145 Companies Secure RM146 Million Via NTIS - Chang

By Lucia Terey John

PUTRAJAYA, April 21 (Bernama) -- A total of 145 local companies have received funding amounting to RM146 million through the National Technology and Innovation Sandbox (NTIS) as of April this year, with the platform also helping to address bureaucratic and regulatory constraints that often hinder the development of new technologies.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Chang Lih Kang said technologies supported through NTIS have also recorded commercialisation valued at RM171.8 million throughout its implementation under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), while local technology solutions that have penetrated international markets have generated export value of RM122.8 million.

He said that since 2020, the platform has facilitated 523 startups, supported 101 local technologies, and created 333 high-skilled jobs.

“Previously, our startups often faced problems, not only in terms of funding but also regulatory barriers.

“NTIS is therefore an initiative to help companies test products or technologies in a safe environment, including through regulatory flexibility at testing sites without being fully bound by stringent rules that are not yet suitable for new technologies,” he told Bernama in a special interview.

Chang said that through NTIS, which involves collaboration with 19 ministries, a total of 48 regulatory interventions have been implemented, in addition to the establishment of seven Ministry Sandbox Committees (JSK) and the appointment of 46 focal point officers to coordinate policy requirements and expedite compliance processes.

He said the approach enables startups to overcome bureaucratic hurdles that previously acted as barriers, including in sectors involving strict regulation such as drones, healthcare and smart city technologies.

NTIS, he said, also adopts the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) standard to assess technological readiness, with most selected companies having surpassed the prototype phase before entering the sandbox, thereby reducing the risk of failure.

Chang said among successful NTIS alumni companies are Billion Prima Sdn Bhd, which developed a cargo and baggage security scanning system, and Urban Explorer Sdn Bhd, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) for real-time road damage inspection.

“The scanning system by Billion Prima has penetrated the Indonesian market and attracted interest from several neighbouring countries, with commercialisation value to date reaching RM14 million.

“The AI technology by Urban Explorer has been adopted by the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) with commercialisation totalling RM975,797.80 and is now being expanded to Saudi Arabia,” he said.

He said the success demonstrates that the sandbox platform not only helps innovators validate technology and markets, but also opens pathways for international expansion.

Moving forward, Chang said the government will continue to strengthen NTIS, including expanding regulatory collaboration and commercialisation support to ensure more local innovations can scale to the industrial level.

He said the approach is crucial to ensure NTIS continues to function as a bridge between technology development, regulatory compliance and market access, while strengthening the national innovation ecosystem.

-- BERNAMA