BOOSTING THE INNOVATION
ECO-SYSTEM
Malaysia cranks up its innovation capacity with various
initiatives spearheaded by Agensi Inovasi Malaysia.
I
nnovation they say, is the
process of translating an
idea or invention into a good
or service that creates value.
It involves intensive research,
venture capital, as sor ted
patents and entrepreneurs.
For a country, it is considered
a major element required to
ascend the economic ladder. In
the eyes of the world, Malaysia
is in relatively good standing in
terms of innovation. The Global
Innovation Index 2015 ranks
Malaysia at number 32 among
141 countries. Switzerland, UK,
Sweden, Netherlands and the
USA took the lead positions.
Over the year s, many
Ministries and specific
p r o g r am m e s h ave b e e n
created to kickstart Malaysia’s
innovative journey. An extra push
was initiated with the setting
up of Agensi Inovasi Malaysia
(AIM), a statutory body, via the
Agensi Inovasi Malaysia 2010
Act. The agency’s objectives are
“to jump start wealth creation
through knowledge, technology
and innovation to stimulate
and develop the innovation
eco-system in Malaysia. We lay
the foundation of innovation
that will inspire and produce a
new generation of innovative
entrepreneurs.”
Global Innovation Index Rankings
Mark Rozario
The Board of Engineers
Malaysia met with AIM’s
Chief Executive Officer, Mark
Rozario and found that many
innovative programmes and
collaborations have taken off.
Even though the agency will
be dissolved in 2020, it has
done considerable groundwork
and will leave behind several
entities to continue sustainable
programmes.
Rozario pointed out that AIM
did not follow a specific model
of any innovation agency from
other countries. It is led by a
17-member Governance Council
comprising various Ministries,
industry and academia partners,
and led by the Prime Minister
as Chairman. It focuses on
six approaches for promoting
innovation in Malaysia:
1. Cultivating a thinking
culture
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SPECIAL REPORT
AGENSI INOVASI MALAYSIA