ASM Advances Defence Through Emerging Technologies

Strengthening Malaysia’s defence capabilities requires more than military preparedness. It also depends on building a resilient innovation ecosystem powered by strategic emerging technologies.

Represented by its President and STI Advisor to the Prime Minister & the Nation, Academician Datuk Dr Tengku Mohd Azzman Shariffadeen FASc, ASM attended the 1^st Mesyuarat Majlis Industri Pertahanan (MIP), chaired by the Minister of Defence, YB Dato’ Seri Haji Mohamed Khaled Nordin, on 22 June 2026.

During the meeting, ASM presented strategic recommendations to strengthen Malaysia’s local defence industry by accelerating the development and adoption of disruptive and emerging technologies. The recommendations underscored the need to integrate the national Research, Development, Innovation, Commercialisation and Economy (RDICE) ecosystem with the local defence industry, enabling Malaysia to cultivate homegrown capabilities while enhancing national resilience.

ASM highlighted that today’s security landscape extends far beyond conventional warfare. Today, threats are no longer limited to conventional warfare. Hybrid warfare, grey-zone activities, and risks to critical national infrastructure are creating new challenges that require Malaysia to be more prepared, agile, and technology-driven.

To address these challenges, ASM recommended that Malaysia identify and prioritise strategic technologies, strengthen its technology foresight capabilities, protect critical infrastructure and foster closer collaboration between the RDICE ecosystem and the local defence industry. These efforts will strengthen the nation’s preparedness for future security challenges while safeguarding Malaysia’s sovereignty and long-term strategic interests.