The government’s allocation of RM428 million for R&D activities under the Ministry of Higher Education and MOSTI will further reinforce MRANTI’s role as a nucleus for research and development into innovation.
Since our inception, MRANTI has signed 7 MoUs with leading institutions of higher learning to accelerate the commercialisation of technologies, in addition to connecting the ecosystem through programmes and events said CEO Dzuleira Abu Bakar. The agency is tasked to help the country take innovative ideas and turn them into impactful solutions that can enhance lives.
MRANTI’s objective is to play a key role as Malaysia’s nucleus for R&D&C&I. It will accelerate innovation on the back of “impact technologies” in key industry sectors, for sustainable development and the rakyat’s well-being, by transforming ideas and innovation to impact. Make Malaysia a co-location hub for High-Tech Through innovation in new fields, with the support of the government in planning and policy, Dzuleira said with this Malaysia can be an exciting investment destination.
Under the five-year MRANTI Park Master Plan, the agency targets a gross development value of RM20 billion, with returns from land lease valued at RM2.8 billion, and create 8,000 jobs by 2030. Within the 686-acre park, Phase 1 and Phase 2 will be retrofitted and upgraded to ensure that infrastructure and amenities meet the technology requirements of innovators and researchers to bring more products and solutions to market. Phase 3 development plans will see MRANTI Park as a fully integrated Artificial Intelligence (AI) Park which upholds the principles of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals
and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria.
In this, the government’s move to support sustainability start-ups and green-tech companies with RM2 billion in funding will help draw in and enable companies with such principles at the Park. This strategic move will help Malaysia differentiate itself in the global market as there is a pressing need worldwide for solutions that uphold planetary health.
Already MRANTI Park is host to several bio- technology firms including InterVenn and SolBio – which develop anti-cancer vaccines and with facilities to locally formulate, fill and finish a range of human vaccines. Dzuleriera said with a number of leasing and business-friendly models available, MRANTI Park is an attractive innovation hub. “We believe the move on attracting local and foreign investment, companies that relocate their operations to Malaysia will enjoy tax incentives, along with a rate of 15 percent for C-suite executives – will help us draw in the right talent and move Malaysia up the innovation value chain” she added.
MRANTI focuses on five clusters: drone tech, agri tech, health tech, bioscience and 4IR enabling tech. In Agri-tech, the RM50 million matching grant to encourage the automation of the plantation sector through the use of robotics and Artificial Intelligence is an important instrument to elevate Malaysia’s growth in core industries.
Through NTIS, MRANTI is also developing a 10-acre Integrated Healthcare Cluster with initiatives already being committed to helping the Ministry of Health elevate the quality of healthcare in the country via the application of new and advanced technologies. Five hospitals have also been identified as Health Technology Hubs to be used for the testing of robotics, and the internet of medical things (IoMT), while leveraging 4G/5G facilities. The vision is to transform lives by providing affordable, inclusive, and sustainable medical and healthcare innovation.
