Welcoming a MARDI Researcher: A 3-Week Cross-Border Training Journey with PtBio Asia and Japan HQ
26.08.2026
PtBio Asia is proud to announce the successful completion of a comprehensive three-week training program for Ms. Hafidha Binti Azmon, a researcher from the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI).
As part of the Malaysian government’s Japan Company Attachment Programme 2026 (JCAP 2026), PtBio Asia had the honor of coordinating and hosting Ms. Hafidha as our sole trainee for an immersive journey spanning both our Malaysian branch and our locations in Japan.
Week 1: Exploring Regional Operations in Malaysia (July 20–24)
The program kicked off at our PtBio Asia office. Over these five days, Ms. Hafidha gained an in-depth understanding of PtBio’s overarching business model as well as PtBio Asia’s current regional initiatives. We also provided detailed insights into our specific ongoing collaborations, highlighted by site visits to both NCFS—where she received a warm welcome—and UM to explore our joint projects.
Week 2: Understanding the Corporate Structure in Tokyo (July 27–31)
For the second week, the training transitioned to Tokyo, Japan, where her focus shifted to the broader PtBio Group. Through meaningful discussions with our Tokyo-based team members, a visit to our collaborative partner, Kewpie Corporation, and participation in a discussion with the Consumer Affairs Agency, she developed a comprehensive understanding of our corporate structure, operational systems, and group-wide strategies.
Week 3: Experiencing Innovation in Hiroshima (August 3–6)
The final leg of her journey took place at the PtBio Headquarters in Hiroshima. Here, she toured our advanced research facilities and interviewed several employees to gain firsthand insights into their research and daily operations.
Reflecting on the 3-Week Journey
Looking back on the entire three-week program, Ms. Hafidha noted that our core technologies, particularly genome editing and Bio-DX, could be highly valuable for agricultural institutions in Malaysia. She believes these innovations can contribute to addressing critical challenges, including the conservation of genetic resources and the development of crop varieties adapted to climate change. Furthermore, based on her observations and employee interviews throughout the program, she was deeply impressed by the company's flexible working environment, such as our flextime and discretionary work systems.
We at PtBio Asia are thrilled to have facilitated this cross-border experience. We will continue to promote initiatives aimed at addressing global agricultural and social challenges while deeply valuing our ongoing collaboration with esteemed organizations such as MARDI.
