National Innovation Strategy

One of the strategies the Malaysian Government has instituted in line with “adjusting the sails”, have been a number of high-impact programmes implemented under the purview of institutions set up with the aim of ensuring that the nation remains competitive and relevant in the changing economic environment. Traditionally, the drivers of economic growth and wealth creation lay in the domain of land, labour and capital. Malaysia began as a factor-driven economy entrenched in agriculture and mining and then moved on to an investment-driven economy focusing on manufacturing, banking and real estate. Today, the focus has shifted to an innovation and knowledge-driven economy to ensure that the country remains ahead of the competition. Amongst the government bodies set up to this end are Performance Management and Delivery Unit (PEMANDU) and Unit Inovasi Khas or UNIK. The initiatives that have been introduced to ensure Malaysia continues to grow at a healthy rate include the 1Malaysia Programme, the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) and the Government Transformation Programme (GTP). The setting up of a national innovation agency with a mission that can be summarised as “Wealth Creation through Knowledge, Technology and Innovation” clearly indicates that innovation is high on the Government’s agenda for achieving the aspirations set out in Vision 2020. To realise this vision, Malaysia needs to dramatically improve her GDP within a relatively short time frame. The Government is implementing a variety of initiatives towards this end and innovation is foremost amongst them.