PUTRAJAYA, NanoMalaysia Bhd (NMB), an agency under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with three companies to explore converting agricultural waste into cellulose nanofibers for use in advanced industrial applications.
The MoU was signed with SEED Tech Sdn Bhd (STSB), XMU Jiageng Education Development Sdn Bhd (XMU), and China-based Henan Yujian Building Renovation Technology Co Ltd (YJ).
MOSTI Minister Chang Lih Kang said the agreement reflects a shared goal of promoting sustainable innovation across Asia, using science and technology to drive both economic growth and environmental protection.
“Malaysia produces around 168,000 tonnes of agricultural waste every day, yet less than 10% is reused in industrial applications. This partnership taps into a major economic opportunity by turning waste into valuable resources, in line with our Bioeconomy Blueprint and Advanced Materials Technology Roadmap,” he said.
The MoU was signed by NMB’s COO Mohamad Hafiz Zokipli, STSB director Zhang Liang, XMU vice-president Prof Zhang Ying, and YJ general manager Sun Lili.
Chang added that Malaysia aims to raise its gross expenditure on research and development (GERD) to 2.5% of GDP by 2030, from the current 1.04%. He emphasized that public-private and international partnerships like this are vital to reaching that goal.
He said the collaboration paves the way for commercialization through licensing, intellectual property creation, talent exchange, joint ventures, and product development across Malaysia, China, and the Asia-Pacific region.
“This effort supports Malaysia’s shift from a resource-based economy to one led by knowledge and innovation, in line with the Malaysia MADANI Government’s sustainability pillar and the National Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030),” he said.
In a statement, MOSTI said the partnership will help bring nanotechnology from lab to market, with applications in construction, automotive, and engineering sectors.
Using nanofibers as additives in materials such as polymer composites and rubber can improve fracture resistance by 1–10%, while their use as binders can boost structural strength by up to 30%, potentially cutting material costs by as much as 50%.
The collaboration combines the research strengths and industry experience of all four parties to deliver high-impact results for Malaysia and the region.
