NILAI, Nov 7 — The proportion of researchers within Malaysia's industrial sector needs a substantial boost to strengthen the national Science, Technology, Innovation, and Economy (STIE) ecosystem, said Science, Technology, and Innovation (Mosti) Deputy Minister Datuk Mohammad Yusof Apdal.
This shift is key to empowering and enhancing the capabilities of local industries in pursuing higher-value-added activities, as outlined in the New Industrial Master Plan.
He said that according to the latest data, over 87 per cent of Malaysian researchers are based in higher learning institutions and public research institutes.
“For instance, countries like Singapore and Thailand, known for their thriving innovation ecosystems, have over 50 per cent of their researchers working within industrial sectors. This allows them to create more innovative products that remain relevant in the global market.
"Indeed, we at the government level are trying to increase research in the country, including in the industry, so that we can continue to help develop the industry and at the same time, further strengthen the country's economy," Yusof said.
He was speaking to the press after the closing ceremony of the 2024 Young Scientist Network-Academy of Sciences Malaysia (YSN-ASM) Chrysalis Awards today. Also present was ASM President Datuk Tengku Mohd Azzman Shariffadeen Tengku Ibrahim.
The deputy minister highlighted the vital role young scientists play in Malaysia, noting that currently, around 30 per cent of the nation’s researchers fall into this category, underscoring their importance in unlocking new frontiers of innovation.
"We may have efforts to achieve more than that, maybe a 50 per cent increase in the future, that's why we encourage the tendency of more young scientists for the country, God willing, with this kind of effort, hopefully, more researchers can be produced," Yusof said.
Therefore, Mosti is supporting early career scientists throughout their journeys and calls to leverage initiatives such as the Malaysia Start-Up Ecosystem Roadmap 2021-2030 and the funding opportunities including the Strategic Research Fund and the Malaysia Grand Challenge to advance their innovative ideas towards commercialisation.
Meanwhile, he hopes that the YSN-ASM platform will continue to be strengthened as a hub for robust national and international networks and collaborations among young scientists.
Initiatives like the YSN-ASM Chrysalis Award should be further empowered to prepare future researchers for the demands of propelling the STIE ecosystem.
At the event, Yusof presented prizes to winners of the 2024 Chrysalis Award, won by Wong Li Wen from Monash University, KM Pershaanaa from University of Malaya (first runner-up) and Mohammed Afiq Hidayat Zailani from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (second runner-up).
The YSN-ASM Chrysalis Award is an annual programme established in 2020, to identify and recognise promising future researchers among final-year PhD students in Malaysia.
— Bernama
