpretation of the research data within the context of the study. b. Researchers should ensure the analytical methods employed in the project meet the

accepted standards in their particular area of study.c. Researchers must not manipulate research data and analysis.

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4.4.4. Data sharinga. Researchers are encouraged to share research outputs (especially refereed publications

and proceedings) in researchgate.net or any other open platforms [23-25], unless copyright, ethics, privacy or confidentiality matters prevent this.

b. Other research outputs, such as seminar posters and PowerPoint presentations could be shared with the approval of the respective Research Directors. It is not recommended to upload unpublished data, e.g. posters or PowerPoints presentations, which may be easily plagiarised and may affect the eligibility of the researcher to publish information in the future.

c. MPOB publications such as Journal of Oil Palm Research (JOPR), Oil Palm Bulletin, Palm Oil Development and Palm Oil Engineering Bulletin could be shared.

d. MPOB reports such as Quarterly, Half Yearly and Annual Research Reports, Comprehensive Research. Achievement Reports, Operational Plans and other confidential reports are strictly for internal use and cannot be shared.

e. Researchers should reveal or share research studies with the utmost responsibility, especially in relation to dissemination of work that has not been peer reviewed, published or patented. Researchers should be aware of the consequences of sharing such research in the public domain.

f. Clinical data to be shared publicly are subject to ethical approvals and consent which cover the data, the materials and the intellectual property rights associated with them, if applicable.

g. Clinical data either positive or negative results have to be reported as stated in the Malaysian Guideline for Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and clinical ethics clearance. According to the above guidelines, all the identities, e.g. patients will be protected.

h. Except for open access journals, the copyright of the articles belongs to the journal publishers. As such, sharing of publisher’s version of the article in an open platform is prohibited unless the article is made open access. However, sharing of the journal article in the forms of pre-print and post-print versions are usually permitted, subject to the copyright policy of the journal which can be checked online via Sherpa/Romeo website [26].

i. Once the paper is accepted for publication, the authors can provide a link from the preprint to their formal publication via its Digital Object Identifier (DOI) for a wide range of scholarly, non-commercial purposes sharing and online posting.

j. Authors are encouraged to share research data published in journals via online public databases or MPOB’s databases that are developed as centralized resource for researchers to store and disseminate oil palm data from research studies. Permission to release this data should be obtained from the Director General of MPOB.

k. Prior to the development of a database system or web portal for this purpose, Computer Unit should be consulted during the development planning stage to ensure that the systems meet MPOB’s ICT Safety Guidelines. All databases and web portals must meet the necessary safety requirements (Senarai Semak Pembangunan Sistem/ Aplikasi MPOB) set by the Computer Unit. It is important to note that the databases and web portals developed in MPOB remain the proprietary property of MPOB.

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l. Prior to the release of a database/web portal to the public domain, written consent must be obtained from the relevant Head of Unit, Divisional Director and Director General. The database must be linked to MPOB’s official website. The database/ web portal must be maintained and checked at least twice a year to determine if there is any flaw in the system and to update the operating system and other related software. A full backup of the system must be available to replace the entire system in the event of a total system failure. Please follow requirements set for the release of database/web-portals into the public domain by Computer Unit (Management of ISMS: 27001 Information Systems; MPOB-IT-FRM-046).

m. In the event where services or expertise involving MPOB data are out-sourced, the MPOB Principal Investigator (PI) must ensure that the researchers and collaborators maintain information confidentiality with relevant agreement, e.g. Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and the non-MPOB personnel must abide by Akta Rahsia Rasmi 1972 or other relevant laws. The Official Secrets Act can be obtained at the website [27].

4.5. Project ExtensionResearchers must request for a project extension (if required) at least 3 months before the project’s date of completion through Borang Lanjutan Projek R&D (R&D/FO/05) from MPOB Intranet.

