Innovators need to produce products or services that are in high demand from the target group, explained the Minister of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change (MESTECC). YB Yeo Bee Yin said this during a Dialogue Session with Young Innovators with the Minister held in conjunction with the Malaysian Commercialization Year (MCY) 2018 at Hall 4, Kuala Lumpur Convention Center, today. This dialogue session was the closing of the MCY event which took place simultaneously with IGEM2018. Mr. Tany Anthony Kiob, Chief Executive Officer, Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia was also on stage as the moderator of the session.

YB Yeo Bee Yin explained that innovators need to be smart in creating an innovation so that it gets a good response. “Innovators need to know the problems that arise first before creating solutions. Otherwise, there is no demand for such innovation, ”he explained.

When asked about the assistance that can be provided by the government, he explained that MESTECC will channel various forms of assistance through the agencies under it. “We have a lot of development and commercialization funds that will be distributed by the agency. However, MESTECC is in the process of restructuring these agencies so that funds can be divided strategically. In fact, we will build a better ecosystem, ”said YB Yeo Bee Yin. Through the restructuring of the agency, the Minister also said that there will be a special section to help commercialize innovation and research from local universities.

In addition, representatives from Aboriginal youth also asked about the forms of assistance that MESTECC can channel to their community. “We will work with the Ministry of Rural Development to help develop innovation and infrastructure in the Aboriginal community,” said YB Yeo Bee Yin when answering the question. He stressed that special allocations will be channeled to them.

This dialogue session also received suggestions for programming subjects to be included in the syllabus. The Minister supports and will recommend to the Ministry of Education Malaysia for follow-up action. “Not only programming, but also environmental awareness will be proposed to the MOE. However, it will take time because the syllabus is changed within a set period, ”he explained.

Inquiries about STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) were also asked to the Minister. This question arises following the allegation that MESTECC’s focus is only on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and no longer raises the field of art which is also important in innovation. Answering this question, YB Yeo Bee Yin explained that AI (artificial intelligent) is now able to replace art. “AI can make and replace many things,” he said. At the same time, he will bring this proposal to the MOE.

At the end of his speech, YB Yeo Bee Yin called on innovators and entrepreneurs to work harder and believe that tomorrow is better than today.