Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said on Wednesday that the country will be launching a National Innovation Center (MyNIC) in the first quarter of 2010.
In his latest blog's posting on Wednesday, Najib said the MyNIC, supported by a network
of innovation excellence centers, was tasked to advance the country's scientific and technological capabilities.
Calling the year of 2010 the Year of Creativity and Innovation, Najib said a culture of
innovation would be instilled in the public sector. He said with high-speed broadband brought to all parts of Malaysia, there would be further
opportunities to innovate.
Moreover, according to the World Bank, a 10 percent rise in broadband penetration correlates to a 1.3 percent gross domestic product increase, added Najib.
Najib stressed that innovation not only created jobs and boost national competitiveness,
but also helped countries favoring it become more advanced economies.
"This is why we, too, must make a creative impact in a competitive global economy. We
must not allow ourselves to be left behind," said Najib.