Scientific research and discovery are important for a country because they can lead to new technologies, products, and services that can improve the lives of citizens and help the country become more competitive in the global economy. To position Malaysia as a leader in open science and innovation, an open platform for scientific data was created.
Malay Mail reports that the Malaysia Open Science Platform (MOSP) was launched to enhance the country’s innovation capabilities by bridging the gap between research, innovation, and commercialisation. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof highlighted that MOSP would expedite research, foster collaboration, and save resources by avoiding duplication of research projects.
MOSP is an initiative for sharing raw research data, spearheaded by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI). Since 2019, the pilot project has been managed by ASM (Academy of Sciences Malaysia).
Currently, MOSP features ten research fields on the platform, including biological, chemical, and mathematical sciences, physics engineering and material science, agricultural veterinary and food sciences, computer science, information technology and telecommunications, medical and health sciences, climate environment and biodiversity, and energy.
Fadillah emphasised the need for guidelines to ensure safe data sharing and suggested their incorporation into the National Data Sharing Policy. MOSP aims to facilitate collaboration among the research community, academics, and industry players, accelerating commercialisation efforts.
He also expressed confidence that open science would serve as a foundational element in Malaysia’s research and development ecosystem, paving the way for a new future in the country’s research landscape.
