​MTDC LAUNCHES RM20 MLN QUANTUM FUND TO FINANCE TECH STARTUPS

​KUALA LUMPUR, March 13  (Bernama) — The Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) has partnered with Tradeview Capital Sdn Bhd to launch the MTDC Tradeview Quantum Fund, starting with an initial capital of RM20 million.

​Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Chang Lih Kang said this public-private investment collaboration is a vital step toward strengthening Malaysia’s innovation financing ecosystem.

“As Malaysia aspires to become a technology driven and innovation led economy, good ideas alone are not enough... we must ensure that innovators and technology companies have access to capital, networks and strategic partnerships required to scale effectively,” he said at the launch ceremony here today.

Chang also witnessed the signing of a joint venture agreement between MTDC and Tradeview Capital, resulting in the establishment of Modal Lestari Sdn Bhd as the venture fund management company for the collaboration.

The joint venture was based on a 50:50 basis.

He said that with the collaboration between institutional capital and private sector fund management expertise, the initiative expands the financing options available to technology-driven companies as they move from innovation to commercial scale.

MTDC operates as a strategic investment and ecosystem development agency under the purview of MOSTI and is wholly owned by Khazanah Nasional Bhd.

Meanwhile, MTDC group chief executive officer Mohammad Hazani Hassan said the fund will prioritise investments in strategic sectors such as electronics and semiconductor, Industrial Revolution 4.0, green energy, agritech, fintech and advanced manufacturing.

“These sectors are increasingly critical to Malaysia’s future industrial growth," he said.

According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, more than 3,000 establishments in the country are engaged in research and development activities, involving over 1.1 million people across research and development related roles.

Malaysia is ranked 33rd out of 133 economies in the Global Innovation Index 2024, its highest position since 2016.

-- BERNAMA