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Malaysia spends nearly RM20bil on research and development (R&D), but the bigger challenge is turning that investment into commercially successful innovations and globally competitive local companies, says Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.

The Finance Minister II said the issue was not just the amount spent on R&D, but whether it is translated into value for the country, including ownership of intellectual property and the ability of local firms to compete globally.

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00:00What can we have at the end of the journey in 2030 as we sit here?
00:06Under the Kerangka Economy Medani, we talk about lifting the ceiling and lifting the floor.
00:10Lifting the ceiling first because we need to induce better quantity and quality of industries that exist in Malaysia.
00:19Things that actually create better spillover effects to the economy
00:24that our own local players begin to connect in a better form
00:28and grow our own local players in a state that they can then look at branching out and competing on
00:36a global scale.
00:36And if we are able to do that, we are able then to lift the floor
00:41because better industries, better quality jobs come into play,
00:45which means better pay and better lifestyles for people in Malaysia.
00:50So in this government, what we've actually articulated is we've been quite clear
00:55in rolling out what are the kinds of industries that we want in Malaysia.
00:59We put it out there in terms of our new industrial master plan.
01:03We put it out there in terms of national semiconductor strategy.
01:06And we put it out there in terms of the netter ambition that we actually have.
01:10And these are industry shaping directionality that we're putting out to the market.
01:16So everybody's crystal clear.
01:17This is what Malaysia wants.
01:19We actually want to transition, as we said, in Rancangan Malaysia ke-13, RMK 13,
01:25that we want things to move from made in Malaysia to made by Malaysia
01:30because we need to do better at value capture in the country.
01:34And if we get better value capture, naturally, the capability of our own people to earn is better.
01:41So where does R&D fit in all these things?
01:44And what is the government trying to induce on this side in order to make Malaysia much more competitive?
01:52So if you look at today, plus or minus, our R&D spend in the country is about RM18 billion.
02:001% of GDP.
02:02This is 2022 numbers.
02:04So if you reflect the same number today, it should be already nearly RM20 billion.
02:09The problem that we're having is that the type of R&D that's actually done in Malaysia
02:13is not necessarily the types that are facilitating local capture in the country.
02:20Our own local firms owning enough IP.
02:23Our own local firms actually competing and building outside and integrating in that value chain.
02:30So what does the government then try to do?
02:32What we want to do is actually to make sure that we provide a capital market
02:37that can help support the development of local firms along the way by providing capital.
02:45So what capital has been actually provided?
02:47Because not all capital has to be provided by government.
02:50Some of it, we actually have institutions that have the capacity to invest.
02:55So under our GEAR UP program, you all will know that we have worked together with our GLICs
03:03and they have committed an additional RM120 billion on top of their normal RM400, RM500 billion
03:09over five years to be reinvested back in Malaysia.
03:12And really to help spur the movement of our economy into the play.
03:17And in that instance, what have they done?
03:19They've created sub-funds.
03:20Under a co-op, they have Dana Printis.
03:23Dana Printis helps fund venture capital in Malaysia.
03:27We have Dana Pemacu, which helps growth capital in Malaysia
03:32so that local firms have people who are prepared to put money into play.
03:37Then at the same time, we've got Kazanah in their Dana Impact,
03:41Jelawang Capital, and they've put money inside it.
03:44And if we add that one up all together, between all the Dana and Jelawang Capital,
03:49we're talking about plus or minus RM10 billion.
03:51That was actually curated and put into the play in the last two years.
03:59So what the government is trying to do is make available capital.
04:02But on top of making available capital, what it's also trying to do
04:06is to bring seasoned players that understand how to invest
04:11and to work with people in the market
04:14so that they have the capacity to be guided to make their business successful.
04:19And that's why they are the people.
04:26You
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