MALAYSIA TO SET UP NATIONAL INNOVATION FOUNDATION NEXT YEAR

From Newmond Tibin

MUNYONYO, (Uganda) July 25 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Government is likely
to set up a national innovation foundation next year, in a move to turn the
country
from resource-based to an innovation-led economy.

Disclosing this Saturday, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr
Maximus Ongkili said the ministry had also identified next year as 'Innovation
Year' to further boost innovation components for greater socio-economic
successes.

He said Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, who chaired a National
Innovation Council meeting recently, had requested his ministry to make a study
on the establishment of the foundation.

"Within three months, I will be submitting an indepth report to the Cabinet
for endorsement and by early next year, we hope the foundation can be set up in
line with 2010 to be Malaysia's innovation year," he added.

Ongkili was speaking to Malaysian journalists covering the meeting at the
19th
Smart Partnership Dialogue themed, 'The Smart Partnership Way For Realising
Socio-economic Transformation Through Regional Integration' at the Speke Resort
here.

Ongkili, who arrived here Friday, will take part in a few intervention
sessions which would kick off here Sunday.

He noted, at least 10 ministries, including his ministry as the
coordinating
body, would be involved in mapping out the future policy of the national
innovation council, as well as strategise the estabishment of the foundation.

Ongkili said the local universities, in collaboration with international
bodies, would assist to further strengthen the system across all technology
areas.

"We cannot rely on research and development alone, which can cost millions
and take years to bear fruit, we need to add value to our products, systems and
others because this will not only benefit the industries and entrepreneurs but
also the people, towards the realisation of the 1Malaysia concep," he said.

Meanwhile, Ongkili said former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who
played a pivotal role in the Langkawi smart partnership dialogue, was expected
to deliver a speech, 'Transformation Through Innovation' in one of the
discussion dialogues on the first day.

-- BERNAMA