Kuala Lumpur – Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia (YIM) today received a visit from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) led by MOSTI Minister, YB Khairy Jamaluddin accompanied by Deputy Minister, YB Haji Ahmad Amzad bin Hashim, Head Secretary, YBhg. Datuk Ir. Dr. Siti Hamisah binti Tapsir, Deputy Secretary General (Science, Technology and Innovation), YBrs. Dr. Mohd Nor Azman bin Hassan and senior MOSTI officials.
The first visit to YIM since his appointment as Minister, aims to get to know more closely the function of YIM in shaping and promoting the value of creativity in science and technology through academic bodies, industry and society, especially among the grassroots and the B40 group.
Upon arrival at the YIM Office, YB Khairy and the delegation were greeted by YIM Board of Trustees, YIM Top Management and YIM staff by adopting Covid-19 prevention guidelines, followed by a briefing session on YIM innovation projects presented by YBrs . Mrs. Sharmila binti Mohamed Salleh, Acting Chief Executive Officer of YIM.
Currently, several programs are being implemented by YIM including the High Impact Program 6 (HIP6) – Inclusive Innovation which aims to cultivate, identify, adopt, add value and develop inclusive innovation products that can solve problems and benefit the local community in terms of consumerism, health, productivity, education, food and technology especially for the low-income earners.
Apart from that, the focus is also the Grassroots Innovation Maintenance Program (MaGRIs) which aims to enhance the development and commercialization of grassroots innovation including the provision of capacity building opportunities for local grassroots innovators. The program adds value to innovation products from prototype development to pre-commercialization.
YIM also implements the Malaysia Social Innovation (MySI) program which aims to improve the well-being of the community, a priority for the B40 group through the implementation of innovative local R&D technology application projects that have been developed and are ready to be implemented sustainably.
Meanwhile, for the Social Innovation Roadmap Development program, it aims to drive direction and strategic planning to improve economic, social and environmental well-being through the implementation of innovative local R&D technology application projects that can bring (systemic change) to the community.
And last but not least, the implementation of the Grassroots Enrichment Program (GEP) aims to strengthen and enhance entrepreneurial skills among YIM grassroots innovators.
For programs that have been implemented from 2015 to 2020 such as the HIP6 program, MaGRIs and also MySI, more than 3,000 innovations were found, 150 innovations were commercialized, 67 intellectual property was filed, and involved 89.15% of bumiputera innovators. The entire program has also had a direct impact on over 35,000 people and an indirect impact on over 200,000 people.
YIM’s future direction and beyond is to promote grassroots innovation through collaboration with media companies, strengthen the social innovation ecosystem, encourage innovators in the use of automation technology, support innovation product development in dealing with crises, strengthen innovation entrepreneurial skills and expand innovation scale in collaboration government, agencies and private companies.
At the end of the visit, the Honorable Minister and Deputy Minister were taken to inspect the YIM Innovation Products Gallery which showcased some of the innovation products through the YIM program since 2010 as well as around the office area.
