R2G 2026 Southern Connects Johor Businesses With Technology, Investment, Commercialisation Opportunities
KULAI, Aug 13 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) continues its nationwide outreach through the Road to Growth (R2G) 2026 Southern event, aimed at connecting Johor businesses with technology commercialisation, investment and market opportunities.
R2G 2026 Southern, with the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) as the strategic ecosystem partner, provides businesses with direct access to industry insights, investment and commercialisation pathways, advisory support and potential strategic partners within the state and the wider national technology ecosystem.
The event comes at a significant time for Johor, as the state’s industrial capabilities and strategic position within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) are expected to create further opportunities in high-value sectors, including advanced manufacturing, aerospace, medical devices, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital services.
Realising these opportunities, however, requires technology companies to be commercially ready, connected to industry needs and equipped to access investment and markets.
MTDC group chief executive officer Mohammad Hazani Hassan said that as Malaysia’s deep tech enabler, MTDC supports the progression of technology companies from development to adoption and scale through funding and investment facilitation, business advisory, commercialisation support, capability development and strategic partnerships.
He said MTDC connects technology-based enterprises with the resources and ecosystem relationships required to become more competitive and sustainable.
He added that R2G 2026 Southern translates this role into a regional platform through which businesses can engage directly with MTDC and its partners, understand available support and identify practical opportunities for commercialisation, investment and market expansion.
“Johor’s strong industrial base and expanding regional connectivity present significant opportunities for Malaysian technology companies. However, transforming these opportunities into sustainable business growth requires more than promising technology. Companies must also have access to markets, investment, industry partners and the right commercialisation support.
“Through the Road to Growth events, MTDC is bringing these elements together and connecting businesses with the wider ecosystem needed to progress from technology development towards adoption, commercial success and scale,” he said during his speech at the R2G 2026 Southern Region event at the Impiana Hotel Senai here today.
Also present were IRDA Economics and Investment Division director Rudyanto Azhar, MTDC Investment-Business Division executive vice president Mohd Jerry Tan Mohd Safi, MTDC Technology Ecosystem Development executive vice president Dr Indera Shaiful Baharudin, MOSTI Technology Transfer Division secretary Boniface anak Edwin Manung, UTM Innovation and Commercialisation Centre director Assoc Prof Dr Noor Azurati Ahmad@Salleh, Johor State Economic Planning Division economic affairs officer Nur Farah Izyan Mohamad Fadir.
The R2G Southern edition follows earlier R2G 2026 events held in the Central Region and Sabah in July.
The event featured sharing sessions involving MTDC, IRDA, the Johor State Economic Planning Division (BPEN Johor), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and other ecosystem partners to examine Johor’s economic and innovation landscape, technology commercialisation, investment opportunities, talent development and strategic partnerships supporting innovation-driven enterprises.
Other programme components include a dedicated MySTI workshop featuring representatives from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), MRANTI and a MySTI-recognised company.
Beyond knowledge-sharing, R2G 2026 Southern enables participants to engage directly with MTDC officers and ecosystem partners on their business requirements and explore potential support in funding and investment facilitation, business advisory, capability development and strategic collaboration.
Through the series, MTDC is extending access to Malaysia’s technology commercialisation ecosystem while strengthening connections among the government, industry, academia, investors and technology companies across the country.
By bringing these stakeholders together at the regional level, MTDC aims to build a thriving ecosystem in which Malaysian technologies can secure the partnerships, investment and market access needed to deliver sustainable economic value.
-- BERNAMA