Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) was founded in 1969 and was first known as University of Penang. USM has undergone a tremendous transformation in terms of physical development, providing the necessary facilities for the steadily increasing student population which has exceeded 17,800.

USM has, over the past six or seven years, embarked on an ambitious programme of 'applied', 'market-driven' or 'priority-specific' research, which now accounts for some 70% of its total research effort. Many projects now incorporate consultancy, technology-transfer and training elements. This has enabled the University to strengthen its industrial links, and has given greater authenticity to its role as a contributor to the nation's industrial competitiveness. Commercially viable discoveries have been made; work is proceeding on promising pre-competitive technologies; successes have been achieved in closer-to market product development; a variety of skills and research findings have been passed on to potential beneficiaries; and some one hundred consultancies have been undertaken annually.

The Unit of Wood, Paper and Coating Technology is a specialized group in the School of Industrial Technology dealing with applied research on aspects of processing and properties of wood and non-wood forest products.  The group also participates in the INCO project Sustainable management and quality improvement of bamboo and products.

The leading scientist of USM for the Bamboo Thematic Network is Dr. Othman Sulaiman.