CYBERJAYA: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today launched the National Technology and Innovation Sandbox (NTIS) to accelerate and transform Malaysia into a high-tech and high-income nation.
The NTIS is one of the key initiatives announced under the Short-Term Economic Recovery Plan (Penjana).
Muhyiddin said the NTIS can accelerate the country's economic growth opportunities through the use of disruptive technology.
"In my opinion, the only route for us to become a high-income country is to be a high-tech nation.
"The NTIS is one of the ways for the country to accelerate its economic growth through the use of disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, drone technology, sensor technology and 5G infrastructure in its mission to resolve issues beleaguering the country.
"Among the issues include those related to dependence on foreign labour, food security risk, health care, unequal access to the internet and the digital divide."
Present were Senior International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali; Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed; Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad.
The government through the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (MOSTI) has set aside RM100 million in funds for NTIS to fast-track the development and commercialisation of advanced projects especially those with the highest potential to boost key sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, education, travel and tourism.
This, said Muhyiddin, will subsequently reduce the country's dependency to technology and innovation from other countries apart from increasing the productivity as well as the quality of life among the people.
He added several pilot projects have been identified to kick-start the NTIS. Among them are the Farm Assist Robot for Multi Operation (FARMO Robot) for the agriculture sector, Rehabilitation Robotics for hospitals and Linear Robotics for the use in the manufacturing sector.
"From the commercial aspect, I understand that the NTIS is able to catalyze development of innovative solutions for commercialisation purposes with expected Return of Investment (ROI) of approximately RM300 million.
"The launch of the NTIS comes at the right time since many countries around the world, including Malaysia are affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
"As the country is in the process of recovering from the pandemic, the importance of the NTIS is undeniable and reflects the government's commitment to revive the country's economic growth through innovation and sophisticated technology development," he said.