Where Innovation Meets Impact: ITEX 2025 Opens in Kuala Lumpur

Advancing Malaysia’s High-Tech Future with “The Power of STEAM and AI” and Celebrating Changemakers with the MOSTI Patron Award

The 36th International Invention, Innovation & Technology Exhibition (ITEX 2025), Asia’s Leading Invention, Innovation, Technology Competition & Exhibition, opens from 29 – 30 May at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

From left: Dato' Vengadasalam Letchumi Kandan, Trustee of Yayasan Reka Cipta, Academician Tan Sri Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr. Augustine S.H. Ong, President of the Malaysian Invention and Design Society (MINDS) and Joint Organiser of ITEX, Datuk Ts. Dr. Mohd Nor Azman Hassan, Deputy Secretary General (Technology Development) of  Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Dato’ Vincent Lim, President of C.I.S, Dato Sri Dr. Abdul Khani Daud, Chairman of C.I.S

With the theme “The Power of STEAM and AI”, the two-day event showcases how Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, and Artificial Intelligence are converging to shape a smarter, more connected future.

This year’s edition features close to 900 innovations from 15 countries and regions across 15 classifications—including AI, agriculture, automation, biotechnology, medical technology, and more. Notably, over 80% of these innovations are ready for commercialisation, reflecting Malaysia's growing strength in commercialising homegrown technology.

It is held in conjunction is the World Young Inventors Exhibition (WYIE), which includes the Asian Young Inventors Exhibition (AYIE) and the Malaysian Young Inventors Exhibition (MYIE). With 141 teams from 53 Malaysian schools from 11 states and territories, and over 200 international teams from 11 countries and regions, WYIE is a powerful platform for nurturing future-ready mindsets, encouraging young talents to apply invention in real-world contexts.

ITEX 2025 is more than a showcase—it is a strategic platform for startups, corporates, and research institutions to gain exposure, pitch to investors, and build partnerships. It supports the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation’s (MOSTI) ambition to position Malaysia as a regional venture capital hub by 2030.

Representing Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), YB Tuan Chang Lih Kang, Datuk Ts. Dr. Mohd Nor Azman Hassan, Deputy Secretary General (Technology Development) officiated the opening ceremony and emphasised ITEX 2025’s alignment with national innovation strategies, including MOSTI’s broader commercialisation agenda.

“Our goal is to drive Malaysia towards becoming a high-tech, innovation-driven nation. To this end, we are accelerating efforts in innovation commercialisation. One such initiative is the MySTI certification framework, a strategic tool developed by MOSTI to elevate high-impact innovations. MySTI recognises R&D outputs and lists them in the national innovation inventory. Crucially, it prioritises them in government procurement—ensuring that Malaysian-developed technologies are not just recognised, but adopted and scaled,” said Datuk Ts. Dr. Mohd Nor Azman.

“ITEX aligns strongly with the National Social Innovation Policy (DIS) 2025–2030, goals and embodies its key thrusts: it nurtures local talent and creativity by offering inventors a global stage to showcasetheir solutions; it bridges collaboration among innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs and investors—supporting a holistic social innovation ecosystem; and it turns ideas into impact—supporting the financing and value generation of socially driven innovations,” he added.

ITEX 2025 directly supports the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (NSTIP) 2021–2030 by promoting the development and commercialisation of local technologies, a key step towards Malaysia’s goal of becoming a high-tech nation by 2030.

The event also aligns with the DIS 2025–2030 by fostering inclusive innovation that addresses socioeconomic challenges, thereby enhancing community well-being through science and technology.

Academician Tan Sri Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr. Augustine S.H. Ong, President of the Malaysian Invention and Design Society (MINDS) and Joint Organiser of ITEX, remarked: “This year’s theme—The Power of STEAM and AI—carries a powerful meaning. When Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, and Artificial Intelligence come together, they unlock new dimensions of creativity, insight, and problem-solving. AI is not just a tool of tomorrow—it’s already reshaping our world, from education and healthcare to agriculture and beyond.”

A key highlight of ITEX 2025 will be the presentation of the MOSTI Patron Award, one of the event’s highest honours. This prestigious award recognises inventors whose contributions to science, technology, and innovation have made a measurable impact on society.

Beyond recognition, the award also supports the development of an innovation ecosystem—bringing together academia, industry, government, and society to exchange knowledge, foster collaboration, and drive meaningful change.

“To honour the contributions of innovators who have brought meaningful change, we look forward to presenting the MOSTI Patron Award—a recognition of outstanding innovation that benefits society,” concluded Datuk Ts. Dr. Mohd Nor Azman.

Additional highlights include:

• TechTalk: Industry leaders share insights current and emerging technologies.

• Meet the Investors Programme: Live pitching sessions that connect inventors with investors and funding partners.

As ITEX 2025 gets underway, visitors and participants can expect a dynamic atmosphere filled with opportunity, collaboration, and the exchange of bold ideas—driving Malaysia’s trajectory as a regional high-tech innovation hub.

For more information and to register to visit, please log on to www.itex.com.my