MTP 2025: Malaysia’s technology leap from the laboratory to the global market

PUTRAJAYA: MIMOS Berhad’s 40th anniversary was celebrated meaningfully through the organisation of MIMOS Technology Preview 2025 (MTP 2025), which featured more than 25 market-ready technologies that have the potential to accelerate the country’s industrial transformation.

Themed ‘Power Up Your Business with Market-Ready Tech and Unrivalled Partnership’, this technology exhibition solidifies MIMOS’s role as a leader in the technology industry, marking a significant transition from a research institution to a commercialization catalyst and national economic accelerator.

MIMOS Group President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Saat Shukri Embong, stressed that MTP 2025 is a strategic platform to bridge the commercialization gap that has been hindering local technological innovation.

“While MIMOS previously focused heavily on basic research at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 1 to 6, we are now moving as the main accelerator of the country’s economy with technology that has been validated, certified and ready to be used by the industry,” he said.

Among the technologies on display are REVA, a non-invasive health device, and INSPECTRA, a real-time palm oil quality analysis system, both developed with industry partners.

Looking back over four decades, Dr Shukri said MIMOS has been at the forefront of various “firsts in Malaysia” initiatives including JARING (the country’s first internet provider), PESONA microprocessors, and security chips for smart cards through its subsidiary MyMS.

Now, that role is strengthened with a focus on high-value areas such as semiconductors, advanced electronics, artificial intelligence (AI), photonics, as well as digitalization and decarbonization solutions for the agriculture and manufacturing sectors.

“MIMOS wants Malaysia to not just be a technology consumer, but to become a creator and exporter of high-tech solutions, on par with other developed economies,” he said.

Commenting on the Unrivaled Partnership element, Dr Shukri stressed the importance of the Quadruple Helix approach which encompasses government, industry, educational institutions and society.

“Research and development (R&D) can no longer operate in isolation. To succeed, there needs to be a complete ecosystem that connects innovators, policymakers, investors and consumers. This is what we are bringing at MTP 2025,” he said.

This close collaboration not only speeds up time to market, but also ensures that local technology meets international standards from day one.
For MIMOS Chief Technology Officer, Dr Pannirselvam Kanagaratnam, the technology selection process in the laboratory is not random, but rather based on two strict assessments, namely technical excellence and market needs.

“We don’t innovate alone. A technology only ‘passes’ if it is proven to be technically sound and clearly has a large market demand,” he explained.
He added that mandatory joint development with industry is the key to closing the commercialization gap, in addition to the transfer of intellectual property (IP) and world-class testing and validation facilities owned by MIMOS.

MIMOS also places emphasis on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through access to existing technology, technical facilities, as well as financial support with strategic investment partners.
More importantly, talent development is also given attention through training programs and the MIMOS Academy.

The five-year target is to produce 60,000 new engineers in the fields of semiconductors, AI, IoT and electronics in line with the MADANI government’s aspiration to make technology a pillar of the country’s high income.

“We have 700 staff. Our vision is to produce 700 new technology entrepreneurs who are able to drive the market with local innovation,” said Dr Pannir.
MTP 2025 is a testament to MIMOS’s concerted efforts to make Malaysia not just a buyer, but a globally competitive owner of technology.

With a holistic ecosystem approach, MIMOS is confident that Malaysia’s aspirations as a high-tech, innovation-based and sovereign economy can be achieved.

-Agency