SHAH ALAM - Malaysia and Turkey shared a six-decade relationship that continued to thrive under the Madani Government, reaching new heights in science, technology, and innovation (STI).
Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang recently highlighted the potential for collaboration following his visit to Turkey, focusing on sustainable energy, advanced technology, and expanding Malaysia's role on the global innovation stage.
Exploring Green and Alternative Technology
Chang emphasised Malaysia’s commitment to sustainable energy and revealed plans to collaborate with Turkish institutions to drive advancements in renewable energy.
"Mosti, through The Malaysian Industry Group High Technology (Might), collaborated with Tenmak in advanced mineral materials and renewable energy.
"Tenmak, under Turkey's Energy and Natural Resources Ministry, plays a pivotal role in renewable energy R&D, including hydrogen and nuclear energy, making it an ideal partner for Malaysia’s green technology goals," he said.
Chang also highlighted NanoMalaysia Berhad's role in exploring partnerships with Turkey’s Tubitak Bilgem as part of Malaysia’s Hydrogen Economy and Technology Roadmap (HETR).
This collaboration aligned with Malaysia’s ambition to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, leveraging Turkish expertise in green technology for mutual benefit.
Boosting the National Economy and Innovation
Chang noted that these collaborations could significantly benefit Malaysia’s economy.
"Any STI programme or collaborative activity between the two nations will stimulate investment, spurring economic growth and expanding the workforce,” he said.
He added that partnerships in science and technology could improve Malaysia’s position on the Global Innovation Index (GII), strengthening its global competitiveness and capacity for innovation.
Expanding into Space, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Biotechnology
During his visit, Chang observed further possibilities in fields like space technology, hydrogen energy, AI, and biotechnology, particularly in food security and precision medicine.
"I saw a need for us to establish new networks, especially in space technology, hydrogen, the start-up ecosystem, AI, and biotechnology.
"Turkey’s expertise in these areas could accelerate Malaysia’s development goals, especially as these areas will be Mosti’s focus for 2024," he said.
Diplomatic Ties Driving Technological Progress
With a long-standing diplomatic history, Chang noted that the close relationship between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan strengthened technological ties.
"The good relationship between our Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and President Erdogan encouraged more programmes and activities in the STI field.
"These diplomatic bonds paved the way for even more productive collaborations, aligning with both countries’ policies," he added.
Existing Collaborations and Future MoUs
Chang reflected on the success of the 2019 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Mosti and Turkey’s Industry and Technology Ministry, which facilitated various collaborative programmes.
"This MoU resulted in successful collaborations between Might and The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (Tubitak). Programmes like Technomart Malaysia-Turkey and the Talent Development Programme in Aerospace are examples of productive outcomes,” he said.
He added that new agreements and letters of intent set the stage for collaborations in semiconductors, renewable energy, and biotechnology. Mimos Berhad and Tubitak Bilgem collaborated on advanced materials in electronics, while the National Institutes of Biotechnology Malaysia (NIBM) and Tubitak Marmara focused on health biotechnology and food security.
Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, Chang saw Turkey’s performance on the GII as an inspiration for Malaysia.
"Turkey effectively leveraged investments to produce innovative outputs, and collaboration with Turkey could enhance Malaysia’s innovation capacity,” he said.
Chang emphasised the importance of these partnerships in realizing Malaysia’s National Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy (DSTIN) 2021-2030 and advancing sustainable development goals (SDGs).
He expressed optimism that through sharing expertise and resources, Malaysia could achieve high-tech nation status by 2030.
"This collaboration presented an opportunity for Malaysia to enhance innovation capacity, with significant economic, technological, and environmental gains achievable through partnerships with Turkey,” he said.