THE Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (MOSTI) will be enhancing the vaccine development ecosystem in the country to develop local vaccines,” said its minister, Dr Adham Baba.

He said the National Vaccine Development Roadmap (NVDR) is expected to be announced in November in an effort to ensure the country is ready to face any pandemic in the future.

Currently, he said vaccines for dengue, cholera and leptospirosis had entered pre-clinical tests while the Covid-19 vaccine had entered research stage.

In outlining his focus on his first 100 days in a statement today, Adham said MOSTI would be using science, technology and innovation (STI) to drive the country’s economy and empower the socioeconomic status of the people.

He said the ministry’s immediate focus was on local vaccine production, the development of disruptive and emerging technologies, the expansion of the start-up business ecosystem, research and development, as well as instilling integrated and continuous STI.

“Taking cognizance of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic to the country’s socioeconomic situation, the STI agenda will play an important role in putting economic innovation in the mainstream among Malaysians,” he said.

Adham said MOSTI would be focusing on assistance in the form of financing to drive the economy in productive sectors such as entrepreneurship, health, manufacturing and agriculture.

He said Malaysia Debt Ventures Bhd would issue new bonds and sukuk without government guarantee for RM2 billion to stimulate the capital market and to boost the financing of digital transformation and core technologies.

The minister also noted the setting up of the Malaysia Science Endowment, which will be a fund coordinating centre for technology companies in research, development and innovation.

The Innopreneur programme, meanwhile, will assist vulnerable and marginalised groups among the B40 and M40 to become micro traders through the Reka Ruang project.

Adham said the National Startup Roadmap would be launched in November to support the efforts of potential start-ups through funding agencies under MOSTI. – Bernama, September 21, 2021.