Building an innovation-based economy: The Malaysian technology business incubator experience

Abstract

The first part of the paper provides an insight into business incubation systems in Malaysia, which is becoming an increasingly innovative approach to improving the entrepreneurial base. The overview of the small and medium-scale industries (SMIs), the various government policies for the development of SMIs which play a vital role in the overall economic development, and the role of SIRIM Berhad's SMI development programmes to boost the economic potential of the SMIs are also worth mentioning. The paper further relates SIRIM Berhad's experience in using the business incubation system as an innovative tool in facilitating technology transfer and commercialisation, the distinct features of the incubator initiatives and the continuing efforts towards providing a more integrated incubator system. This includes the pulling together of various resources and expertise from all sectors to create a repository of knowledge to promote and accelerate the growth of new start-up technology and innovation-based companies.