Malaysia is placing greater focus on turning research and innovation into commercially viable products and services. This is the main objective of the National Innovation and Commercialisation Expo (NICE) 2026, which is taking place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) from 26 to 28 August 2026.
Organised by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) through the Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology and Innovation (MRANTI), NICE 2026 carries the theme “From Mission to Market. Malaysia to the World.” The three-day event brings together researchers, startups, investors, academia and government agencies, with the aim of strengthening Malaysia's innovation ecosystem and helping locally developed technologies reach global markets.
Bridging Malaysia's innovation gap
One of the key challenges NICE 2026 aims to address is the so-called “Valley of Death”. It is a term used to describe the difficulty of moving promising research and prototypes towards commercialisation due to financial, technical or market access constraints.
As a result, NICE 2026 is more than just an exhibition for showcasing innovations. It also features networking, funding, collaboration and knowledge-sharing opportunities, connecting innovators with organisations that can help bring their technologies to market.
More than 180 exhibitors are taking part in NICE 2026, alongside over 70 industry experts and prominent figures. Presentation sessions and business matching activities are also being held to create new commercial opportunities.
In his keynote speech, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim called for closer collaboration between government agencies, universities, government-linked companies and the private sector to strengthen Malaysia's research and commercialisation efforts. He also urged the country to move faster in rapidly advancing fields such as AI and quantum computing, while remaining grounded in human values and, more importantly, ensuring that technological progress benefits Malaysians.
Generating economic value from Malaysia's R&D sector
The focus on generating commercial value from Malaysia's R&D sector builds on the Malaysia Commercialisation Year (MCY) initiative. Between 2016 and 2025, MCY helped commercialise more than 761 innovations, generating over RM1.13 billion in commercial value.
Meanwhile, the National Technology and Innovation Sandbox (NTIS), led by MOSTI, has helped develop, test and commercialise 101 products and technologies, with a reported commercialisation value of approximately RM171.8 million.
One of the programmes held during NICE 2026 is the MCY Awards 2025. Materials In Works Malaysia Sdn Bhd was named the overall winner for its Recovered Cellulose Pulp (RCP) innovation, which converts label-cleaner waste into a material that can be used for packaging. The company took home RM100,000 in cash and a trophy.
Bateriku at NICE 2026
Among the more than 180 exhibitors at NICE 2026 is Bateriku, which is showcasing its technology-driven digital ecosystem for roadside assistance.
The platform connects car owners and motorcyclists with services such as battery replacement and other roadside assistance solutions through a single platform. Beyond convenience, Bateriku's participation demonstrates how technology can be applied to address real-world problems while creating a service ecosystem that can be scaled more easily.
Bateriku's participation in NICE 2026 supports the expo's objective of moving Malaysian innovation and technology from “mission to market”, while demonstrating how locally developed solutions can be scaled to address problems beyond Malaysia.
