KUALA LUMPUR (July 5): The Malaysia Smart Cities Alliance Association (MSCA) on Tuesday entered into a partnership with four technology and industry-related organisations in an effort to transform the country's socio-economy through the Smart Cities Programme.
The four organisations are the Malaysian Research for Technology and Innovation (MRANTI), Technology Depository Agency Bhd (TDA), the Malaysia Industry Forward Association (MIFA), and the Malaysian Photovoltaic Industry Association (MPIA).
The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) in a statement on Tuesday said the collaboration emphasises on technology and knowledge sharing, provision of technical and non-technical advice, as well as industrial development towards sustainable and smart cities.
"The Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology as the permanent secretariat of the MSCA is always striving to realise this Smart Cities Programme nationwide," according to the statement.
The four areas of cooperation that have been identified are the National Technology & Innovation Sandbox Smart Cities Sandbox between MSCA and MRANTI; Smart Cities Initiative and Industrial Collaboration Programme between MSCA and TDA; Technology and Knowledge Sharing and Industry Development between MSCA and MIFA; as well as Renewable Energy Technology and Knowledge Sharing and Industry Development between MSCA and MPIA.
The signing of the agreement was witnessed by Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Ahmad Amzad Hashim.
Ahmad Amzad said all the collaborations enable new technologies to be tested in a real environment apart from receiving regulatory facilities and financing before being brought to market and spread throughout the country.
"I am optimistic that the cooperation signed today is an effective effort in achieving the objective of strengthening the involvement of industry players and the government sector in accomplishing the country's agenda on sustainable development and smart cities in the future.
"MOSTI appreciates and welcomes such initiatives, in line with the ministry's responsibility in strengthening the role and contribution of technology and innovation to the country's sustainable development and smart cities agenda," he said.
MSCA consists of cross-sector participation from the government and its agencies, Smart Cities' service and solution providers, industry players, and academia.
It is a platform established for the council members to deliberate on Smart Cities' issues and challenges and create opportunities for networking among the stakeholders.