4.6. Project Closurea. Upon completion of the project, the researchers should provide a completion report to

Management. If the project is prematurely terminated or suspended, a partial completion report of the project outcomes, or termination of a research project report should be provided to Management with a detailed written explanation of the termination or suspension.

b. Determining when a project is to be closed: Research projects may be closed when the individually identifiable follow-up data about the participants are no longer being collected and the analysis that could indicate new information has been completed.

c. The researcher may close a research project by submitting the continuing Review/ Final Report form requesting inactivation or closure. The researcher may close an exempt research project by submitting Exempt Study Progress Report Form requesting closure.

d. Management will review the submission for closure and the researcher will present the research project to the MPOB viva committee.

5.0 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

Researchers are also encouraged to disseminate all research findings; however, all reasonable steps must be taken to ensure that published reports and public statements about research activities and performance are complete and accurate. Valuable intellectual property, e.g. patentable findings, should be protected where necessary prior to publication. Any public or press release discussing the research work, especially on the work that has not been reviewed, published or patented, should obtain prior approval from MPOB management and has to be addressed appropriately.

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5.1. PublicationDissemination of research findings is an important part of the research process. Typically, research has not been fully completed until the finding have been presented to MPOB viva Committee and subsequently published in journals (refereed and non-refereed), patents, book chapters, web pages, other media and/ or digital repositories (Figure 9).

Figure 9. MPOB publications.

5.1.1. Indexed Refereed Journal (IRJ)a. All proposed publications in journals must be approved by the Director General through

the Manuscript Submission Form. The form can be accessed at website [28] or by contacting Publication Unit, MPOB for a hard copy.

b. Researchers should ensure that research findings are disseminated responsibly and, if necessary, timely.

c. Researchers should ensure that their research findings are peer reviewed prior to publication or dissemination.

d. Researchers are encouraged to publish their research outputs in ISI/ Web of Science (WOS) or Scopus indexed refereed journals.

e. For open access journals that require processing or publication fees, the quantum of the fee MUST be stated in the Manuscript Submission Form. Only ISI/ WOS indexed open access (paid) journals are allowed for this application.

f. In the case whereby an application for publication in a non-paid journal (non-open access) has been approved and the authors would like to resubmit (normally after rejection by the non-paid journal) to an open access journal, the authors must obtain approval from the Director General through a memo and attach a copy of the previously approved Manuscript Submission Form with a description of the publication fee amount prior to the resubmission. In the case of authors who have their manuscript accepted by non-open access journals but choose to make the manuscript open access (for journals which have such option), approval from Director General is required by providing justification and information on the fees involved along with the approved Manuscript Submission Form.

g. For publication in JOPR, researchers must comply with the MPOB Code of Ethics (Appendix 1).

17

Figure 10. Publication in peer-reviewed and high impact journals by MPOB.

5.1.2. Conferences, Seminars and Traininga. Dissemination of research findings is a significant part of research. MPOB encourages

researchers to publish or disseminate research findings to the public through conferences or seminars.

b. Researchers should obtain approval from MPOB Management before disseminating their research findings.

c. The research findings should be peer reviewed prior to the dissemination.d. The related research collaborators and all sources of funding must be acknowledged.

5.2. Patentsa. A patent is a grant issued to inventor(s) which gives them exclusive rights to exploit and control

a patented invention for a limited period of time, in return for the disclosure of an invention. Approval of Patent protection for an invention is obtained individually from each country.

b. The basic requirements and the different stages involved in the filing and prosecution of a Malaysian patent application can be accessed at website [29].

c. The procedure for patent filing can be obtained from the Corporate Implementation Communication Unit (CICU) MPOB (Appendix 2).

d. A brief procedure is described as follows: The inventor seeking a patent filing must submit a technical document in the form of patent or patent specifications together with the Patent Application Form to CICU MPOB. After the patent agent has conducted the novelty search to verify the submitted specifications, the patent application will be approved by MPOB Intellectual Property Management Committee for patent filing. The patent agent will be responsible for filing the patent in Malaysia through the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO).

e. Any international filing application can only be made a year after the date of filing. Patents will be granted by the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia for 20 years from the date of filing the fee for and annual renewal of the patent needs to be paid before the date of expiry. The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) assists applicants in seeking international invention protection [30].

