New Year Remarks from the Managing Director of Leave a Nest Malaysia : ”From Knowledge to Impact: Advancing Meaningful Co-Creation”
Dear all,
As we progress further into 2026, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the achievements of 2025, to acknowledge the journey of Leave a Nest Malaysia over the past 12 years, and to express my sincere appreciation to all our partners and collaborators who worked closely with us throughout the year. Since our establishment, Leave a Nest Malaysia has grown alongside Malaysia’s innovation ecosystem, and the progress we achieved in 2025 builds upon more than a decade of continuous co-creation with researchers, industry, government, and the startup community.
In 2025, we continued to pursue our mission of “Leading Meaningful Co-Creation in Southeast Asia from Malaysia”, and the outcomes achieved throughout the year reflected tangible progress toward this goal—connecting knowledge, people, and technologies across borders and disciplines, while addressing real societal and industrial challenges.
A 12-Year Milestone: Strengthening Foundations for Long-Term Impact
The year 2025 marked the 12th anniversary of Leave a Nest Malaysia. Within the Leave a Nest Group’s long-term vision of building an organization that contributes to society over 144 years, this milestone represents a foundational stage that reinforces our responsibility to create long-term value through science and technology. It reflects the trust placed in us by our partners and the collective efforts of all who share our belief in the power of knowledge-driven collaboration.
2025 Achievements: Deepening Co-Creation Across Research, Industry, and Society
Throughout 2025, Leave a Nest Malaysia focused on deepening collaboration across research, industry, and society in alignment with our mission.
A key emphasis in 2025 was placed on nurturing young scientific talent, recognising that human capital is fundamental to long-term innovation. Through Science Castle Malaysia, Science Castle Asia, and the Science Castle Grant supported by Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad, we engaged students, educators, and researchers across multiple stages of their research journey.
Science Castle Malaysia 2025, held in Kuching, Sarawak, involved over 500 secondary school students, providing a national platform for research presentation and scientific exchange. At the regional level, Science Castle Asia 2025, hosted at Multimedia University, brought together more than 2,000 participants, including 321 student research teams from 10 countries, establishing one of Asia’s largest youth research conferences. In parallel, the Science Castle Grant Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad Award supported 10 Malaysian student teams, selected from over 500 applications, through research funding and structured mentorship. Collectively, these initiatives strengthened a continuous pipeline for developing the next generation of science-driven leaders.
We also continued to support deep-tech startups and research commercialisation through TECH PLANTER Malaysia 2025, where nine finalists were selected from more than 80 nationwide applications, representing technologies across multiple sectors. This national platform served as a pathway to regional engagement, culminating in Malaysia hosting the TECH PLANTER Asia Final 2025, which brought together 14 teams from across Southeast Asia and Japan, highlighting the region’s growing deep-tech capabilities.
Later in the year, in November 2025, Leave a Nest Malaysia successfully organised the eighth Hyper Interdisciplinary Conference (HIC) Malaysia 2025 at Universiti Selangor (UNISEL). The conference convened 205 participants from academia, industry, government, and startups, and featured 52 poster presentations, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue on themes including renewable energy, environmental innovation, and water sustainability.
In parallel, we strengthened partnerships with universities, research institutions, and government bodies, contributing to talent development and fostering a stronger culture of science-based entrepreneurship among students and young researchers.
Internally, we continued to enhance our organisational capabilities by investing in team development and operational readiness, ensuring that Leave a Nest Malaysia is well prepared to support more complex and impactful co-creation projects in the years ahead.
2026: From Knowledge to Impact
2026 Theme: From Knowledge to Impact
In 2026, Leave a Nest Malaysia will focus on translating accumulated knowledge, networks, and experience into measurable social and industrial impact, guided by three strategic priorities.
1. Advancing Outcome-Oriented Co-Creation
We will prioritise co-creation projects that lead to concrete outcomes, including joint research initiatives, pilot projects, and pathways toward commercialisation, addressing real societal challenges through science and technology.
2. Strengthening Southeast Asia–Japan Connectivity
We will further reinforce our role as a bridge between Southeast Asia and Japan by expanding structured platforms for technology collaboration, market access, and talent exchange, with Malaysia serving as a central hub for regional engagement.
3. Developing Science-Driven Human Capital
Building on our efforts in 2025, we will continue to invest in the development of students, researchers, and young professionals by providing platforms, mentorship, and opportunities for hands-on collaboration with industry and global partners.
Together with our sister offices across Southeast Asia, Leave a Nest Malaysia will continue to contribute to both local and regional ecosystems, supporting the Leave a Nest Group’s vision of advancing science and technology for global happiness.
A Continued Commitment to Meaningful Co-Creation
As we move forward in 2026, Leave a Nest Malaysia remains committed to serving as a catalyst for meaningful co-creation that connects diverse stakeholders and creates long-term value for society.
Once again, I extend my sincere gratitude to our partners, collaborators, and stakeholders for their continued trust and support. We look forward to working together to transform knowledge into impact in the year ahead.
Abdul Hakim Sahidi
Managing Director
Leave a Nest Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.