New Year Remarks from the Managing Director of Leave a Nest Malaysia : “Leading Meaningful Co-Creation in Southeast Asia from Malaysia”

As we step into 2025, I am filled with both pride and excitement as we reflect on the incredible milestones we achieved in 2024, and look ahead to an even more impactful year. The past year has been one of tremendous growth, collaboration, and innovation for Leave a Nest Malaysia. It marks not only our 11th Anniversary but also a momentous turning point in our journey as we were appointed the Southeast Asia Headquarters for Leave a Nest Group last October. This new role carries with it an immense sense of responsibility, and we are eager to continue driving science and technology innovation across the region.

A Year of Remarkable Achievements

2024 was truly a year to remember. We had the opportunity to bring together diverse stakeholders from across Southeast Asia and Japan, celebrate outstanding contributions in deep-tech innovation, and further expand the Leave a Nest ecosystem. Here are some of the highlights:

 

• • 10th Anniversary of TECH PLANTER Malaysia:
    2024 also marked the 10th Anniversary of TECH PLANTER Malaysia, a key program through which we’ve supported and nurtured over 363 deep-tech teams since its inception in 2015. This year, ,we also brought together winners from six countries for the TECH PLANTER Asia Final 2024, where Spin-off Robotics from Singapore was crowned the Grand Winner. Their success highlights the power of collaboration and innovation in creating solutions that can transform industries and societies across the region.
  • Science Castle Asia 2024:
    In October 2024, we made history by hosting Science Castle Asia 2024, a unique event that brought together more than 1,000 young researchers and 300 teachers from 9 countries. The event provided a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, allowing researchers, educators, and students to engage in meaningful discussions on the latest advancements in science and technology. This event was not only a milestone for Leave a Nest Malaysia but also a powerful demonstration of how science can connect and inspire communities across borders.

• Global Bridge Program : Inbound & Outbound Market Access
  Rebranded to the Global Bridge program, our market access support program was expandedd to both inbound and outbound programs between Malaysia-Japan. In 2024 alone, we supported 6 Japanese startups to explore Malaysian markets and 9 Malaysian startups to explore markets in Japan. Through this program, we successfully helped 2 of those Japanese companies to establish their local company in Malaysia.

• Strategic Collaborations:
  This year also saw significant expansion in our regional collaborations. We signed 12 Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) with universities and 5 with government bodies across Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. These partnerships are crucial to strengthening the deep-tech ecosystem in Southeast Asia, and we are excited to work alongside these institutions to foster innovation and create long-term impact for the region.

Looking Ahead: New Initiatives and Team Growth in 2025

As we move into 2025, we are excited to announce our 2025 mission of “Leading Meaningful Co-Creation in Southeast Asia from Malaysia”. There are so many things we are already planning which will help us to lead the Southeast Asia group, connecting with our Japanese ecosystem and propel our main vision of advancing science and technology for global happiness:

1. Expanding Science Castle to West Malaysia and Beyond
   One of our key new initiatives for 2025 is the expansion of Science Castle to West Malaysia, including Sabah, Sarawak, and Brunei. By extending our outreach to more rural and underserved areas, we aim to provide greater STEM empowerment to students who may not have the same access to opportunities in major cities. This initiative will help ensure that every student, regardless of their geographical location, has the opportunity to explore and engage with science and technology. Not only Malaysia, we also support the revival of the Science Castle Singapore and the inaugural Science Castle Philippines this year.
2. Expanding the Global Bridge Platform and Deep Tech Tours
   Another exciting initiative is the expansion of our Global Bridge Platform, which includes the Deep Tech Tour program. This program will now extend to Indonesia and Vietnam, allowing more startups, researchers, and organizations from Malaysia as well as Japan to explore opportunities in these countries through our established networks. By fostering cross-border collaborations, we aim to create even more meaningful partnerships and deepen the ecosystem of innovation.
3. Gathering More Passionate MembersExpansion of Center of Garage Malaysia as the Hub of Deep Tech Startups
   In line with our growth, Leave a Nest Malaysia will expand our team in 2025. We plan to increase our team size to 24 members, bringing in passionate individuals who are dedicated to solving local and regional challenges through deep-tech innovation. We are looking for like-minded individuals who share our mission of advancing science and technology for global happiness and want to be part of our vibrant team.Since we launched the Center of Garage Malaysia in January 2024, we have incubated more than 20 startups from Malaysia, Japan, Singapore and Brunei. Since then, COGMY has been a prominent platform for Deep Tech Startups to receive support from Leave a Nest ecosystem and expand their business to the regional market. In 2025, we hope to welcome more startups from various countries to explore meaningful collaboration &  co-creation through COGMY.

A Year of Co-Creation and Regional Leadership

As we celebrate our 12th anniversary in October 2025, we will continue to embrace our role as a catalyst for meaningful collaboration and innovation across Southeast Asia. We are committed to leading the way in co-creating solutions that address local challenges while contributing to the advancement of the broader regional ecosystem.

With the support of ourTogether with our sister offices in Singapore and the Philippines, Leave a Nest Malaysia will continue to focus on solving not only local issues but regional ones, ensuring that Southeast Asia remains at the forefront of global innovation. We will work closely with our partners, collaborators, and stakeholders to foster an environment where science and technology can thrive and make a positive impact on communities across the region.

A Heartfelt Thank You

None of our achievements would have been possible without the dedication of our incredible team, the trust of our partners, and the continued support of our collaborators. As we step into 2025, I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has contributed to the success of Leave a Nest Malaysia. Together, we have achieved so much, and together, we will continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible.

As we look ahead, I am confident that the year 2025 will bring even more opportunities for us to co-create, innovate, and make a meaningful difference. Let’s continue working together towards our shared vision of advancing science and technology for global happiness.

On behalf of the entire team at Leave a Nest Malaysia, I wish all our partners, collaborators, and friends a prosperous, successful, and fulfilling New Year.

 

Happy New Year 2025!

 

Mr. Abdul Hakim Sahidi,

Managing Director,

Leave a Nest Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.