18

5.3. Transfer of Technology a. The main objective of R&D in MPOB is to ultimately transfer technology to the industry. MPOB

welcomes entrepreneurs to take up its technologies for commercialisation under mutually agreed terms and conditions. Transfer of Technology (TOT) is defined as thedissemination/disclosure of knowledge, innovations, processes, strategies of fabricating, tests of fabricating and other scientific and technological developments from the laboratory or pilot scale to advancement either in clinical trials or eventually full scale commercialisation into modern items, forms, applications, materials or administrations [31]. The three essential considerations to be tended to amid a successful innovation exchange are the plan, the people included, and the method.

b. Keys for a successful TOT are that knowledge must be systematic and every detail must be organised in proving solution to a problem; the idea must be presentable and able to be transferred from one person to another; and the purpose must be clear in the sense that the technology can be utilised for specific proposes in industry, medical sector or commercial fields. New technologies are required to be patented before TOT.

c. A schematic of the steps involved in developing technology is illustrated in Appendix 3.d. The researcher who wants to develop a technology from basic research has to go through a new

project proposal to obtain approval from the PAC. Once the project is completed, the researcher has to make a viva presentation. The project with potential outcome will be used for TOT to make this technology available to the industries. The schematic route is as follows: New Project Proposal PAC R&D viva TOT commercialisation.

e. If the new project is based on the technology of the previous project, the researcher has to convince the TOT viva committee to skip the need of getting through the PAC committee via new project proposal. The schematic route as in figure 11.

Figure 11. Transfer of technology (TOT) flow chart.

19

5.4. Commercialisation a. The main objective of R&D is to eventually provide innovation to the industry. MPOB by and

large does not involve itself specifically with the trade of generation, handling or promoting the commercial product. MPOB only grants technology licenses to interested parties who will manufacture and market their products. It is up to the entrepreneurs to take up MPOB technologies for commercialisation under mutually agreed terms and conditions. Signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between MPOB and the company is required before the technology can be commercialised by the entrepreneurs. The developer of the technology will take the technology to a particular state of development as well as introduce it to the market.

b. There are few types of commercialisation: the major industries, one–off / customisation, process improvement and services.

Figure 12. Examples of commercialised MPOB technologies.

5.4.1. Licensinga. The potential investor with the necessary expertise will be authorised by MPOB to take up

the license for advancement and commercialisation of the technology under commonly agreed terms and conditions, including royalties.

b. Creation and showcasing will be performed by the licensee.c. A licensing fee will be imposedd. Royalties may be imposed on the licensee as a percentage of sales or as a lump sum or

both. Licenses might be restrictive or non-selective.

20

Figure 13. Biodiesel pilot plant.

5.4.2. Pilot Plant DevelopmentMPOB may conduct further development work with the interested parties on the pilot plant at negotiable cost. Government grants may be applicable if relevant.

5.4.3. Incubator FacilitiesMPOB may allow its facilities to be used for trial manufacturing and marketing of products subject to payment of fees. This enables the entrepreneur to test the product and market on a small scale before making a decision to invest heavily in a full scale production plant.

5.4.4. ConsultancyResearchers can provide technical support to investors even after commercialisation and licensing. Appropriate consultancy fees may be charged.

5.4.5. Collaborative R&Da. Researchers can collaborate with external parties to develop certain technologies of

mutual interest upon mutually agreed terms and conditions. b. Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) or Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) or

Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) must be signed between MPOB and the external parties.

5.5. Defining Authorship An author is generally considered to be an individual who has made substantial intellectual contributions to a scientific investigation which resulted in publication. All authors are collectively responsible on what has been published. The authorship should be based on contributions to the research work [32, 33].

