Take advantage of innovations, says Madius

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians should equip themselves and take advantage of innovations in the new era as the country approaches the Fourth Industrial Revolution, said Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Madius Tangau.

He said Malaysians should keep abreast to face an era where cyber-physical technology fusion would depend on more advanced technologies such as nanotechnology, robotics, Internet of things (IoT), and Big Data.

“To achieve a digital economy, the planning and action to face this technology revolution must be integrated and comprehensive, involving all stakeholders.

“In ensuring our country’s success, we have to look at the progress of countries like Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and Japan that use innovation as one of their ongoing agendas in their economic development.

“I urge all parties to be involved in the innovation ‘mantra’ as the main agenda through conducive environment and facilities,” he said at the National Innovation Award Gala Night recently.

Madius said his ministry had always encouraged involvement of all parties to ensure the implementation of macro and sectoral science, technology and innovation policies (STI) was done in an inclusive and integrated manner.

“The Government is in the final planning stage to set up a Research Management Agency to coordinate all research and development (R&D) and commercialisation activities.

“This will definitely give a bigger impact on the country’s R&D and C&I (commercialisation and innovation) agenda for a long term.

“At the ministry’s level, a National STI Master Plan is being drafted to provide a new direction for the medium and long term. This will ensure that the country’s STI ecosystem will be centred on the convergence of manpower and resources,” Madius said.

He said he was confident that the master plan had taken into consideration the balance of the country’s resources.

The culture of innovation could be implemented extensively starting from the school level right up to the industry players in various sectors, he said.