- Hopes Malaysia can lead in ESG investments in the region
- Malaysia targets increasing renewable energy capacity from 25% to 40% by 2035
The Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology and Innovation (Mranti) announced its commitment to being the country’s first carbon-neutral innovation park by 2035.
At the organisation’s flagship I-Nation conference, Chang Lih Kang, minister of Science, Technology and Innovation said, “The government has committed to achieving the largest emission reduction target of 45% by 2030, underpinned by initiatives in the 12th Malaysia Plan to foster a green economy by promoting low carbon industries, decarbonisation, circular economy and clean energy transition.”
Therefore, Chang said he hoped that Malaysia would become a top destination for ESG investments in the region. Among the efforts underway are to decarbonise energy generation, promote a circular economy, mitigate floods, ensure a sufficient supply of clean water, protect food security and transform mobility.
“In terms of energy transition, we are aiming to improve our renewable energy capacity from 25% currently to 40% in 2035,” he added.
Meanwhile, Dr Rais Hussin, CEO, MRANTI said the company aims to create a thriving global community that unlocks ideas to impact.
“These are concerted efforts to desirably position Mranti for corporate and SME tenants looking to secure themselves in an eco-friendly location, as well as for innovators looking to advance their R&D&C&I in a future that is increasingly climate-conscious,” he added.
According to Mranti, the “Force For Good” agenda is centered on four themes: environmental protection, impact-driven innovation for community uplift, good governance and shaping a dynamic workforce.
The firm said it is already taking active steps en-route to attaining its carbon-neutral status by 2035. Several eco-friendly practices are already underway, aimed at reducing its carbon footprint, office and park waste, water usage and greenhouse gas emissions in the next five years.
By 2030, renewable energy sources will account for more than 35 percent of its energy mix. As part of the Mranti Park Masterplan, several new buildings will be developed as Green Building Index certified, while existing buildings will be refurbished to support Mranti’s ESG agenda, it added.
Rais also emphasised ecology and biodiversity conservation at Mranti Park – in which a special fund is set to be raised, to protect the flora and fauna in the 686 acres, including a 30-acre Forest Wetland Park (Learnscape) area.
Today, the organisation offers a variety of facilities, including a 5,000 sqft MakersLab fitted with computing equipment, tools and machines for early-stage prototyping, to the country’s first 5G Experience Centre to showcase proofs-of-concept, as well as Living Labs and resource centers which cater to innovators from any industry, across any stage of development and in any area of tech development.
As a tech commercialisation accelerator, Mranti will be working with innovators through its various programmes to foster ESG-compliant principles throughout the design, development and commercialisation of products and solutions.
It said, as sustainability is quickly becoming an industry standard, the firm will be imbuing an eco-conscious approach in its training and mentorship programmes and resources to empower innovators to commercialise their products responsibly.
In this regard, Mranti is aiming to roll out sectoral and technology-specific modules by 2024 through its bootcamps and other initiatives such as the National Technology and Innovation Sandbox (NTIS).
Vendors looking to work with Mranti will also be required to provide evidence of ESG-related policies that guide their practices and where lacking, Mranti will offer assisted development programmes. This approach allows it and the wider community to level up its operating standards to be greener, safer and more inclusive.
At the launch, five organisations pledged their support for Mranti’s Force For Good, including State Power Investment of China (SPIC), Entomal, NetsEco, and Lebtech. Mranti’s Supercharger Summit 2023 was also run in parallel with I-Nation, aimed at advancing research and development as well as visibility of technology.
At the event, Mranti also announced a Food Security Sandbox with the Northern Corridor Implementation Agency (NCIA) to allow technology providers to test their inventions in a live setting specifically to improve crop yield for paddy and fruits.
Click here to connect, learn about and contribute to Mranti’s Force For Good.