21

5.5.1. Corresponding Authora. The corresponding author is usually the principal researcher who has a major contribution

in the research project, takes charge of the overall responsibility of the reported work and communicating with the journal editor(s). The name and contact details of the corresponding author must be provided based on the journal requirements. In some cases, the corresponding author is a senior researcher who supervises graduate/post-graduate students and provides the intellectual input and supervision.

b. In the event an MPOB Contract Research Officer proposes to be the corresponding author is, the individual must obtain the approval of the Research Director.

c. In the case of MPOB Graduate Student Assistantship Scheme (GSAS) students, the corresponding author should be the appointed supervisor from MPOB.

5.5.2. First AuthorThe first author is the first named author of a publication who is responsible for preparing the manuscript and executing the research project. In some cases where more than one person has significantly contributed to the experiment, joint first-authorship is allowed.

5.5.3. Co-Author(s)a. Co-authors of a publication are also responsible for the content, review and approval

of the manuscript by providing consent of authorship to the first author. The co-authors must also contribute genuinely in the research project and to the intellectual merits of the publication.

b. It would be biased, unethical and potential promotion of favouritism if co-authors also include those who just happen to be the administrative Head of the author (such as Group Leader, Head of Unit or Director) or those who have not made a substantive contribution to the research, such as merely lending equipment for use in the research, approving application for publication, generally manging a research group, providing writing assistance, technical editing, language editing and proof reading.

c. Principal Investigator (PI) has the right to decide on the co-authors of the publication. PI should not be subject to direct and indirect pressure in determining the authorships.

5.5.4. External Collaborators, Including Sponsors or Industry Representativesa. All scientific publications involving external collaborators who contribute significantly to

the research project and the article/publication should include their names as co-authors irrespective of their institutional affiliations.

b. The industry affiliations of those involved in the work must also be disclosed in the published article.

c. All authors must acknowledge/ disclose the source(s) of funding or research grant for the work.

22

5.5.5. Affiliationa. The primary affiliation of each author should be the institution where the majority of their

work was done. If an author has subsequently moved, the current address may also be stated. For GSAS students, their affiliation should be the University and MPOB.

b. MPOB officers must use the following address and email: Malaysian Palm Oil Board, 6, Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia.

c. Do not use MPOB, P.O. Box. 10620, 50720 Kuala Lumpur. d. Please only use MPOB’s official email address: example@mpob.gov.my.

5.5.6. Acknowledgementsa. Individuals who have contributed to a publication but do not meet the requirements

of authorship should be appropriately acknowledged. Funding bodies should be acknowledged. Peers who have critically reviewed the manuscript should be acknowledged. As a standard practice in MPOB, the acknowledgement section begins with the acknowledgement to the Director-General of MPOB who has given approval for the paper to be published.

b. As part of the submission process, the authors are required to check the manuscript for plagiarism or self-plagiarism which can be done by the Publication Unit MPOB or by the journal in the peer review process using a plagiarism detection system.

c. Approval must be obtained from MPOB management to submit a manuscript and it is the author’s responsibility to obtain this in writing and provide information that the manuscript has been screened for plagiarism against previously-published work by filling up the Manuscript Submission Form which can be accessed at the website [28].

23

6.0 SUMMARYIn summary, this SOP presents the procedures and the responsibilities of MPOB researchers to achieve our vision to become a Premium Nobel Laureate producing R&D institution and mission to enhance the wellbeing of the Malaysian Oil Palm Industry. It covers the scope of research in all R&D divisions at MPOB and should be used as the main guideline for MPOB researchers to avoid any misconduct in research.

Figure 14. The Committee of SOP for Responsible Research.

7.0 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This document was prepared by the representatives from R&D divisions: Dr. Umi Salamah Ramli (ABBC), Dr. Chan Chung Hung (AOTD), Dr. Mohamed Mazmira Mohd Masri (BIO), Y.M. Raja Zulkifli Raja Omar (IRED), Dr. Roila Awang (E&P), Dr. Zaida Zainal (PDAS), under supervision of Dr. Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir (Director General). The document was reviewed at various stages by Officers Association of MPOB (OAMPOB), individual Research Officers, Heads of Unit, Divisional Directors and Deputy Director General (Research & Development) of MPOB.

