KUALA LUMPUR: NanoMalaysia Bhd (NMB) aims to develop 41 market-driven intellectual properties (IP) and create or technologically assist up to 50 local companies with the launch of REVOLUTIoNT.
This initiative, which is under the National 4IR Policy, focuses on nanotechnology and the development of the Internet of Nano Things (IoNT) products and applications to enhance solutions for various applications in food and agriculture; wellness; medical and healthcare; electronic devices and systems; and energy and the environment.
REVOLUTIoNT also allows companies to venture into new market opportunities within five years while providing the platform for low carbon innovations.
NMB said the objective is to seamlessly link, improve and digitalise the company's existing projects while paving the way for future innovations – resulting in a convergence of technologies to create a cohesive and well-connected IoNT ecosystem.
This would give rise to nanotechnology powered global solutions towards improved performances and efficiencies that align to sustainable development goals (SDG) while scaling up Malaysian small to medium enterprises (SMEs).
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba said the government fully supports the National 4IR Policy with NMB as one of its implementors to ensure that Malaysian SMEs remain competitive in the face of disruptive technologies and innovations.
"The pandemic has impacted our economy significantly, but 4IR brings with it market opportunities estimated to be RM205.5 billion in 2025 and an increased 30 per cent in productivity across all sectors by 2030.
"Initiatives such as REVOLUTIoNT will enable us to harness its benefits and the full potential of 4IR," he said in a statement.
NMB chief executive officer Dr Rezal Khairi Ahmad said the company's portfolio of disruptive technologies would continue to grow with REVOLUTIoNT.
"We expect to see new solutions that include sensors, communication devices, new energy storage solutions for electric vehicles, and advanced materials for multi-sector applications.
"We believe this will help our SME landscape recover and thrive post-pandemic and aim to create up to 6,000 high-value jobs over five years," he said.
He said it would also directly contribute to our gross national income (GNI) of RM2 billion and a minimum overall GNI contribution of RM24 billion through full market deployment and realisation of the supply and value chain by 2025.
NMB has been granted a government budget of RM50 million for 2021–2025 under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) as Malaysia's leading agency for nanotechnology commercialisation and industrialisation via a venture builder model linking industry, universities and society.
The other highlighted projects under this initiative would be further developed to form a comprehensive IoNT network with potential opportunities to pivot into strategic sectors that will generate additional revenue for SMEs.
These are existing projects that were developed by NMB and their suite of SME partners and are currently in the commercialisation phase.
They include IoNT-equipped drones powered by onboard generator hydrogen fuel cell; NanoMalaysia Autonomous Vehicle Initiative (NAVi); Hydrogen-Paired Electric Race Car; NanoGrid Decentralized Power Supply System; an electric scooter; contactless and wireless safe radio frequency (RF) charging system; Smart Urban Farming kit and graphene adoption products.