- 3rd CEO since 2022, Ashran Ghazi introduces Innovation District vision and Mission Driven Initiatives
- Industry engagement highlights opportunities to collaborate in park’s next phase of development
“They have woken up now and are regularly engaging with me now,” said one tenant at MRANTI Park which is managed by Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology and Innovation (MRANTI). Change is afoot at MRANTI, as is expected when a new leader is appointed. March 12 brought together more than 400 industry leaders, investors, developers and ecosystem partners at MRANTI Park, for a “Building What’s Next: #WinningTogether” engagement with Ashran Ghazi who came on board in Dec 2025, as the third CEO in four years for the innovation agency.
The session focused on how Malaysia can accelerate innovation and commercialisation by bringing together industry, researchers and investors to tackle national challenges through Mission Driven Initiatives (MDI).
Aligned with the priorities of Rancangan Malaysia Ke-13 (RMK13), MRANTI is advancing a mission-driven approach that connects research, technology development and industry deployment to address real-world challenges such as healthcare, sustainable cities, future mobility, food security and climate resilience.
MRANTI Park plays a central role in this effort as a living platform for innovation, where technologies can be developed, tested and scaled in collaboration with industry partners.
“Ashran was sharing about what is changing at MRANTI and on the focus in building an Innovation District which is community based,” said an approving park tenant who attended the townhall. “It is a striking change.”
Spanning 686 acres in Bukit Jalil, MRANTI Park hosts more than 150 technology companies and institutions and a growing community of over 30,000 knowledge workers, supported by facilities such as drone testing zones, autonomous vehicle lanes and a 5G-enabled technology hub.
These capabilities allow new technologies to move beyond the laboratory stage and be tested in real-world environments, helping bridge the gap between research and commercial adoption often referred to as the “Valley of Death.”
“Malaysia has strong research capabilities and growing innovation talent. What we need now are platforms where research, industry and capital can come together to solve real problems and create economic value. MRANTI Park is designed to be that platform, a place where technologies are developed, tested and scaled together with industry partners,” said Ashran.
A merger between Technology Park Malaysia (TPM), Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Centre (MaGIC) and PlaTCOM (National Technology Commercialisation Platform), MRANTI was launched in Jan 2022 with Dzuleira Abu Bakar as its first CEO. Dzuleira had come onboard in April 2021 as TPM CEO and led the merger of the three entities into MRANTI.
Advancing mission-driven innovation
Through Mission Driven Initiatives, MRANTI is working with ecosystem partners to develop solutions that address key national priorities.
Early initiatives already underway at MRANTI Park include:
Integrated Healthcare Cluster (IHC) to advance health and medical technologies
Drone Living Lab (AREA 57) supporting autonomous aerial technologies
Autonomous Vehicle Experience Lab (AVXL) enabling testing of future mobility solutions
These initiatives demonstrate how innovation can move from research into real-world applications when industry, academia and government collaborate within the same environment.
Evolving MRANTI Park into an Innovation District
As these initiatives expand, MRANTI aims to evolve MRANTI Park beyond a traditional technology park into a mission-driven Innovation District — where companies, researchers, investors and startups work in close proximity to accelerate the development and commercialisation of new technologies.
The concept follows successful global innovation districts where mixed-use environments combine research, business, talent and investment to create vibrant innovation ecosystems.
Opportunities for Industry Participation
During the engagement session, MRANTI also shared upcoming opportunities for industry collaboration through a Request for Proposal (RFP) programme that will unlock the next phase of MRANTI Park’s development.
The RFP will invite participation from:
- Property developers
- Technology companies
- Ecosystem and venture builders
- Investors and venture capital partners
Opportunities will include innovation campuses, applied research facilities, AI and digital technology clusters, as well as pilot zones and innovation commons that support technology testing and collaboration.
MRANTI welcomes partners who share a long-term vision for building a vibrant innovation ecosystem in Malaysia.
Interested organisations are encouraged to participate in the upcoming RFP exercise, attend briefings and site engagements, and explore opportunities to collaborate in the next phase of MRANTI Park’s development.
As MRANTI Park evolves into a mission-driven Innovation District, development opportunities will support a mix of technology, research and commercial activities. Supporting developments may include retail, hospitality, residential and wellness facilities that complement the park’s innovation ecosystem while preserving its primary mission.
The specific development focus and corresponding asset classes will be open for proposals, enabling industry partners to contribute ideas that align with MRANTI’s Innovation District vision and Mission Driven Initiatives (MDI) — where national challenges are addressed through collaboration across research, industry and capital.
MRANTI will continue engaging industry leaders, investors and ecosystem partners as it advances the next phase of development for MRANTI Park, strengthening collaboration across technology, industry and capital communities while reinforcing Malaysia’s position as a regional hub for innovation and technology commercialisation. For more information and to register interest, visit: https://bit.ly/buildingwhatsnext
“The key to me is that we feel like we are being heard now. No one was addressing any of our concerns before,” said another attendee who hoped MRANTI would be able to alleviate some of the pressing issues faced by tenants.
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