24

REFERENCES

1 http://www.dmu.ac.uk/research/ethics-and-governance/responsibilities-of-the-researcher.aspx

2 http://www.rmc.upm.edu.my/dokumen/PTPPY1JKEUPM_GUIDELINES.pdf)

3 http://www.dmu.ac.uk/research/ethics-and-governance/responsibilities-of-the-researcher.aspx

4 https://www.um.edu.my/research-andcommunitydocs/librariesprovider57/ umrec/manual-for-responsible-research.pdf?sfvrsn=2

5 http://www.nccr.gov.my

6 http://nih.gov.my/web/mrec/

7 https://www.nmrr.gov.my/

8 clinicaltrial.gov.my

9 https://www.lasam.org.my/iacuc

10 http://www.sabc.sabah.gov.my/

11 http://www.forestry.sarawak.gov.my/

12 http://www.biosafety.nre.gov.my/regulatory_process/approval.shtml

13 http://www.biosafety.nre.gov.my/regulatory.process/notification.shtml

14 http://www.biosafety.nre.gov.my/default.shtml15 http://www.biosafety.nre.gov.my/BiosafetyAct2007.shtml16 http://www.biosafety.nre.gov.my/law_regulation.shtml17 http://www.biosafety.nre.gov.my/guideline.shtml18 http://www.biosafety.nre.gov.my/ibc.shtml19 https://www.aps.org/policy/statements/upload/federalpolicy.pdf20 http://www.agc.gov.my/agcportal/uploads/files/Publications/LOM/EN/Act%2058221 https://legal.usm.my/v3/.../akta%20badan%20berkanun-60522 https://ori.hhs.gov/images/ddblock/data.pdf23 https://www.academia.edu/24 https://scholar.google.com

25 https://works.bepress.com

26 http://www.sherpa.ac.uk/romeo/index.php

27 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Official_Secrets_Act_1972.

28 http://apps.mpob.gov.my/application/public/MainMenu.nsf?Open

29 http://www.bioeconomycorporation.my/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/downloads_aboutmalaysia/IP_Guidance_Paper_V1.pdf.

30 http://www.wipo.int/pct/guide/en/gdvol1/pdf/gdvol1.pdf

31 An overview of the Technology Transfer in industry. Rakesh M. Wani et al., International J. of Advances in Pharmaceutics. 2017: 06 (06): 103 – 109.

32 Newman A, Jones R. Authorship of research papers: Ethical and professional issues for short-term researchers (2016) J. Med. Ethics 32:420 – 423

33 http://www.icmje.org/recommendations/browse/roles-and-responsibilities/defining-the-role-of-authors-and-contributors.html

25

APPENDIX 1

27

MPOBCode of Ethics

Journal of Oil Palm Research (JOPR), the flagship journal of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), has established itself as a leading international refereed journal in oil palm and palm oil research. The latest research findings on oil palm originating from scientists worldwide are invariably published, in JOPR. No other journal in the world can match JOPR’s coverage on oil palm science and technology. In maintaining its global leadership, JOPR has always maintained a high standard of integrity and originality in published papers. All subscribing scientists are required to follow the desired code of ethics in publishing their findings in JOPR. It is imperative that editors, authors and reviewers maintain high ethical standards relating to the publication of manuscripts in JOPR. In cases where ethical standards are breached, MPOB will consult the Code of Ethics and act accordingly.

Ethics on Authorship

When an author submits a manuscript to JOPR, the manuscript must be an original work. If the authors have used the work, this must be appropriately cited and quoted. The same applies to the work of others.

If the manuscript contains materials that overlap with work that is previously published, that is in press, or that is under consideration for publication elsewhere, the author must cite this work in the manuscript. The author must also inform JOPR’s Executive Editor of the related work and send the manuscript to him/ her as needed.

