Malaysia Names Five Critical Tech Drivers for Sovereignty by 2030

Malaysia has narrowed down where it wants to build real homegrown technology muscle. In a written parliamentary reply reported by Bernama and carried by The Star on 6 October 2026, the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (MOSTI) said five of the nine technology drivers under the National Technology Sovereignty Framework (NTSF) are considered critical to national sovereignty and also have strong commercial potential.

The five priority drivers

According to the ministry, these five will be the main focus for investment and local capability building through to 2030:

• AI-powered systems
• Sensor technologies, including semiconductors
• Cybersecurity and encryption
• Big data analytics
• 5G and 6G connectivity

The remaining four drivers on the full list of nine are blockchain, advanced 3D printing, neuro-technology and biotechnology. The ministry singled out biotechnology as a critical field that needs public sector investment first, because its potential market returns are currently low.

A list that will keep changing

MOSTI said the list is not fixed. It will be updated through a structured technology foresight process that considers global technology projections, research trends, patent filing rates, industry roadmaps and consultations with experts, alongside current national priorities. Future technologies such as quantum computing and fusion energy will be re-evaluated over time.

The drivers will also be mapped to five national focus areas: electrical and electronics, advanced materials, healthcare and life sciences, renewable energy, and agriculture and food. The goal is to turn these technologies into practical applications in sectors such as food security, energy, health and critical minerals.

The aim is for Malaysia to build and adapt its own technology, not just buy it or assemble it for someone else.

Local AI that understands local context

The reply answered a question from Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar (PN-Kemaman) about how Malaysia avoids becoming only a consumer or manufacturer of foreign-owned technology. The ministry said strengthening local ability to develop and adapt AI is a key priority, noting that foresight reports point to the value of adapting AI models to the Malay language and to local industry terms, which could reduce reliance on generic foreign tools.

It also said the data ecosystem and computing infrastructure need strengthening, and that AI talent must go beyond using AI apps to include model development, data management, cloud solutions, and AI security and governance, all backed by trusted data use and cybersecurity.

What this means for Malaysian readers

For SMEs and tech startups, this list is a useful signal of where government attention, grants and partnerships are likely to concentrate over the next few years. If your business works in AI, data, cybersecurity, sensors or connectivity, it is worth framing proposals and pitches around these drivers. For everyone else, the push for Malay-language and locally tuned AI could mean tools that fit Malaysian customers and paperwork better, and the emphasis on cybersecurity is a timely nudge to review how your own business protects its data.

Source: This is an original summary and commentary based on Bernama reporting published by The Star. Read the original story: Five technology drivers identified as critical to Malaysia's sovereignty, Parliament hears (The Star).