Presentation on Malaysia'

1. Getting R&D Priorities Right
Rushdi Abdul Rahim
28th February 2012
2012. UK-Malaysia Partners in Science Symposium

2. BACKGROUND
• National Technology
Foresight study
commissioned by MOSTI
in September 2010;
• National Science &
Research Council
approved on Dec 2010 by
the Cabinet.
Science & Technology Support
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3. R&D GOVERNANCE
Prime Minister’s Office
NATIONAL SCIENCE & Secretariat
RESEARCH COUNCIL MOSTI
Priority Setting Mechanism R&D Evaluation & Outcome
for R&D Monitoring
EXPERT WORKING GROUPS
Environmental Computer Sciences &
Agriculture Sciences Chemical Sciences Engineering Sciences
Sciences ICT
Advanced Materials Mathematics & Health & Medical Humanities & Social
Life Sciences
Sciences Physical Sciences Sciences Sciences
2012. UK-Malaysia Partners in Science Symposium

4. THE NEEDS
• National R&D Priority Areas for :
– Streamlining national scientific research areas,
– Efficient distribution & utilisation of public funds,
– Focus in the strength & niche of Malaysia,
– Advancing Malaysian research and innovation to benefit the
community; and
– Intensifying R&D funding (GERD).
• Strategic R&D Directions and Framework by:
– Establishing the National Science Act; and
– Formulation of the National Science, Technology &
Innovation Policy.
2012. UK-Malaysia Partners in Science Symposium

5. THE APPROACH
Taking the mandates spelt out by the NSRC, the following was
undertaken in prioritizing the R&D areas:
• Establishment of National R&D Framework
• Engagement of Expert Working Groups which represents 10
disciplines
• Analysis of existing National Focus Areas
• Benchmarking & comparative analysis of international R&D
areas
• Assessment of global & local mega trends & issues
• Analysis of Malaysia’s R&D strengths & weaknesses as well
as analyzing its opportunities & threats
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6. NATIONAL R&D FRAMEWORK
VISION 2020/NEM
HIGH INCOME FULLY DEVELOPED NATION & ECONOMY
High Income Inclusiveness Sustainability
Foresight
R&D GOALS
ISSUES & Legal
PROBLEMS Framework
New Discoveries &
Competitiveness Societal Wellbeing
Knowledge Generation
TRENDS & DRIVERS
R&D PRIORITY AREAS
SCENARIOS
Areas 1 Areas 2 Areas 3 Areas 4
FUNDING
POLICIES
Strategies
• Develop CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS
• Partnership
Competencies Facilities
• Acquire Human Capital Infrastructure
Career Path Support
2012. UK-Malaysia Partners in Science Symposium

7. BENCHMARKING S&T DEVELOPMENT
Applying the
Composite Science and
Technology Innovation
Index (COSTII) set of
indicators, Malaysia
ranked significantly
behind in R&D
intensity compared to
other OECD countries
Item Indicators
1. Total amount of R&D investment (million USD, PPP)
Investment in 2. Ratio of total R&D investment per GDP
R&D 3. R&D investment per researcher
Activities 4. Ratio of industrial R&D investment vis-à-vis GDP
Entrepreneurial 1. Total Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA) (Age group of 18 to 64)
Activities 2. Ratio of investment of venture capital vis-à-vis GDP
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8. BENCHMARKING FOCUS AREAS
COUNTRIES GERD/GDP (%) AREAS
South Korea 4.0 • Automotive • Shipbuilding • Machinery & manufacturing • Semiconductor •
Display • IT based convergent technologies • Medical & healthcare • Advance
logistic • Communication & broadcasting • Construction • Space & Ocean •
Nuclear • Health & safety • Energy & resources • Climate change & environment
• Convergent/composite material •
Finland 3.45 • ICT • Electronics / electro-technical • Machine / metal products • Forestry •
Japan 3.18 • Life sciences • IT • Nanotech • Materials • Environmental sciences • Energy •
Infrastructure • Oceans • Outer space •
Singapore 2.60 • Environmental and Water Technologies • Interactive and Digital Media •
Manufacturing clusters ; electronics, chemicals, engineering and biomedical
sciences •
UK • Arts and Humanities • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences • Engineering and
1.73 Physical Sciences • Economic and Social • Medical • Natural Environment •
Science and Technology Facilities • Defence •
China • Energy resources and environmental protection • IT, new materials and
1.50 manufacturing • Agriculture, population and health • Space and ocean
technology • Basic sciences and frontier technology •
Brazil 1.28 • Biotechnology • Nanotechnology • Biofuels • renewable bio-energy •
Malaysia 0.82
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9. NATIONAL FOCUS AREAS
6 national key result areas
12 national key economic areas
11 development areas
12 manufacturing sectors
8 non government business areas
9 National technology foresight areas
6 Mega science areas
Niche priority areas
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10. FOCUS AREAS COMPARISONS
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11. STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGEMENT
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12. STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGEMENT
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13. STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGEMENT
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14. STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGEMENT
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15. FACTS/ MEGA TRENDS
FOOD SECURITY
Global Local
• The OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook (2009-2018) • Malaysia's food imports considerably outstrips it export bill.
predicts that demand for food will grow by 50 % by In 2010, Malaysia's food import bill amounted to RM 40.5
2030 and 70 % by 2050. By 2050, it is expected that billion for agricultural based products.
the world's population will reach a staggering 9 • In the ETP, food security issues are highlighted in agriculture
billion. key economic area . Total of RM18.9 billion would be
• More people die each year from hunger and invested to boost food supply.
malnutrition than from AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria • The total Malaysia fisheries production has increased from
combined . In 2009, the FAO projects world hunger to RM 5.2 billion in 2005 to RM 8.6 billion in 2009; a growth of
reach a historic high with 1.02 billion people going 64.9%. However, 70% of the fish are imported.
hungry every day.
• The World Bank estimates that one hectare of land
will need to feed 5 people in 2025, whereas in 1960
one hectare was required to feed only 2 people.
• More people die each year from hunger and
malnutrition than from AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria
combined . In 2009, the FAO projects world hunger to
reach a historic high with 1.02 billion people going
hungry every day.
LONG TERM
GOALS
• Reduce dependency of import on staple food and
increase the level of self sufficiency
• Improvement of animal feedstock and breeding of
FOCUS
AREAS
food crops adapted to climate change;
• Exploitation of biodiversity for novel food/feed. Source: US Dept. of Agriculture; Food &
Agricultural Policy Research Institute
2012. UK-Malaysia Partners in Science Symposium