Authors must withdraw paper that is under review with any other journal, if the paper is submitted to JOPR subsequently.

Authors must explicitly cite their own earlier work and ideas, even when the work or ideas are not quoted verbatim or paraphrased in the manuscript. If the exact sentences or paragraphs appearing in the author’s other work are included in the manuscript, the material should be put in quotation marks and appropriately cited in a way that does not compromise the double-blind review process.

Authors should avoid excessively citing their earlier works in order to inflate their citation count. Authors should also avoid self-citation that might violate the double-blind review process. If self-identifying information is unavoidable, the author should include the information in the manuscript’s acknowledgements and also inform JOPR.

Authors should not submit a manuscript to JOPR that was previously submitted to JOPR, sent out for review, and rejected after the JOPR editorial review. If the earlier version was rejected by JOPR, and the author wishes to submit a revised version for review, this fact and the justification for resubmission should be clearly communicated by the author to the Editor of JOPR at the time of submission.

28

Co-authors and Corresponding Authors should be those who genuinely contribute to the research work which culminates in the submitted manuscript. It would be counterproductive if co-authors also include those who just happen to be the administrative Head of the author or those who have not made substantive contribution to the research, for example in lieu of lending equipment for use in the research.

It is strongly suggested that authors wishing to submit manuscripts for JOPR publication should use any application program to check for possible plagiarism in their manuscript before submitting it to JOPR.

Authors Have the Following Responsibilities:• To gather and interpret data in an honest way, not breach any copyright and seek appropriate

permission from the relevant publishers to publish previously published data.• To present a concise and accurate report of their research and an objective discussion.• To give due recognition to published work relating to their submitted manuscript by way of correct

reference and citation.• To avoid undue fragmentation of their work into multiple manuscripts.• To inform the editor of related manuscripts under consideration for publication by the same author

in any journal, on submission of their current manuscript. Authors should provide copies of these related manuscripts, and details of their present status.

Plagiarism and Self Plagiarism

All work in the manuscript should be free of any plagiarism, falsification, fabrication, or omission of significant material.

Plagiarism takes many forms, from ‘passing off’ another’s paper as the author’s own paper, to copying or paraphrasing substantial parts of another’s paper (without credit), claiming results from research done by others.

Plagiarism is the use of others’ published and unpublished ideas or words (or other intellectual property) without attribution or permission, and presenting them as new and original rather than derived from an existing source. The intent and effect of plagiarism is to mislead the reader about the contributions of the plagiariser. This applies whether the ideas or words are taken from abstracts, or unpublished and published manuscripts in any publication format (print or electronic).

Authors are expected to explicitly cite others’ works and ideas, even if the works or ideas are not quoted verbatim or paraphrased. The standard applies whether the previous work is published, unpublished, or electronically available.

29

Self-plagiarism (or ‘redundancy’) can occur in at least two ways:• Authors recycle portions of their previous writings by using identical or nearly identical sentences

or paragraphs from earlier writings in subsequent research papers, without quotation or acknowledgement; or

• Authors create multiple papers that differed slightly from each other, which are submitted for publication in different journals without acknowledgement of the other papers.

Self-plagiarism is widespread and sometimes unintentional, as there are only so many ways to say the same thing on many occasions, particularly when writing the Methods section of an article. Although this usually violates the copyright assigned to the publisher, there is no consensus on whether this is a form of scientific misconduct, or how many of one’s own words can be used before the actual ‘plagiarism’. Probably for this reason, self-plagiarism is generally not regarded in the same light as plagiarism of the ideas and words of other individuals. Moreover, since publication decisions are influenced by the novelty and innovativeness of manuscripts, such deception is inappropriate and unethical. In actual fact, this can be minimised or avoided by citing one’s previous publications as necessary.

Authors should therefore minimise recycling of previous writings. If recycling is unavoidable, the author should inform the Editor at the time of submission and reference, as well as the previous writings in the manuscript. Such self-referencing should be worded carefully so as to avoid compromising the double-blind review process.

