SCIENCE, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) Minister Chang Lih Kang's recent four-day visit to Turkey demonstrated the successful translation of science diplomacy between nations.
The visit underscored the potential for collaboration between the two countries, both categorised as higher middle-income nations ranked 33rd (Malaysia) and 39th (Turkey) on the Global Innovation Index (GII).
"In the field of research, technology and innovation, dependence on the capabilities of a single nation is inadequate, particularly on global issues like food security and climate change.
"Collaborations are especially effective between nations that are technologically comparable," Chang said.
Bilateral relationships between Malaysia and Turkey are considered robust and marked by wide-ranging partnerships and collaboration. In July 2022, both countries upgraded their bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).
Chang said the two nations are in serious discussions to expand their collaborative efforts to areas such as renewable energy, biotechnology, aerospace and space technology.
"In addition, we are also exploring the funding of technological ventures and research and development initiatives in areas of nuclear research, clean energy, hydrogen fuel cells, and rare earth elements."
"While it serves to strengthen Malaysia's technological capacity, these also have the added benefit of putting Malaysia's talents on the global landscape," Chang added.
Over the years, advances in science and technology have drastically enhanced the concept of classical diplomacy through the integration of scientific reasoning and goals into diplomatic exercises via a universal, impartial and apolitical data-driven language.
Emeritus Professor Tan Sri Dr Zakri Abdul Hamid, Co-Chairman (Government) of the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT), touched on the importance of science diplomacy in addressing global challenges, saying: "Science diplomacy represents the interplay between science and policy, which is essential in expediting advancements in areas of international interest."
"In addressing climate change, for example, high-level political forums on sustainable development have played a pivotal role in enhancing the science-policy interaction, serving as an effective mechanism for monitoring and evaluation," he added.
MIGHT is currently involved in multiple collaborative exercises with Turkish counterparts, including the third round of the MIGHT-TÜBITAK Grand Challenge in the areas of core and generative artificial intelligence (AI), hydrogen energy and energy storage, sustainable agriculture, advanced materials for aerospace, IoT in space technologies, and robotics in space technologies.
Additionally, MIGHT and the Turkish Energy, Nuclear and Mineral Research Agency (TENMAK) are also currently establishing a framework for collaboration in the areas of green technology, environmental science, renewable energy, biotechnology, nuclear medicine, nuclear technology, and advanced materials.
"MOSTI intends to fully support and significantly contribute to the advancement of high-tech sectors, for example, through the Strategic Research Fund.
"Human vaccinations and genome sequencing are two areas of focus, as are developments in space technology, where we are looking into developing our own remote sensing satellites. Furthermore, we have a strategy for hydrogen technology and economy, which intends to benefit the entire ecosystem surrounding the hydrogen economy," Chang said.