Research and development services in Malaysia

According to the annual national R&D survey by the Malaysian Science and Technology Information Centre (MASTIC), Malaysia has achieved its national initiative target of having 70 researchers per 10,000 labor force by 2020

This achievement is credited to the Malaysian Research Universities (MRU) program launched by the government in 2007. The MRU program, modeled after similar initiatives in South Korea and Singapore, aims to foster a research culture in Malaysia, promote commercialization, increase the enrollment of postgraduate and postdoctoral students, and enhance Malaysia’s global standing

In 2020, the government announced the National Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy (NPSTI) 2021-2030, which aims to emphasize the importance of linking existing science, technology, and innovation (STI) facilities and capabilities with Malaysia’s overall economy. The plan outlines 10 Science, Technology, Innovation, and Economy (STIE) leap programs, with the goal of achieving a domestic R&D expenditure (GERD) of 3.5% by 2030