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Dr Adham: 17 tech roadmaps in the pipeline
This includes AI, blockchain, E&E, advanced materials, robotics and vaccines
by HARIZAH KAMEL
THE M i n i s t r y of Science, Tech- nology a n d Innovation (Mosti) is d e v e l o p i n g 17 t e c h n o l o g y road- maps in line with the 10 science and t e c h n o l o g y drivers, a n d t h e 10 socio-economic drivers in the 10-10 M a l a y s i a n Science, Technology, Innovation and Economy (MySTIE) Framework.
This includes artificial intelli- gence (AI), blockchain, electrical a n d electronics (E&E), a d v a n c e d materials, robotics and vaccines.
Mosti Minister D a t u k Seri Dr A d h a m Baba s a i d a m o n g h i s ministry's targets is to become a vaccine producer, generate RM600 billion in potential t r a d e r e t u r n s for the E&E sector by 2025, make a significant contribution to the GDP t h r o u g h i d e n t i f i e d areas, create jobs in v a r i o u s fields of science, technology, engineering and mathe- matics (STEM), as well as the crea- tion of 5,000 start-ups by 2025.
"To strengthen STIE, Mosti pro- v i d e d research a n d development (R&D) f u n d i n g allocation of RM500 million d u r i n g the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) t h r o u g h the Malaysia Grand Challenge (MGC)," he said in a statement yesterday.
MGC is a n effort to encourage t h e c o u n t r y ' s R&D, c o m m e r c i a - lisation a n d innovation activities t h a t d e m a n d h i g h - i m p a c t solu- tions centred on the people a n d in t u r n benefit the socio-economy
Dr Adham says his ministry is also actively pursuing innovation entrepreneur development initiatives through the creation of STIE Design Spaces nationwide to produce more creative and innovative individuals
of Keluarga Malaysia.
Through the 12MP, Mosti targets 500 p r o d u c t s or s o l u t i o n s to b e c o m m e r c i a l i s e d t h r o u g h the National Technology and Innova- tion Sandbox a n d the Malaysian Commercialisation Year to increase national income.
Between 2016 and 2020, a total of RM402 million in sales revenue w a s recorded f r o m 386 R&D pro- ducts that were successfully com- m e r c i a l i s e d . T h e g o v e r n m e n t - f u n d e d Intellectual Property a n d I n v e n t i o n C o m m e r c i a l i s a t i o n
Policy 2021-2025 will intensify the commercialisation of intellectual property and inventions.
The whole of nation a p p r o a c h has also been adapted by Mosti in talent development and job crea- tion in core areas such as AI, Inter- net of Things (IoT) and blockchain technology to ensure the availabil- ity of talent and experts to achieve the target of 130 researchers per 10,000 workforce by 2025.
In addition, Mosti welcomed the announcement by Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob
at the opening of Invest Malaysia 2021 recently to m a k e Malaysia a high-tech country by 2030.
According to the PM, the govern- ment aims to create an ecosystem in the economy led by science, tech- nology a n d innovation that will facilitate the development of local technology by creating economic opportunities and producing talent or manpower in the field of AI, IoT and blockchain technology.
The target is in line w i t h the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (DSTIN) 2021-2030.
Dr A d h a m said Malaysia h a s shown a rapid growth in GDP f r o m RM204 billion in 1991 to RM1.34 trillion in 2020 as a result of the effective implementation of various national policies.
Strengthening the science, tech- nology and innovation ecosystem including R&D is one of DSTIN's m a i n focuses to achieve the target of 2.5% R&D g r o s s e x p e n d i t u r e ratio to GDP in 2025 a n d 3.5% in 2030.
Mosti is also actively p u r s u i n g innovation entrepreneur develop- ment initiatives t h r o u g h the crea- tion of c o m m u n i t y STIE Design Spaces t h r o u g h o u t the country to produce more creative and innova- tive individuals. The smart collabo- ration p r o g r a m m e w i t h academia and industry is believed to benefit more than 15,000 participants.
Dr A d h a m also said through the M a l a y s i a S t a r t - u p E c o s y s t e m R o a d m a p (SUPER) 2021-2030, Mosti is committed to supporting the start-up ecosystem holistically and sustainably.
" T h r o u g h SUPER, Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd is m a n d a t e d as the focal p o i n t that m a n a g e s the start-up d e v e l o p m e n t e c o s y s t e m f r o m start-up phase to growth to increase the competitiveness of local start- u p s internationally, a n d provides support to business start-ups with a target of five unicorn status compa- nies by 2025," he said.
Mosti is optimistic in implement- ing and succeeding in the policies and initiatives outlined to position Malaysia as a h i g h - t e c h n a t i o n by 2030.