If exact sentences or paragraphs that appear in the author’s other work are included in the manuscript, the material must be put in quotation marks and appropriately cited.

Plagiarism is scientific misconduct and in all its forms constitute unethical publishing behavior, which is unacceptable.• To ensure that a manuscript is submitted for publication in only one journal at a time.• To ensure that their submitted articles contain no personal criticism of other scientists.• To give due acknowledgement to all workers contributing to the work.• To declare all sources of funding for the work.

Editors Have the Following Responsibilities:• To acknowledge receipt of manuscripts in a timely manner, arrange fair and timely reviews, handle

manuscripts confidentially and make the final decision concerning acceptance or rejection.• To accept or reject a manuscript for publication concerning only the manuscript’s importance,

originality and relevance.• To respect the intellectual independence of authors.• To make known any conflicts of interest that might arise. Where an editor is an author of a manuscript,

it should be passed to another editor for independent peer review.• Not to use for their own research, work reported in unpublished or submitted articles.• To ensure the confidentiality of reviewers; adjudication and appeal referees.• To deal fairly with appeals against rejection of a manuscript.• To comply with data protection regulations, as appropriate.

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Reviewers Have the Following Responsibilities:• To treat the manuscript as confidential.• To destroy/erase the manuscript and to inform the editor should they be unqualified to review the

manuscript.• To judge the manuscript objectively and in a timely manner.• To inform the editor if there is a conflict of interest.• To explain and support their decisions so that editors and authors can understand the basis of their

comments, and to provide reference to published work, where appropriate.• To inform the editor of any similarities between the submitted manuscript and another published

paper.• To ensure that all unpublished data, information, interpretation and discussion remain confidential

and not to use reported work in unpublished, submitted articles for their own research.• To alert the editor if a manuscript contains plagiarised material.• Not to retain the submitted manuscript in any form; to comply with data protection regulations.• To declare any conflicts of interest that might arise.

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APPENDIX 2

32

Flow Chart of Patent Filing

1. Filling up the form

2. CICU receives Patent Application Forms i.e. Invention Disclosure Forms and technology papers in the form of patent or process specifications, chemical formulas and drawings.

3. Send specification to the patent agent to search for authenticity of the technology. If the technology is ‘novel’, it will be sent to the Director General for approval. It will be rejected if it is not novel.

4. The Director General shall decide whether to approve the application upon the evaluation and decision from Intellectual Property Management Committee.

5. Upon approval by the Director-General or Intellectual Property Management Committee, a patent application will be submitted to patent agent for filling.

6. The inventor / researcher will assist agent patents in the preparation, filing and execution of patent applications.

7. The researcher makes a comment or amendment to the specification that has been filled by patent agent. The final specification will be sent to the patent agent for filing.

8. Patent application will be sent to the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) by an agent patent for filing.

9. No. file and filing date will be sent by Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO).

10. An international filing application or PCT will be made (if necessary) after completing a year from the date of filing.

11. Substantive Examination with the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) will be carried out within 18 months from the date of filing.

12. Corrections will be done during the examination.

13. If the request from Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) is not fulfilled, the patent will be rejected.

14. Patent will be granted by Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) for 20 years from the date of filing.

15. Annual renewal of patent needs to be paid before the date of expiry.

16. End.

1

11

10

9

8

7

6

5

3

2

13

15

14

12

16

4

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

33

APPENDIX 3

34

Lab Scale/Pilot ScaleR&D Pilot Plant

Technology (MPOB 100%)

Marketing of Products

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

Patenting• 100% MPOB• Shared Basis

Consultant

Signing of Agreement

• Exclusive• Limited

Exlusivity• Non-Exlusive

TOT

Market Study

Incubation Centre

With MPOB

Royalty

PAC

IDEA/CONCEPT

Minister’s Approval

License to commercial companies

Commercial Plant

Business Plan

A Schematic of the Steps Involved in Developing Technology