NILAI: 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. He emphasized that this shift is essential for empowering and enhancing the capabilities of local industries in pursuing higher-value-added activities, as outlined in Malaysia’s New Industrial Master Plan.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohammad Yusof stated that more than 87 percent of Malaysian researchers are currently based in higher learning institutions and public research institutes. He pointed out that countries like Singapore and Thailand, known for their thriving innovation ecosystems, have over 50 percent of their researchers working within industrial sectors, which enables them to create innovative products that remain globally competitive.
The Deputy Minister expressed the government’s commitment to increasing resear
ch within the industrial sector to bolster the country’s economy. He shared these insights with reporters after the closing ceremony of the 2024 Young Scientist Network-Academy of Sciences Malaysia (YSN-ASM) Chrysalis Awards, where ASM President Datuk Dr Tengku Mohd Azzman Shariffadeen Tengku Ibrahim was also present.
Mohammad Yusof further highlighted the crucial role young scientists play in Malaysia, noting that around 30 percent of the nation’s researchers are young scientists. He expressed aspirations to increase this number by 50 percent in the future, encouraging more young scientists to contribute to the country’s innovation landscape.
To support early career scientists, MOSTI is promoting initiatives such as the Malaysia Start-Up Ecosystem Roadmap 2021-2030, along with funding opportunities like the Strategic Research Fund and the Malaysia Grand Challenge, to advance innovative ideas towards commercialization. He expressed hope that the YSN-ASM platform would continue to be a strong hub for nationa
l and international collaborations among young scientists.
Additionally, he advocated for the empowerment of initiatives like the YSN-ASM Chrysalis Award to prepare future researchers for the demands of advancing the STIE ecosystem. At the event, Mohammad Yusof presented prizes to the winners of the 2024 Chrysalis Award, including Wong Li Wen from Monash University, KM Pershaanaa from the University of Malaya (first runner-up), and Mohammed Afiq Hidayat Zailani from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (second runner-up). The YSN-ASM Chrysalis Award, established in 2020, aims to recognize promising future researchers among final-year PhD students in Malaysia.