Innovate the Nation is an implementation of the innovation roadmap that will educate, empower and engage every Malaysian from urban centres to the rural heartland to participate in moving the economy to innovation-led status.
This campaign is a joint initiative between the Malaysian Foundation for Innovation (Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia) and Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, supported by the Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation (MOSTI).
This nationwide campaign was officially launched in a splendid manner by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, YB Datuk Seri Panglima Maximus Johnity Ongkili at Limkokwing’s Hall of Fame on 12th March 2013.
Limkokwing Innovation Acceleration Centre launched.
The ceremony was also graced by Deputy Secretary General MOSTI Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Dr Sharifah Zarah Syed Ahmad, Chair of the University Council and President of Perbadanan Putrajaya Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Dr Aseh Che Mat, Secretary General, Ministry of Human Resource Dato’ Seri Zainal Rahim Bin Serman, Secretary General, Ministry of Finance Dato’ Seri Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah, CEO of Malaysian Foundation for Innovation Dr Mazlan Kamis along with industry partners, Excellencies, guests and members of the media.
“Economic advantage no longer depends on natural resources, cheap raw materials, trade of goods and services or giant factories. Instead, creativity and innovation are now driving the new economy and re-invigorating the old economy. Creativity and innovation now drive the fastest growing economies in the world, and reshaping the global economy. Our Prime Minster is determined that Malaysia will not be left behind in the coming new world economy,” said Tan Sri Lim.
Tan Sri Lim quoted Malaysian Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Sri Haji Mohd Najib that, “To ensure inclusive development, the government will continuously plan and implement programmes and initiatives centered on knowledge, creativity and innovation. Towards becoming a high-income and developed nation by 2020, innovation will be further strengthened and made pervasive in all sectors and segments of society. Towards becoming a high-income and developed nation by 2020, innovation will be further strengthened and made pervasive in all sectors and segments of society.”
“To empower, we will be delivering training programmes to empower 10,000 young people annually. This will generate an enlarged base of young innovators throughout the country. To encourage, we will be recognising 300 innovators annually across the country, from both urban and rural sectors, who have created innovative solutions worthy of recognition. To facilitate upward mobility, we have set aside 100 scholarships for students to take up creativity-driven programmes in Design Innovation, Product Innovation, Creativity in Software Engineering, Digital Media and Business Innovation. Going online and on mobile, we will be able to connect with some twenty-five million Malaysians, practically everyone we want to reach in the country,” urged
Tan Sri Lim.
Tan Sri Limkokwing delivering his speech.
Datuk Seri Ongkili said, “Every time I come to Limkokwing University whether it’s here or other part of the world there’s always life, there’s always vibrancy. Our spirits gets lifted as we meet the whole community here.”
“The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and the Malaysian Foundation for Innovation are always pleased to collaborate with our innovation partners in keeping the excitement and momentum on spreading the interest and knowledge of innovation and creativity among all society. Hence we are proud to have Limkokwing University of Creative Technology as our partner to join this organizes of Innovate the Nation agenda,” said Datuk Seri Ongkili.
“Innovate the Nation is initiated to provide an optimal environment and ecosystem that is supportive, that is vibrant and that is inclusive. It allows men and women, girls and boys on the street to think innovatively and creatively. In this regard, I would once again like to reiterate that Limkokwing University of Creative Technology has helped redefine creative education in Malaysia and for a decade now the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology has influenced the socio-economic development of countries around the globe not just in Malaysia to the empowerment of thousands youth and with this programme here today, it’s another creative innovative agenda that has been mooted by Tan Sri Limkowing and the team here,” shared Datuk Seri Ongkili.
“To create innovation people it involves the people themselves to be creative and this is where private sector partnership, the institutes of higher learning, the civil citizens, NGOs and of course each and every one of us can play a role and invest in this national agenda to make Malaysia great innovative nations,” concluded Datuk Seri Ongkili.
Through the Innovate the Nation programme, Malaysian Foundation for Innovation working with Limkokwing University under the Limkokwing Innovation Acceleration Centre will engage grassroot innovators to be the catalyst to engage, empower and encourage others on the ground to develop a creative mind-set and a problem-solving attitude. There will be an annual celebration of grassroot innovators whose work will be showcased and 300 of the most outstanding innovators presented with awards.
