MIGHT TO FOCUS ON THREE PROGRAMMES TO SUPPORT MALAYSIA'S INNOVATION AGENDA

KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Industry-Government Group
for High Technology (MIGHT) is focussing on three core programmes to support
the nation's innovation agenda.

MIGHT, an agency under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation,
works with the government agencies, research organisations, businesses and
entrepreneurs to identify new businesses in high technology and emerging areas.

Joint chairman (industry) of MIGHT, Dr Ahmad Tajuddin Ali, said under the
counter-trade and offset programme, local industries would be able to
participate in activities ranging from aerospace to transfer of technology for
manufactured products.

"Counter-trade is an activity associated with government procurement above
RM50 million (US$15.62 million) foreign supplier to discharge obligations
through offsets and counter-purchase programmes," he said at MIGHT's annual
general meeting (AGM) here Tuesday.

In conjunction with the AGM, MIGHT also launched its new logo.

Ahmad Tajuddin said the technology foresight programme provided guidance for
technology choices and strategic decision-making by the government.

"Technology foresight, which is a key tool in strategising and planning for
the future, has been conducted widely at both national and firm levels in South
Korea, Finland, UK, Germany and US," he said.

He said another core programme was the innovation audit.

"MIGHT partners with SME Corp for the 1-InnoCERT which certifies the
innovativeness of companies where the most innovative of them will be eligible
for the 'fast-track' incentives and an opportunity to penetrate the
government-linked companies' (GLCs) supply chain," he said.

Ahmad Tajuddin said MIGHT would strive to provide the critical support to
audit, nurture and coach the companies to become innovative and subsequently
being transformed into global players in their own right.

President and chief executive officer of MIGHT, Mohd Yusoff Sulaiman, said
technology and innovation in sectors such as aerospace and automotive
contributed a large chunk to Malaysia's gross domestic product.

"There are currently potential offsets, or counter-purchase programmes, from
at least 10 procurement projects in Malaysia ranging from procurement of
electric railway systems, purchase of military vehicles as well as procurement
for non-military purchases by government and GLCs," Mohd Yusoff said at the AGM.

Mohd Yusoff said one of the success stories in the offset programmes in
Malaysia was the maintenance, repair and overhaul facility set up by Malaysian
aerospace company, Airod, for the C-130 military transport aircraft.
-- BERNAMA