SpaceTech Malaysia announced 6 initiatives at its inaugural AGM, aims to boost nation’s space economy

• Build talent, accelerate tech development and attract investment
• Will work closely with govt to shape successful future in space economy

The SpaceTech Malaysia Association (SMA) held its inaugural Annual General Meeting (AGM) late March and elected set of office bearers as its 2025/2026 executive committee with Sean Seah as chairman.

The choice of Seah brings him a full circle as it was during his time as chairman of the National Tech Association of Malaysia (Pikom) that Seah launched SpaceTech as a new chapter of Pikom in 2021.That was the same year Seah launched Angkasa-X Innovations Sdn Bhd as co-founder and CEO. Angkasa-X aims to use satellites to deliver both internet connectivity in Southeast Asia and offer countries in the region Satellite-as-a-Service with agriculture monitoring being one of the services.

“Space is no longer just about exploration—it is an economic and national security imperative. Malaysia must act decisively to shape its future in the space economy. SMA will work closely with the government to drive this agenda, ensuring our nation secures its place in the global space sector,” said Seah in a statement after the AGM where SMA, formally registered under the Societies Act in 2023, also acknowledged Pikom’s role in incubating the early foundation of Malaysia’s space tech community.

The full list of the executive committee (2025–2026) is comprised of:

Aside from the exco, four executives were also nominated to act as National Council Representatives to ensure SMA has a nationwide presence and not just centred in the Klang Valley.

• Prof. Oliver Liu – Huawei Technologies Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)
• Norhizam – Mercu Tekun Sdn Bhd (Selangor)
• Lee Kok Lim – Mechmodule Tech Sdn Bhd (Penang)
• Sean Liak – SMA Sdn Bhd (Sarawak/Sabah)

SMA believes that its formation marks a pivotal milestone in Malaysia’s space journey, bringing together space industry players, academia and research institutions, government ministries and agencies, and both foreign and domestic investors (FDI & DDI) under a unified strategy to build space talent, accelerate technology development, attract investment, and enhance national capabilities. Towards building space talent, a series of National Space Camps, designed to inspire young talent through STEAM (with the A representing the Arts) education is being planned with possible partners being Pikom and Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC).

Malaysia’s space agenda: A national priority

The Malaysian government has outlined its vision through the National Space Policy 2030 (Dasar Angkasa Negara 2030) and the Malaysia Space Exploration 2030 (MSE2030) framework. These focus areas include:

• Satellite sovereignty & infrastructure development – Expanding domestic satellite capabilities to reduce reliance on foreign networks for communication, navigation, and security.
• Aerospace & SpaceTech Industry Growth – Empowering local companies to build high- value technologies across the space supply chain.
• Space Data & National Security – Leveraging Earth observation and geospatial data for climate resilience, disaster management, and defense.
• Global Positioning & Collaboration – Enhancing Malaysia’s role in regional and international space diplomacy, AI-driven applications, and deep-space exploration.

SMA aims to be a key industry partner supporting these national space objectives, with a focus on:

• Regulatory Reforms – Collaborating with MCMC, MYSA, Bahagian Penguasa Angkasa, and others to modernise licensing, spectrum management, and commercial space regulations.
• Investment & Market Growth – Connecting venture capital, government-linked investment arms, and global aerospace firms to drive local industry scale-up.
• Talent & Workforce Development – Partnering with universities and TVET institutions to prepare Malaysia’s next generation of space professionals.

To align with national space ambitions, SMA announced six key initiatives:

• National Satellite Infrastructure & Data Sovereignty – Supporting Malaysian-built satellite development and data control.
• Policy & Regulatory Advancement – Driving forward-looking regulations for commercial space activities and spectrum use.
• Innovation & Technology Development – Accelerating space-focused R&D, satellite engineering, and AI-integrated applications.
• Investment & Market Access – Positioning Malaysia as a competitive destination for space investments and technology transfers.
• Global Partnerships & Space Diplomacy – Expanding Malaysia’s footprint in regional and international cooperation.
• Talent Development & STEAM Education – Cultivating a resilient space workforce through outreach, scholarships, and training.

To execute the various initiatives SMA plans to engage with various partners/agencies including MYSA, MYDigital, NAIO (National AI Office), JUPEM (Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia), MOSTI (Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation) as well as international collaborators with some announcement slated to be made on 15^th May. SMA will also represent Malaysia at key international engagements to elevate national visibility and encourage cross-border partnerships, including:

• LIMA 2025 (Langkawi, 20–24 May) – Promoting space as a pillar of maritime-aerospace integration.
• 76th International Astronautical Congress (Sydney, 29 Sept – 3 Oct) – Positioning Malaysia on the global innovation stage
• APSCC 2025 (Taipei, 4–6 Nov) – Engaging with Asia-Pacific’s satellite and spectrum stakeholders