Getting R&D Priorities Right

Rushdi Abdul Rahim

28th February 2012

2012. UK-Malaysia Partners in Science Symposium

BACKGROUND

National Technology Foresight study commissioned by MOSTI in September 2010; National Science & Research Council approved on Dec 2010 by the Cabinet.

Science & Technology Support

2012. UK-Malaysia Partners in Science Symposium

R&D GOVERNANCE
Prime Ministers Office

NATIONAL SCIENCE & RESEARCH COUNCIL

Secretariat MOSTI

Priority Setting Mechanism for R&D

R&D Evaluation & Outcome Monitoring

EXPERT WORKING GROUPS

Environmental Sciences Advanced Materials Sciences Agriculture Sciences Chemical Sciences Mathematics & Physical Sciences Computer Sciences & ICT Health & Medical Sciences Engineering Sciences Humanities & Social Sciences

Life Sciences

2012. UK-Malaysia Partners in Science Symposium

THE NEEDS
National R&D Priority Areas for : Streamlining national scientific research areas, Efficient distribution & utilisation of public funds, Focus in the strength & niche of Malaysia, Advancing Malaysian research and innovation to benefit the community; and Intensifying R&D funding (GERD). Strategic R&D Directions and Framework by: Establishing the National Science Act; and Formulation of the National Science, Technology & Innovation Policy.

2012. UK-Malaysia Partners in Science Symposium

THE APPROACH
Taking the mandates spelt out by the NSRC, the following was undertaken in prioritizing the R&D areas: Establishment of National R&D Framework Engagement of Expert Working Groups which represents 10 disciplines Analysis of existing National Focus Areas Benchmarking & comparative analysis of international R&D areas Assessment of global & local mega trends & issues Analysis of Malaysias R&D strengths & weaknesses as well as analyzing its opportunities & threats

2012. UK-Malaysia Partners in Science Symposium

NATIONAL R&D FRAMEWORK

VISION 2020/NEM HIGH INCOME FULLY DEVELOPED NATION & ECONOMY
High Income Inclusiveness Sustainability

Foresight
ISSUES & PROBLEMS

R&D GOALS
New Discoveries & Knowledge Generation Competitiveness Societal Wellbeing

Legal Framework

TRENDS & DRIVERS

R&D PRIORITY AREAS

Areas 1 Areas 2 Areas 3 Areas 4

SCENARIOS

FUNDING

POLICIES

Strategies Develop Partnership Acquire

CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS

Competencies Human Capital Infrastructure Facilities

Career Path
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Support

BENCHMARKING S&T DEVELOPMENT

Applying the Composite Science and Technology Innovation Index (COSTII) set of indicators, Malaysia ranked significantly behind in R&D intensity compared to other OECD countries

Item Investment in R&D 1. 2. 3. 4.

Indicators Total amount of R&D investment (million USD, PPP) Ratio of total R&D investment per GDP R&D investment per researcher Ratio of industrial R&D investment vis--vis GDP

Activities

Entrepreneurial 1. Total Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA) (Age group of 18 to 64) Activities 2. Ratio of investment of venture capital vis--vis GDP
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BENCHMARKING FOCUS AREAS

COUNTRIES South Korea GERD/GDP (%) AREAS
Automotive Shipbuilding Machinery & manufacturing Semiconductor Display IT based convergent technologies Medical & healthcare Advance logistic Communication & broadcasting Construction Space & Ocean Nuclear Health & safety Energy & resources Climate change & environment Convergent/composite material ICT Electronics / electro-technical Machine / metal products Forestry

4.0

Finland

3.45 3.18

Japan

Life sciences IT Nanotech Materials Environmental sciences Energy Infrastructure Oceans Outer space Environmental and Water Technologies Interactive and Digital Media Manufacturing clusters ; electronics, chemicals, engineering and biomedical sciences

Singapore

2.60

UK

1.73

Arts and Humanities Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Engineering and Physical Sciences Economic and Social Medical Natural Environment Science and Technology Facilities Defence
Energy resources and environmental protection IT, new materials and manufacturing Agriculture, population and health Space and ocean technology Basic sciences and frontier technology Biotechnology Nanotechnology Biofuels renewable bio-energy

China

1.50

Brazil

1.28

Malaysia

0.82

2012. UK-Malaysia Partners in Science Symposium

NATIONAL FOCUS AREAS

6 national key result areas

12 national key economic areas

11 development areas

12 manufacturing sectors 8 non government business areas

9 National technology foresight areas 6 Mega science areas Niche priority areas
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FOCUS AREAS COMPARISONS

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STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGEMENT

