Kuala lumpur: The BioAgrotech and BioPharmaceutical Career and Entrepreneurship Programme 2.0 (BeST 2.0) will be expanded into new biotechnology-related subsectors, including artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and green energy technology, to ensure training modules remain aligned with industry needs.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Bioeconomy Corp chairman Datuk Dr Lee Boon Chye stated that the expansion will be accompanied by databases and monitoring of industry trends to deliver more focused training modules. He emphasized that BeST 2.0 graduates will remain relevant to biotechnology and bio-based industries, while also being prepared for emerging technologies that will drive the nation’s bioeconomy. He made these remarks at the BeST 2.0 Participants and Industry Players Appreciation Ceremony.
Launched in 2021, the programme has trained 561 graduates, surpassing its initial target of 400 under the 12th Malaysia Plan. Of these graduates, 91 percent secured jobs in 92 biotechnology and bio-based companies. Additionally, more than 200 companies have registered as hosts, providing 1,900 opportunities.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang, who attended the event, noted that the achievements underscore BeST 2.0’s role in building Malaysia’s science, technology, and innovation (STI) talent pool. He stated that the success of BeST 2.0 demonstrates Malaysia’s ability to produce an STI workforce that aligns with industry needs and contributes to the growth of biotechnology and the bioeconomy. Since the introduction of BeST 1.0 in 2007, over 3,000 graduates have completed the programme.
BeST 2.0 has also fostered entrepreneurship, with 19 participants pursuing the entrepreneurial pathway through the Bioentrepreneurship Graduate Accelerator (BioeGAP). This year, 80 graduates are targeted for industry placements, with 91 already undergoing training across 37 host companies. Nine participants are pursuing entrepreneurship with buy-back support from host firms.
Additionally, Lee announced that the Biokerjaya portal, launched in 2023, will be strengthened as the main job-matching platform, with support from closer ties with the industry, universities, and TVET institutions. Micro-credential programmes will also be enhanced to align with industry requirements.
Bioeconomy Corp, established in 2005, serves as the lead economic development agency for Malaysia’s biotechnology and bio-based industries. It operates under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) and is wholly owned by the Minister of Finance Incorporated (MoF Inc) and the Federal Lands Commissioner.