We were at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) on 27 August 2026 as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim officially opened the National Innovation & Commercialisation Expo (NICE) 2026.
Organised by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) and spearheaded by the Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology and Innovation (MRANTI), NICE 2026 brought together researchers, technology entrepreneurs, businesses, investors and government agencies from 26 to 28 August under the theme “Mission to Market. Malaysia to the World.”
We Got A Look At More Than 180 Malaysian Innovations
Exhibitors from universities, government agencies, startups and corporations took part in the three-day event, giving us a look at the different research, products and technologies being developed in Malaysia.
Innovators and technology companies also had opportunities to pitch their solutions to investors and potential business partners, while business-matching sessions connected Malaysian companies with investors and strategic partners from Malaysia and overseas.
The event covered six areas including Advanced & Future Industries, HealthTech, Bioeconomy, DeepTech, Commercialisation and Market Access.
We also saw conferences, strategic dialogues, tech talks and podcasts covering topics such as artificial intelligence (AI), future industries, biotechnology, healthcare and what Malaysian companies need to do to grow beyond the local market.
By noon on 28 August, the expo had drawn 9,358 participants and visitors, while the three-day programme recorded 235 business-matching sessions and 65 pitching sessions. It also saw 23 product launches across different sectors.
The Hard Part Is Getting An Invention Out Of The Lab
Turning research into something people can actually use isn’t always straightforward. Speaking at the opening, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang described NICE 2026 as a “strategic meeting point” for speeding up the move from the lab to the market.
We saw that idea play out through the pitching sessions, business matching and exhibition floor, where researchers, companies and investors came together around new technologies.
The event described this difficult stretch as the “Valley of Death”, where promising research can struggle to move beyond universities and research institutions and into the market.
That was also why so much of NICE 2026 was built around pitching, business matching and bringing investors, companies and researchers together.
We Saw How Research Can Turn Into Real Products
The Malaysia Commercialisation Year (MCY) Awards 2025 gave us some good examples of the kinds of ideas that have made it beyond the research stage.
Since the programme began in 2016, it has helped 761 innovations become commercialised, generating more than RM1.13 billion in commercial revenue.
One example was Recovered Cellulose Pulp (RCP) from Materials In Works (M) Sdn. Bhd. The technology takes cellulose fibres from hard-to-recycle label liner waste and turns them into material for sustainable packaging. It won both the Overall Award and Emerging Innovator Award.
We also saw a smart fire alarm system from Ingeniouscity Engineering Solutions Sdn. Bhd. called SiAKAP. It adds location detection to conventional fire alarm systems, helping identify where a fire starts and improve response times. The company won the Research & Business Collaboration Award.
For healthcare, Twin Catalyst Sdn. Bhd. developed the Wondaleaf Adhesive Pouch, a transparent dressing with a central pouch that can be opened and resealed to make it easier to access wounds and medical devices. It took home the Commercialisation Achievement Award.
There were also innovations turning waste into new materials. Bambusoideae Technology Sdn. Bhd. developed Kulit Lestari, which uses agricultural waste such as pineapple and banana waste to create leather-like material for products ranging from fashion and upholstery to sports goods. The company won the Research Entrepreneur Award.
Meanwhile, Geomax Rubber Innovative Products Sdn. Bhd. developed Fosser Eco Safety Footwear using recycled nitrile rubber from industrial glove waste. The footwear won the Social Innovation Award.
A total of RM1 million was awarded across the MCY Awards’ Overall Award and five categories.
NICE 2026 Has RM157.2 Million Worth Of Agreements
The push to get these innovations into the market was also reflected in the agreements announced at NICE 2026.
The event featured 18 memoranda of understanding (MoUs), memoranda of agreement (MoAs) and strategic collaborations, with a combined value of RM157.2 million.
One of the biggest was a RM60.4 million agreement between Malaysian company Medan Adopsy Sdn. Bhd. and Indonesia’s PT Tredo Media for the strategic marketing and exclusive distribution of Rapid Growth products in Indonesia.
Another RM60 million partnership between Waterbay Sdn. Bhd. and Dufusion Sdn. Bhd. covered strategic manufacturing and future investment.
Other agreements covered areas including healthcare, digital transformation, research, manufacturing and talent development.
We also saw Malaysia’s participation in the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) highlighted during the event. Malaysia’s membership is intended to strengthen the country’s vaccine and public health capabilities through scientific collaboration, capacity building and access to international expertise.
The Government Is Also Creating A Route For Local Products
Getting a Malaysian innovation into the market doesn’t necessarily mean selling it directly to consumers.
Through the Adoption of Local Research and Development (R&D) Goods and Services (MySTI) in Government Procurement Programme, qualified Malaysian R&D products and services can enter the government procurement system.
As of June 2026, MOSTI had received 1,129 applications, with 836 products and services receiving MySTI certification. Government procurement of MySTI-certified products and services reached RM38.7 million in 2025.
For a local company, getting its product adopted by a government agency can give it a track record before it tries to expand into other markets.
It also gives Malaysian companies another potential customer while they work on growing their products and businesses.
Why NICE 2026 Matters To Us
What we saw was that the invention itself is only the beginning. Getting an innovation further takes more than the original research. It needs funding, manufacturers, customers and business partners, especially for Malaysian companies looking to expand overseas. The expo brought researchers, businesses and investors together to make those connections.
That fits into Malaysia’s wider push to become a high-tech nation. The goal isn’t simply to have more people developing new technologies, but to see more of those technologies become products, businesses and opportunities that can grow here and compete overseas.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia should not only aim for products that are “made in Malaysia”, but also products that are “made by Malaysia” and can be exported to the world.
For us, the three-day expo was a reminder that getting from “we’ve invented something” to “people can actually use it” takes a lot more than a good idea.
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