KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5, 2026 — Malaysia has identified five priority technology drivers — artificial intelligence (AI), sensor technology and semiconductors, cybersecurity and encryption, big data analytics, and 5G/6G — as key areas to strengthen the country’s technology sovereignty and domestic capabilities by 2030.

The priorities were outlined by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) through the National Technology Sovereignty Framework (NTSF), in response to a question raised by Kemaman MP Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar in Parliament on Monday.

The NTSF has identified nine strategic technology drivers with the potential to create transformative impacts across sectors, strengthen national resilience and generate new economic opportunities.

Besides the five priority areas, the nine technology drivers include blockchain, advanced 3D printing, neurotechnology and biotechnology.

According to the ministry, the five priority technologies currently have the highest level of criticality to national sovereignty while also offering strong commercial potential. They will therefore become a major focus for investment and domestic capability development towards 2030.

Biotechnology, meanwhile, has been classified as a critical area requiring early public-sector investment, given that its market returns remain relatively low at present.

MOSTI said the technology drivers will continue to be updated through a structured technology foresight approach, taking into account global technology projections, scientific research directions, patent filing trends, industry roadmaps, environmental scanning, expert consultations and current national development priorities.

The strategic technologies will also be mapped against five national focus areas — electrical and electronics, advanced materials, healthcare and life sciences, renewable energy, and agriculture and food.

The approach is intended to ensure that strategic technologies are translated into practical applications addressing critical national needs, including food security, energy, healthcare and critical minerals.

The ministry said the list would remain dynamic and be periodically reviewed, including to consider emerging technologies such as quantum computing and fusion energy.

Four pillars to strengthen technological sovereignty

MOSTI also highlighted four key areas that Malaysia must address to ensure the country does not remain merely a user or producer of technologies owned by foreign parties.

First, Malaysia needs to strengthen its ability to develop and adapt AI technologies domestically.

Technology foresight findings indicate that local capabilities to adapt AI models to the Bahasa Malaysia language, as well as local terminology and sector-specific contexts, could reduce dependence on general-purpose foreign solutions.

Second, Malaysia needs to strengthen its national data ecosystem and computing infrastructure.

Competitive AI development requires access to high-quality data, secure networks and sufficient computing capacity.

Third, the ministry stressed the need to develop a comprehensive local AI talent pool.

This must go beyond training people to use AI applications and include capabilities in model development, data management, cloud-based solutions, as well as AI security and governance.

Fourth, domestic technological capabilities must be supported by strong AI governance, cybersecurity and trusted data practices.

MOSTI said AI governance and cybersecurity have been identified as high-priority skills because technology sovereignty is not merely about having the ability to develop technology.

It also involves ensuring that technology is deployed securely, ethically and responsibly.

The ministry’s response came in relation to the question on Malaysia’s strategic technology targets for developing and mastering home-grown technologies by 2030, and the measures used to determine whether the country is merely a user or producer of foreign-owned technologies.