KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- The public is invited to attend the National Innovation and Commercialisation Expo (NICE 2025), from Oct 6 to 9 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, and play a part in shaping Malaysia’s future.
Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) Minister Chang Lih Kang said NICE 2025 will be a stage for researchers, startups, corporations and young innovators to come together, not just to exhibit technologies, but to form partnerships, strike deals and inspire Malaysians.
“If you are a student, come and see how innovation can shape your future. If you are an entrepreneur, come and connect with funders and collaborators. If you are a curious Malaysian, come and be inspired. Because this is not about government innovation, it is about our innovation,” he said in a statement today..
“See for yourself the ideas that are shaping Malaysia's future. And more than that, be part of this journey because the future of Malaysia is not written in policies or plans alone; it is written in the imagination and action of its people. Let's write it together.”
He said alongside NICE 2025, MOSTI will also launch the National Research, Development, Innovation, Commercialisation & Economy (RDICE) Action Plan (2025-2030), which represents a commitment to align research, development, innovation, commercialisation, and entrepreneurship into a single, coherent pathway.
“Because the truth is, we cannot afford to keep treating these as separate silos, but let me be clear: The government cannot do this alone. Innovation is not a ministry project. It is a national mission. We need ministries working in unison.
“We need companies that are willing to invest in research and development (R&D), even when the returns are not immediate. We need universities that are open to working with industry and we need communities that are open to new ideas. This is what I mean when I talk about a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chang said that innovation is not about gadgets or buzzwords but a way ideas improve lives, emphasising that research alone is not enough, as R&D must lead to real products and services for businesses that create jobs and to technologies that solve problems.
“A vaccine developed in a Malaysian lab that protects thousands of families. A farming solution that helps our padi farmers double their yields. A digital platform that makes healthcare more affordable. These are not abstract things; they are the difference between stagnation and progress, between surviving and thriving.
“I also hear from researchers who tell me they struggle to find industry partners. I hear from startups that their biggest hurdle is not the idea, but funding and scaling. These are honest frustrations. And as a minister, I take them seriously, because every good idea that fails to grow is a loss for Malaysia,” he said.
Chang also said that the government must step in to bridge these gaps and sharpen national focus on R&D and innovation.
“Through the National Technology and Innovation Sandbox (NTIS), innovators can test new technologies in real-world settings through the Global Innovation Exchange (GIX), we help startups access international markets and under the 13th Malaysia Plan (MP13), we are sharpening our national focus on R&D and innovation,” he added.
-- BERNAMA