16. FOOD SECURITY
Many reasons explain the present escalation in
GLOBAL FOOD food prices. Climate change is one. The use of food
crops to produce fuel for vehicles is another factor. Current paddy
OUTPUT WILL HAVE Related to this is the scarcity of land areas for yield was just ≈
agriculture. While increase in global population 3.7 tonnes
TO RISE BY 70% particularly middle class in recent years led to
significant growth in food consumption.
7.6% 70% Yield
price increase are imported still unrealised
Market prices of imported mutton from Price for deep sea fishes had 700 million coconuts needed a year
Australia has gone up on an average of increased between 20% and 30% but was only 400 million was
12% produced annually
≈ 930 tonnes unconsumed
11.7%
food discarded daily 8.4% 10.2%
Doubled over the past three
years. 4.6 %
6.2%
FOOD INFLATION
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17. PRIORITIZATION PROCESS
10 EWGs
• Alignment to national priorities • Application potential &
• Economic & industrial impact diffusion
• Knowledge generation • Cost effectiveness
• Social & societal impact Attractiveness Feasibility • Material & infrastructure
• National competitiveness • People & competencies
• Novelty • Technology readiness &
maturity
• Time horizon of impact
> 500
Candidates of research areas
Global
Issues
National
Issues
x
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R&D PRIORITY AREAS

18. EWGs CONSULTATION
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19. THE RECOMMENDATIONS
Knowledge generation & strengthening the areas of
S&T
fundamental science, social sciences as well as the cross cutting
Enablers
& converging technologies
Areas in relation to the general well being of the nation and the
National & Global
society, addressing national issues as well as those that will
Issues
enable the country to cope with global issues
• Cyber Security • Medical & Healthcare
• Energy Security • Plantation Crops & Commodities
• Environment & Climate Change • Transport & Urbanization
• Food Security • Water Security
2012. UK-Malaysia Partners in Science Symposium

20. MOVING FORWARD
Initiatives in progress to achieve the
following:-
• Endorsement & adoption of the
National R&D Priority areas;
• Policies to increase the allocation of
>1% GERD/GDP ;
• Creation of Programmes for High
Impact R&D in the priority areas
identified.
2012. UK-Malaysia Partners in Science Symposium

21. STAKEHOLDERS THOUGHTS
“What is being done today is to set or mapped out the technology
foresight but the utmost important thing is to explain and illuminate to
the industry and the stakeholders, which include researchers and policy
makers about the findings and the likely technologies going to be in the
future. I believe that what we are doing today is just the beginning…
there is still a lot more work to do after this…”
Dato' Dr. Mahani Zainal Abidin
Member “The basic human weakness is we tend to overestimate
National Economic Advisory Council the short-term impact but at the same time under
estimate the long-term impact. The Government
needs to consistently ask question. But the fact that
we are going through the process of Foresight shows
that we are at a good start…”
Dr. Kamarulzaman "Dr. K" Mohamed Zin
“Foresight is important every where in the world Chief Executive Officer
because there is a need to learn from the past Silterra Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.
and the present in order to shape the future.
Forecasting by imagination is insufficient …This
attempt is just a start and must be continued…”
Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Ahmad Mustafa Babjee
Fellow
Akademi Sains Malaysia
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22. Thank You
rushdi@might.org.my
2012. UK-Malaysia Partners in Science Symposium