The Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) continues its nationwide outreach with Road to Growth (R2G) 2026 Southern, following the successful conclusion of Road to Growth (R2G) 2026 Sabah in July, reinforcing its commitment to making technology commercialisation opportunities, industry engagement and innovation support more accessible across Malaysia.
Held with the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) as Strategic Ecosystem Partner, R2G 2026 Southern provides businesses with direct access to industry insights, investment and commercialisation pathways, advisory support and potential strategic partners within the state and wider national technology ecosystem.
The programme comes at a significant time for Johor. According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, Johor recorded the highest economic growth among all states in 2025 at 8.0%, with the state’s GDP reaching RM170.9 billion. The state also remained Malaysia’s third-largest contributor to gross domestic product, supported by the services, manufacturing and construction sectors.
Johor’s industrial capabilities and strategic position within the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone are expected to create further opportunities in high-value sectors, including advanced manufacturing, aerospace, medical devices, artificial intelligence and digital services. Realising these opportunities, however, requires technology companies to be commercially ready, connected to industry needs and equipped to access investment and markets.
As Malaysia’s Deep Tech Enabler, MTDC supports the progression of technology companies from development to adoption and scale. Through funding and investment facilitation, business advisory, commercialisation support, capability development and strategic partnerships, MTDC connects technology-based enterprises with the resources and ecosystem relationships required to become more competitive and sustainable. R2G 2026 Southern translates this role into a regional platform through which businesses can engage directly with MTDC and its partners, understand available support and identify practical opportunities for commercialisation, investment and market expansion.
“Johor’s strong industrial base and expanding regional connectivity present significant opportunities for Malaysian technology companies. However, transforming these opportunities into sustainable business growth requires more than promising technology. Companies must also have access to markets, investment, industry partners and the right commercialisation support,” said Ts. Hj. Mohammad Hazani Hj. Hassan, Group Chief Executive Officer of MTDC.
“Through Road to Growth, MTDC is bringing these elements together and connecting businesses with the wider ecosystem needed to progress from technology development towards adoption, commercial success and scale,” he added.
The programme features sharing sessions involving MTDC, IRDA, the Johor State Economic Planning Division (BPEN Johor), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and other ecosystem partners. The sessions examine Johor’s economic and innovation landscape, technology commercialisation, investment opportunities, talent development and strategic partnerships supporting innovation-driven enterprises.
Other programme components include a dedicated MySTI workshop featuring representatives from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), MRANTI, and a MySTI-recognised company. The workshop provides insights into technology validation, the MySTI recognition framework, government procurement opportunities and pathways for locally developed technologies to gain wider market access.
Beyond knowledge-sharing, R2G 2026 Southern enables participants to engage directly with MTDC officers and ecosystem partners on their business requirements and explore potential support in funding and investment facilitation, business advisory, capability development and strategic collaboration.
The Southern edition follows earlier R2G 2026 programmes held in the Central Region and Sabah. Through the series, MTDC is extending access to Malaysia’s technology commercialisation ecosystem while strengthening connections among government, industry, academia, investors and technology companies across the country.
By bringing these stakeholders together at the regional level, MTDC aims to build a thriving ecosystem in which Malaysian technologies can secure the partnerships, investment and market access needed to deliver sustainable economic value.
