Plug and Play’s Malaysia Accelerator program celebrated its inaugural Expo Day, showcasing pitches from 10 selected startups and reinforcing the commitment of key industry players, including Khazanah Nasional, CelcomDigi, Sime Darby Plantation, and EDOTCO Group, to advance Malaysia’s innovation ecosystem. The program focuses on critical themes such as Digital Society, Sustainability, and Food Security. Executives from conglomerates shared their commitment to collaborative innovation, emphasizing the transformative potential of the Malaysia Accelerator Program in various sectors. The event served as a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and networking among key stakeholders.
4 January 2024 – Global innovation platform Plug and Play marked a significant milestone with the inaugural Expo Day for its newly launched Malaysia Accelerator program. Aimed at catalyzing the growth of Malaysia’s innovation ecosystem, the event showcased pitches from 10 startups selected for the program’s first batch. Key industry players, including Khazanah Nasional, CelcomDigi, Sime Darby Plantation, and EDOTCO Group, outlined their commitment to advancing innovation within the country.
The Malaysia Accelerator program, initiated by Plug and Play, focuses on critical founding themes such as Digital Society & Technology Hub, Sustainability & Climate Resilience, and Food Security & Agriculture. The event witnessed the participation of Khazanah Nasional, which presented insights into the Future Malaysia Programme, aligning with the company’s commitment to fostering innovation and economic growth.
Dato’ Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir, Managing Director of Khazanah, emphasized the significance of the Future Malaysia Programme in driving strategic collaborations within Malaysia’s startup and corporate venture ecosystem. The program, under Dana Impak, reflects Khazanah’s dedication to supporting local entrepreneurs, startups, and businesses for the advancement of innovation and economic empowerment.
Executives from prominent Malaysian conglomerates shared their perspectives on the collaborative efforts. T. Kugan, Chief Innovation Officer at CelcomDigi, expressed enthusiasm for the innovative synergy between startups and corporates. He highlighted the commitment to exploring solutions in areas like artificial intelligence, machine learning, IR4.0, digital SME solutions, and more through CelcomDigi’s dedicated Innovation Centre.
Sime Darby Plantation, known for its commitment to revolutionizing traditional practices, sees the Malaysia Accelerator Program as an opportunity to collaborate with startups. Dr Shariman Alwani, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, emphasized the transformative potential of mechanization, automation, and digitalization in the industry.
EDOTCO Group, engaging in the partnership with Plug and Play Malaysia, aims to tap into innovative ideas and technologies presented by global startups. Kevin Chong, Director of Digital & Analytics, expressed pride in collaborating with Plug and Play Malaysia, envisioning a connected, technologically empowered, and environmentally conscious Malaysia.
Jupe Tan, Managing Partner at Plug and Play APAC, applauded the success of the Expo Day, highlighting its contribution to the robust innovation ecosystem in Malaysia. The event not only featured startup pitches but also included a keynote address by Fairul Azida Shahabudin from the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, providing valuable insights into Malaysia’s innovation landscape and government initiatives.
The Plug and Play Malaysia Expo served as a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and networking among key stakeholders in the innovation landscape. The organization remains committed to fostering innovation and contributing to the growth of Malaysia’s thriving ecosystem. – ref: TMR
