Biophysical Society Bulletin | March 2023

Public Affairs

Concerns about this trend vary by community. The Penang Institute reported challenges getting STIE talent into the industry pipeline, with STEM graduates complaining about the lack of careers in STIE industries and low salaries, while em ployers complain of poor soft skills among the graduates (lack of knowledge on specialized duties, lack of experience, poor communication and critical thinking skills). The average start ing salary of STEM graduates is RM3,050/month (US$685/ month), with the poverty line sitting at RM2,208/month (US$500/month). The education system is caught in between. The availability of funds from tuition fees and public agencies is limited to comprehensive skill training for students. Cultur ally, Malaysians, like other Asians, face challenges in transi tioning from a local culture of directive leadership, expressive suppression, memorization, and sensitivity to a work culture that emphasizes self-initiative, outspokenness, and critical thinking. Making these adjustments will be challenging. At the very least, changes from independent activities, institutions working together, and international exchanges may help. In terms of funding—tuition fees and salary—you pay peanuts, you get peanuts. For Malaysia to excel in STIE, research and development ex penditures (currently 1.04% of gross domestic product [GDP]) must be increased as in high-tech nations like China (2.40% of GDP), Germany (3.14% of GDP), the United States (3.45% of GDP), and Singapore (1.89% of GDP). The catch is that 98%

of businesses in Malaysia are small and medium enterprises (SMEs) where research and development is prioritized the lowest. We should implement incentives for STIE through tax deductions or exemptions, institute a focused effort on increasing collaborations and data sharing between govern ment and public-private agencies, and improve diplomacy between top high-tech nations and Malaysia—including international collaborations and increased research mobility and educational opportunities. At present, the Academy of Sciences Malaysia and the Minis try of Science, Technology and Innovation have started i-CON NECT, a platform to bridge academia and industry that can benefit skilled talent and the high-tech production pipeline. The Strategic Research Fund has allocated up to RM15 million (US$3.5 million) for SMEs and start-up companies to bring the foreign research and development culture into Malaysia. In addition, Malaysia has been disbursing matching grants in their effort to have 5,000 start-ups and 5 unicorn start ups by the year 2025. The opportunities to increase STEM interest, education, and retention in STIE workforces are there. My hope is that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will bring more international opportunities for Malaysia as a thriving life sciences industry and research center in Southeast Asia. — Siti Ngalim , BPS Ambassador, Malaysia

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PLATINUM

March 2023

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