Leave a Nest Malaysia and Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation Form Strategic Partnership ~ Accelerating the Global Expansion of Deep Tech Ventures from Sarawak ~
On October 17, 2024, in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, Leave a Nest Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (Headquarters: Cyberjaya, Malaysia; Representative: Mr Abdul Hakim Bin Sahidi; hereafter “Leave a Nest Malaysia”), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) to strengthen the startup ecosystem in Sarawak.
The MoU exchange ceremony was held during the International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS) 2024 in Kuching, Sarawak, located in East Malaysia. IDECS is the largest digital innovation event in Borneo, launched in 2017 with the announcement of Sarawak’s designation of industry digitalization as one of its strategies for regional economic revitalization. This year is the 7th edition of the conference. The MoU exchange took place at the Startup Village Stage on the 1st floor of the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, marking an important step in promoting digital innovation and talent development in Sarawak.
Keynote speech by YB Dato Sri Haji Julaihi Bin Haji Narawi, Minister for Utility and Telecommunication Sarawak.
The ceremony was graced by the presence of YB Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, the Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) Sarawak who served as the Guest of Honor. The MoU was exchanged between Mr. Abdul Hakim Sahidi, representing Leave a Nest Malaysia, and Dato Ir Ts Sudarnoto Osman, CEO of SDEC. The exchange was witnessed by Chief Scientist & Chief Advisor for Digital Economy to the Government of Sarawak Professor Jugdutt Singh and Dr. Yukihiro Maru, Founder & Group CEO of Leave a Nest Co., Ltd.
From the left: (Front row) SDEC CEO Dato Ir Ts Sudarnoto Osman、Leave a Nest Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. Managing Director Abdul Hakim Bin Sahidi、Leave a Nest Co., Ltd. Founder and Group CEO Dr. Yukihiro Maru（Back row）YB Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, the Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) Sarawak , Chief Scientist & Chief Advisor for Digital Economy to the Government of Sarawak Professor Jugdutt Singh
Established in 2018, SDEC is a company wholly owned by the Government of Sarawak under the Ministry of Finance and New Economy, tasked with leading Sarawak’s digital economy initiatives for the private sector and transforming Sarawak into a digital economy powerhouse.
In January 2024, Leave A Nest invited SDEC to be part of their TECH VENTURE MEETUP, an event that brings together the alumni network cultivated over 10 years across Leave a Nest’s deep tech platform TECH PLANTER, to accelerate opportunities for investment, joint research, and business partnerships through meetups with VCs and business companies. SDEC & Leave A Nest share the same objective to accelerate opportunities for investment, joint research, business partnerships through meetups with VCs and business companies especially among researchers and deep tech spin-off/startups.
Although Malaysia’s startup ecosystem has seen rapid momentum in recent years, there is still a significant gap between Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia. Against this backdrop, this MoU represents an agreement between the two parties for Leave a Nest to support the development of Sarawak’s startup ecosystem together with SDEC.
The MoU sets out a framework for collaboration aimed at supporting and empowering Sarawakian university spin-offs, startups and entrepreneurs. Key areas of collaboration include facilitating participation in Leave a Nest’s entrepreneurship programs, providing networking opportunities with industry experts, and creating pathways for commercialization and investment. Leave a Nest will also collaborate with SDEC in identifying relevant markets and industries to support the growth of Sarawakian entrepreneurs through tailored training and assistance.
Leave a Nest Malaysia will continue to accelerate the discovery and social implementation of science and technology from the Southeast Asian region.
[About Leave a Nest Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.]
Leave a Nest Malaysia is the Southeast Asian headquarters of Leave a Nest, a global platform dedicated to advancing science and technology education and fostering innovation. Through various projects and partnerships, the company aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry to create sustainable solutions for societal challenges.
[About Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC)]
Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) is a company wholly owned by the Government of Sarawak. Under the purview of the Ministry of Finance and New Economy, SDEC is mandated to spearhead Sarawak’s digital economy initiatives and transform Sarawak into a digital economy powerhouse. Established in January 2018, its main objectives are to revolutionize Sarawak’s economy and industries as well as to spur socio-economic growth and advancement.
※1：【Leave a Nest Malaysia Successfully Organized TECH VENTURE MEETUP MALAYSIA 2024 and the 2nd ASEAN Deep Tech Venture of the Year Award】