The new MRANTI (Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology & Innovation) Park Master Plan will spur Malaysia’s capability to face the fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0), according to the country’s Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
The master plan focuses on the latest technology, ranging from Internet of Things (IOT), Internet Protocol (IP) services and laboratories to contract manufacturing facilities with advanced technology, he said on Thursday.
“MRANTI Park will be equipped with modern infrastructure, including high-speed broadband and 5G technology, as well as incentives and funding opportunities. It is also designed to attract young professionals and create a stable pathway for highly skilled talents,” he said when launching the MRANTI Park Master Plan at MRANTI Park in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur.
“It is expected to create over 8,000 new job opportunities, and this is good news for the entire Keluarga Malaysia (Malaysian Family),” he was quoted as saying.
The prime minister said MRANTI Park plays a role in coordinating research and development (R&D) output to the market through an integrated ecosystem, which centralizes all technological and innovation activities locally, national news agency Bernama reported.
Ismail Sabri said MRANTI Park saw cooperation with five economic corridors, namely the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), East Coast Economic Region (ECER), Sabah Development Corridor (SDC), Iskandar Malaysia and the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE), in promoting and adopting R&D technology output, as well as commercialization.
He said the park also attracted the interest of many technology companies, including Intervenn Biosciences, Dedikasi Aba Biosciences, BoomGrow, Spygene Laboratories, Vivantis Technologies and Reszon, among others.
Five technology clusters — drone technology, agriculture, health, bioscience and IR4.0 enablers — are currently being developed in MRANTI Park, with an estimated gross development value (GDV) of MYR20 billion ($4.3 billion).
The prime minister said these technology clusters are expected to bring a return of MYR2.8 billion ($602 million) through land leases by MRANTI to investors.
“This effort will be driven by MIMOS Bhd, which plays a vital role in helping the country generate high added value from technology development and commercialization activities, particularly in the electrical & electronics (E&E) sector.
“The E&E sector is the largest contributor to the country’s exports, with a value of MYR455.7 billion last year, and has great potential to continue generating economic growth,” he said.
MRANTI is the one-stop research commercialisation agency with the resources to accelerate the commercialization of innovative ideas that will drive impact. As a connector, collaborator and catalyst, it connects problem statements (demand) with solutions (supply), bridging collaboration between public and private sectors (transition); increase private sector participation, either through market access, investment, advisory or consultation and facilities for testing and prototyping.