Ministry For The Future

The Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation (MOSTI) does a great many things, at many scales of reality. Atom Malaysia regulates the splitting of the smallest atoms. The National Planetarium observes the movements of the largest interstellar bodies. Other agencies track evolution and adaptation, in biological systems and in startup ecosystems.

But, human beings remain at the heart of this Ministry I’m honoured to serve.

Technological Change

Humanity has enjoyed unprecedented prosperity & technological advances in the past century. Indeed, we may be at a “hinge of history”. Humanity’s choices about artificial intelligence, climate change and biotechnology could lock in values & fates for the next century.

Yet, for most ordinary Malaysians, they have little say. The future happens to them. Malaysians are disempowered and disoriented by rapid disruption happening to everything, everywhere, all at once. If software is eating the world and AI is eating software, what’s left for, say, a teacher at SMK Khir Johari? The future is coming, but it may not be evenly distributed or equally good.

Our task at MOSTI is to steward the promise and perils of future technology for all Malaysians, living and yet unborn. Central to our work is an emerging “tech stack”, descending from AI model to machine to microchip to material to megawatt to multi-nutrient. This stack will empower STEM talents in Malaysia as a Top 20 global startup ecosystem.

AI Models For Humanity

If Steve Jobs once described computers as “bicycles for the mind”, artificial intelligence (AI) is like a personal trainer, coach and co-creator for every Malaysian.

AT Kearney predicts AI-related investment in Malaysia to reach RM492 billion by 2030. Companies like WISE AI, Petronas, ANHSIN Technology and Time are already implementing AI solutions that abide by the 7 Principles of Responsible AI proposed in Artificial Intelligence Governance and Ethics Guidelines (AIGE), that MOSTI launched in September.

In terms of AI infrastructure, we will collaborate with technology providers like Phison to increase the amount and quality of high-performance computing (HPC) resources available to the Malaysian AI ecosystem.

For AI governance, we have established the National Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence Committee (NBAIC), AI Sandbox and the AI National Mirror Committee to promote responsible AI development and use.

In this new era of intelligent machines powered by artificial intelligence, MOSTI has set up 4 Industry Technology Innovation Centres (ITICs). Each will be led by an agency under MOSTI, MIMOS for the E&E sector, MRANTI for drones & robotics, MIGHT for smart city technology and Malaysian Space Agency for the aerospace sector. Taking the MIMOS ITIC as an example, MIMOS has targeted 15 proofs-of-concepts for automated test equipment by 2026.

Microchips: Interconnected

In the chip wars, Malaysia will be a bridge between East and West, private and public sectors, academia and industry. In this spirit, MIMOS’s Semiconductor Research Consortium, just established in June, has started a collaborative effort on advanced packaging technologies.

Contrary to popular belief, advanced packaging is not about putting chips in cardboard boxes. Chipmakers are reaching the limits of Moore’s law by making chip components 3 billionths of a metre or smaller. Instead of flat, all in-one or “monolithic” chip designs, they are experimenting with stacked or “3D”, modular or “chiplet” designs”.

This presents an opportunity for Malaysia to lead the new manufacturing technologies needed to integrate such designs in a single wafer-level “package”. In more ways than one, the future global semiconductor industry will not be “Assembled in”, but “Interconnected in” Malaysia.

Megawatt: Green Energy

Energy use defines civilizations. We will be judged by our grandchildren’s grandchildren by how sustainably we have used our energy inheritance. MOSTI is committed to supporting the New Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) by promoting and regulating new technology ecosystems such as green hydrogen and safe nuclear power through small modular reactors (SMR).

Per the Hydrogen Energy Transition Roadmap (HETR) launched last year, the nascent hydrogen economy is expected to create between 170,000-210,000 jobs and RM560-RM900 billion in revenue, requiring a cumulative investment of between RM201-RM577 billion by 2050. The technological challenges of the hydrogen economy will create abundant research and commercialization opportunities, which we will support via our National Hydrogen Fund.

STEM Talents And Startups

The potential of this “technology stack” can only be unlocked with STEM proficiency at all levels of society and a thriving startup ecosystem.

Through “Raise the Floor” initiatives such as STEM Camp, Malaysia Grand Challenge, Malaysia Techlympics and National Science Week, not forgetting the very popular National Science Centre, we seek to inspire the Malaysian inventors and startup founders of tomorrow.

Our goal is for these talents to emerge into a dynamic startup ecosystem that will be Top 20 in the world by 2030. To realize the KL20 Action Plan and the Malaysian Startup Ecosystem Roadmap (SUPER), Cradle has received RM65 million in Budget 2025 to support early-stage startups. It has also launched the MYStartup Single Window which counts over 3,933 startups registered. Other initiatives such as the Venture Capital Golden Pass and Innovation Belt are in implementation.

Our Policy Approach

In the grand chip wars and struggles for AI supremacy, we may be a middle nation. But, like Parameswara’s white mouse deer, we can punch above our weight with creative partnerships.

MOSTI’s Malaysia Science Endowment, with an initial RM250 million and an additional RM170 million in Budget 2025, seeks to crowd-in private sector research & development by providing matching funds. We aim for private sector R&D spend to be 70% of total spend by 2030. On the international front, we are also collaborating with our neighbours via the ASEAN Startup Initiative and co-creation programmes with Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member-states.

Neither the Alhambra nor the Great Wall were built in one generation; neither will MOSTI’s vision of the future come to full fruition within one Ministerial stint or one government. “Alhambra-thinking” underpins MOSTI’s latest policies which extend our planning horizons beyond the usual 5-10 years. Examples are the HETR (2020-2050) or the upcoming STI Foresight Report (2025-2040).

In the Prime Minister’s MADANI vision for Malaysia, Innovation is as important to nation-building, as Sustainability, Care and Compassion, Respect, Prosperity and Trust. Put another way, as the acclaimed Chinese science fiction writer Liu Cixin suggested in the The Three-Body Problem, there is only one way to contain a civilization: kill its science.

I’m a realist about technology but an optimist when it comes to human beings. MOSTI will resolutely continue to steward science and technology for the future of all Malaysians. We must Rebuild Our Nation together!