KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 — The Collaborative Research in Engineering, Science and Technology (Crest) is now officially an agency under the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry.
Launched in 2012, Crest was formed to address Malaysia’s electrical, and electronics (E&E) needs to grow the research, development and commercialisation (R&D&C) ecosystem through market-driven collaborative R&D and talent development.
MITI Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said Crest is a strategic addition to the MITI ecosystem.
With its focus on the E&E industry, Crest will play a key role in boosting Malaysia’s economic complexity as part of the newly launched New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030), he said.
“The Ministry warmly welcomes Credt into its fold.
“Crest’s inclusion in the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry ecosystem is not only appropriate but also timely to provide key support towards establishing Malaysia’s first wafer fabrication company and five integrated circuit design companies, as outlined by the recently launched NIMP 2030,” said Tengku Zafrul in a statement today.
While Crest is industry-led, its members comprise representatives from the government, industry and academia, a triple helix model focused on developing holistic support for the E&E industry’s sustainable growth.
Tengku Zafrul said beyond the implementation of NIMP 2030’s initial measures, CREST will also be one of the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry’s key agencies to position the Malaysian semiconductor industry further up the global value chain.
“This, in turn, will help increase E&E exports, which contribute directly to foreign exchange earnings, and the Madani Economy target to place the country in the top 30 economies globally,” he said.
Meanwhile, Crest chief executive officer Jaffri Ibrahim said the agency is honoured to be part of the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry, and its partnership with key stakeholders is a testament to its commitment to drive innovation and excellence in research and technology.
“We are excited to contribute our expertise and resources to the success of the recently launched NIMP 2030 and catalyse the growth of the E&E industry.
“We look forward to working together with the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry to drive economic growth through innovation, collaboration, and sustainable growth,” he said.
Crest’s 11-year existence has seen it become a premier platform for collaborative applied research in E&E, enabling the industry to grow from strength to strength across related industries, geographies and key markets.
In 2022, E&E exports were valued at RM592.96 billion, representing 38.3 per cent of Malaysia’s total exports.
The sector attracted 106 investment projects valued at RM29.3 billion in the same year.
In terms of employment, 9,099 higher-paying jobs at the managerial, technical and supervisory level were created, the highest among all industries in 2022.
— Bernama
