PETALING JAYA: Malaysia aims to elevate itself into the Global Innovation Index’s Top 20 by 2030, says Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister said that under the 13th Malaysia Plan, the government is committed to strengthening the research, development, commercialisation and innovation (R&D&C&I) ecosystem.
"Among the national targets for 2030 are increasing patent applications by Malaysian citizens to 2,000 and placing Malaysia among the top 20 countries in the Global Innovation Index. Malaysia is currently ranked 34th in the Global Innovation Index 2025.
"In 2027, the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO), will continue to strengthen the implementation of capacity-building programmes, focusing on expanding access to financing, accelerating intellectual property commercialisation, and strengthening the protection and ownership of local intellectual property assets,” he said in a statement Sunday (Nov 15).
Among MyIPO’s key initiatives for 2027 included strengthening the community though the GI Madani Programme.
"The program focuses on protecting products through geographical indications (GI). For 2027, MyIPO is targeting five local geographical indication applications and two international applications.
"Among the products identified are Sabah avocados, Bario pineapples and Raja Kunyit durians from Tanah Merah. The initiative aims to enhance the recognition, reputation and commercial value of local products, while creating wider market opportunities for producer communities,” he said.
He added that the ministry was also committed to strengthening the national intellectual property framework with studios to improve the National Intellectual Property Policy (DHIN 2.0).
"These efforts are important to ensure that the country's intellectual property ecosystem remains relevant and progressive, while addressing challenges arising from technological developments and the needs of industries and communities,” he said.
MyIPO has also continued to strengthen its grassroots intellectual property (IP) education agenda through the organisation of the IP Spark 2026 programme.
"The programme introduced the younger generation to skills in developing innovative ideas, producing prototypes and understanding the importance of protecting the commercial value of their creative work so that it could be turned into a source of income in the future.
"IP Spark 2026 also saw participants showcasing their respective innovations and prototypes. Their work was professionally evaluated based on the uniqueness of their ideas, the practical solutions they offered to current issues and their potential for commercialisation.
"From 2021 to October 2026, the local education sector, comprising schools, colleges and higher education institutions, recorded a total of 11,625 intellectual property applications and registrations involving patents, trademarks, industrial designs and voluntary copyright notifications,” he said.
