PETALING JAYA: Make funds more easily accessible to small-time innovators who are truly creating an impact on the ground, say tech start-up founders.

       Many small-time start-up innovators such as creators of robotics programmes and application (apps) developers have "closed shop" since the Covid-19 pandemic, said My Conceptual Robotics founder Darween Reza Sabri.

       He said these innovators must be able to seek the budgets allocated by the government through agencies such as Cradle Fund and the process must be simple and with transparency.

       “There was a perception that matters related to the digital world were doing well during the Covid-19 pandemic but it is not true.

       “Parents have spent a lot of money buying devices during the pandemic to ensure their children could do their online learning. On the flip side, this reduced their spending power to enrol their children in extra science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) lessons or activities,

       “Those who ventured into STEM businesses had to stop operating and I hope these guys will make a comeback,” said Darween.

       He said there must be clarity on how to seek the funds allocated through Cradle Fund and Technology Park.

       “It is important that talent and good innovations are given priority when funding is allocated. This will enable us to be ready for the Fourth Industrial Revolution together,” he said.

       Meanwhile, Kaki DIY and Kaki Repair founder Johnson Lam said allocations under the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti) were welcomed but there must be a collaboration with other ministries for sustainable impact.

       “If a person creates an app to detect and report potholes, it is a great innovation but it is not impactful if departments such as the Road Transport Department and local authorities are not linked to this effort.

       “Innovation cannot be impactful on its own but in collaboration with other sectors,

       “I hope STEM-related departments will not work in silos,

       “The Education Ministry also plays an important role,” he said.

       A total of RM423mil has been allocated in Budget 2022 to Mosti and the Higher Education Ministry for research and development purposes. This consists of a RM295mil allocation made to public learning institutions.

       Grants worth RM12mil have also been allocated for collaborative research in engineering, science and technology into gallium nitride, which has applications in LEDs for electric vehicles.

       RM30mil has been allocated under the Innovation Hub: Fourth Industrial Revolution, through Technology Park. This is aimed at providing exposure and benefit to 10,000 entrepreneurs.

       A further RM20mil was allocated for start-up economics through the Cradle Fund. This is in line with the aim of MyDIGITAL and MyStartup which will be rolled out in stages and benefit 2,500 companies, potentially providing 5,000 job opportunities.

       Meanwhile, RM45mil has been allocated as an incentive for technology transformation towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution among SMEs in the manufacturing and services sectors.