[This is a sponsored article with Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology & Innovation (MRANTI).]
What if Malaysian farmers could earn thousands more per harvest by using aquaculture biotech? Or what if local labs could fast-track new health innovations into the market?
These possibilities could be closer than we think.
On September 25, MRANTI’s National Technology and Innovation Sandbox (NTIS) officially launched the Biotechnology Sandbox Pilot Programme (Biotech Sandbox) in collaboration with the National Institutes of Biotechnology Malaysia (NIBM).
It’s a dedicated platform for innovators to test and scale solutions that will then turn into commercially viable products that strengthen food security, improve healthcare, and drive sustainability.
Fun fact: NIBM plays a central role in implementing and validating pilot projects under the sandbox. Its facilities enable innovators to conduct real-world testing in controlled environments, ensuring each solution meets regulatory and commercial readiness standards.
The launch was officiated on behalf of the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) by YBrs. Boniface anak Edwin Manung, Division Secretary of MOSTI.
Here’s how the Biotech Sandbox helps Malaysian innovators make that leap from lab to market.
Turning research into real-world solutions
As the name suggests, the Biotech Sandbox is a controlled environment where biotech innovations can be tested, validated, and scaled with the support of advanced facilities and expertise.
This is particularly effective in expediting biotechnology commercialisation because it often requires regulatory intervention. Why? For the simple reason that biotech directly affects public health, food safety, and the environment.
It’s meant to speed up the journey from research to adoption, specifically on biotech solutions in four key industries. In its first phase, it will be focusing on agriculture, followed by healthcare, environmental sustainability, and industrial biotechnology.
By anchoring to these priorities, the Biotech Sandbox aligns closely with the National Biotechnology Policy 2.0 (DBN 2.0) to tackle some of the nation’s most pressing challenges.
Take food security, for instance. With rising demand and climate pressure, innovative agritech like Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) and AI integration in farming can help farmers earn more while reducing reliance on imports.
“RAS can generate RM35,000 per cycle for farmers, while AI integration can boost productivity by 30% and reduce operating costs by 20%,” said Prof. Dr. Rofina Yasmin Othman, Chairman of MRANTI.
In agriculture and healthcare, labs often struggle to move their discoveries beyond research papers. With the Biotech Sandbox, innovations in tissue culture, herbal-based treatments, genomics and the like can be tested and validated under real-world conditions. This opens doors for faster adoption in hospitals and clinics.
And when it comes to environmental sustainability, biotech solutions like seaweed innovation and circular bioeconomy applications could play a key role in reducing waste and developing greener products.
All of these are anchored by the facilities and expertise of NIBM, which offers specialised capabilities in aquaculture, tissue culture, and herbal greenhouse technologies.
Backing innovators with a full support system
What’s more, the Biotech Sandbox connects innovators to the other secretariats and funding partners within the NTIS ecosystem, including:
- MRANTI, as lead secretariat for NTIS, offers end-to-end facilitation
- MIMOS, offers expertise in technical assessments
- Futurise, supports through its regulatory facilitation
- MTDC, provides funding and strengthens the commercialisation and investment pipeline
This network ensures ideas aren’t left stranded at the prototype stage, and instead prepared to be market-ready.
In other words, the programme gives researchers, startups, SMEs, and entrepreneurs working on biotech solutions a pathway to bring their ideas beyond the lab and into real-world applications.
Since its inception in 2020, NTIS has supported over 220 projects, helped commercialise more than 80 technologies worth RM163.17 million.
Oh, did we also mention that it enabled nine Malaysian innovations to be exported globally with a value of RM115 million?
The Biotech Sandbox builds on this momentum by focusing specifically on biotechnology as a driver of growth and resilience.
As Malaysia looks to strengthen food security, healthcare, and sustainability, such programmes ensure that innovators have the necessary support in their journey.
More than just a platform, it’s a community driving Malaysia’s biotech future forward. To be a part of the community, you can register your interest here.
- Learn more about the Biotechnology Sandbox Pilot Programme here.
- Read articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.
Featured Image Credit: MRANTI
Last modified: October 24, 2025
About the Author: Eric L.