2012. UK-Malaysia Partners in Science Symposium

STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGEMENT

2012. UK-Malaysia Partners in Science Symposium

STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGEMENT

2012. UK-Malaysia Partners in Science Symposium

STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGEMENT

2012. UK-Malaysia Partners in Science Symposium

FOOD SECURITY
FACTS/ MEGA TRENDS
Global The OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook (2009-2018) predicts that demand for food will grow by 50 % by 2030 and 70 % by 2050. By 2050, it is expected that the world's population will reach a staggering 9 billion. More people die each year from hunger and malnutrition than from AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined . In 2009, the FAO projects world hunger to reach a historic high with 1.02 billion people going hungry every day. The World Bank estimates that one hectare of land will need to feed 5 people in 2025, whereas in 1960 one hectare was required to feed only 2 people. More people die each year from hunger and malnutrition than from AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined . In 2009, the FAO projects world hunger to reach a historic high with 1.02 billion people going hungry every day. Local Malaysia's food imports considerably outstrips it export bill. In 2010, Malaysia's food import bill amounted to RM 40.5 billion for agricultural based products. In the ETP, food security issues are highlighted in agriculture key economic area . Total of RM18.9 billion would be invested to boost food supply. The total Malaysia fisheries production has increased from RM 5.2 billion in 2005 to RM 8.6 billion in 2009; a growth of 64.9%. However, 70% of the fish are imported.

LONG TERM GOALS FOCUS AREAS

Reduce dependency of import on staple food and increase the level of self sufficiency

Improvement of animal feedstock and breeding of food crops adapted to climate change; Exploitation of biodiversity for novel food/feed.

Source: US Dept. of Agriculture; Food & Agricultural Policy Research Institute

2012. UK-Malaysia Partners in Science Symposium

FOOD SECURITY
GLOBAL FOOD OUTPUT WILL HAVE TO RISE BY 70%
Many reasons explain the present escalation in food prices. Climate change is one. The use of food crops to produce fuel for vehicles is another factor. Related to this is the scarcity of land areas for agriculture. While increase in global population particularly middle class in recent years led to significant growth in food consumption. Current paddy yield was just 3.7 tonnes

7.6%
price increase

70%
are imported

Yield
still unrealised

Market prices of imported mutton from Australia has gone up on an average of 12%

Price for deep sea fishes had increased between 20% and 30%

700 million coconuts needed a year but was only 400 million was produced annually

930 tonnes unconsumed food discarded daily Doubled over the past three years.

11.7% 8.4% 10.2%

4.6 %
6.2%

FOOD
INFLATION

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PRIORITIZATION PROCESS
Alignment to national priorities Economic & industrial impact Knowledge generation Social & societal impact Attractiveness Feasibility National competitiveness Novelty

10 EWGs

Application potential & diffusion Cost effectiveness Material & infrastructure People & competencies Technology readiness & maturity Time horizon of impact

> 500
Candidates of research areas
Global Issues National Issues

x
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R&D PRIORITY AREAS

EWGs CONSULTATION

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THE RECOMMENDATIONS

S&T Enablers

Knowledge generation & strengthening the areas of fundamental science, social sciences as well as the cross cutting & converging technologies

National & Global Issues

Areas in relation to the general well being of the nation and the society, addressing national issues as well as those that will enable the country to cope with global issues

Cyber Security Energy Security Environment & Climate Change Food Security

Medical & Healthcare Plantation Crops & Commodities Transport & Urbanization Water Security

2012. UK-Malaysia Partners in Science Symposium

MOVING FORWARD
Initiatives in progress to achieve the following: Endorsement & adoption of the National R&D Priority areas; Policies to increase the allocation of >1% GERD/GDP ; Creation of Programmes for High Impact R&D in the priority areas identified.

2012. UK-Malaysia Partners in Science Symposium

STAKEHOLDERS THOUGHTS
What is being done today is to set or mapped out the technology foresight but the utmost important thing is to explain and illuminate to the industry and the stakeholders, which include researchers and policy makers about the findings and the likely technologies going to be in the future. I believe that what we are doing today is just the beginning there is still a lot more work to do after this
Dato' Dr. Mahani Zainal Abidin Member National Economic Advisory Council

The basic human weakness is we tend to overestimate the short-term impact but at the same time under estimate the long-term impact. The Government needs to consistently ask question. But the fact that we are going through the process of Foresight shows that we are at a good start
Dr. Kamarulzaman "Dr. K" Mohamed Zin Chief Executive Officer Silterra Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.

Foresight is important every where in the world because there is a need to learn from the past and the present in order to shape the future. Forecasting by imagination is insufficient This attempt is just a start and must be continued
Tan Sri Dato Dr Ahmad Mustafa Babjee Fellow Akademi Sains Malaysia
2012. UK-Malaysia Partners in Science Symposium

Thank You
rushdi@might.org.my

2012. UK-Malaysia Partners in Science Symposium