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MALAYSIA

TECH PLANTER in Malaysia 2026

Discovering and nurturing Deep Tech seeds
and entrepreneurs in Malaysia
ABOUT
Purpose
At universities, research institutes, and corporate laboratories, the "seeds" of science and technology are being born, and it takes a lot of time and effort before they sprout into practical applications. The "TECH PLANTER" organized by Leave a Nest with its partner companies is an ecosystem that aims to discover these seeds and serve as a planter to turn them into businesses. Our program in MALAYSIA aimed at discovering and nurturing Deep Tech seeds and entrepreneurs.
Target
  • Early stage startups and pre-startup researchers’ team or individual in Deep Tech Field
  • Mature startups or SMEs seeking collaborators are also welcome, even if they are close to mass production or PMF establishment.
  • Visionaries that aim to change the world and/or their own country to a better place based on the science and tech based seeds
  • Those who are interested in the Japanese market or collaboration with Japanese corporations.
Categories of the TECH
Manufacturing, robotics, IoT, AI, agri-tech, bio-tech, healthcare, med-tech, food-tech, care-tech, marine-tech, ecotech, and etc.
Application Period
2025/12/1(Mon)-2026/3/13(Fri)
Judging Criteria
A panel of judges consisting of Leave a Nest and its partners will evaluate each of the following items.
  1. 01NOVELTY
  2. 02PRACTICABILITY
  3. 03IMPACT TO
    THE WORLD
  4. 04PASSION
Awards
The Grand Winner: 7,000 MYR & Invitation to Present at TECH PLANTER Asia Final 2026
Leave a Nest Award: Invitation to Present at TECH PLANTER Asia Final 2026
Corporate Awards: 4,000 MYR
SCHEDULE
12/1[MON]

Entry open

Please register from here and fill out the web form to apply.
We also hold information sessions at each university and on an individual to encourage your full registration to tell you how to prepare documents. Please feel free to contact us for more information.

3/13[FRI]

Application deadline & 1st selection

After our closing the application window, a panel of judges consisting of Leave a Nest and its partners will review the applications.
Applicants will be asked to submit information about their team, technology, passion, and future vision via web form.
All applicants will be notified of the results of the screening process and will receive feedback on their applications.
In addition, online individual interviews will be held for those who wish to participate in the presentation review.

4/28[MON]

Announcement of finalists

Selected Finalists will be announced in the middle of May.
For applicants who pass the selection, interviews will be held to brush up their presentations for the final DEMO DAY.
In addition, it is possible to set up interviews with partner companies for the purpose of business consultation and to develop collaboration projects.

5/16[SAT]

TECH PLAN DEMO DAY in Malaysia

The 9 finalist teams that passed our selection will be judged on their presentations.

Jun-

Supporting period

Even after the DEMO DAY, the contact point between teams and Leave a Nest remains open, allowing discussions to develop their business..
We are responding to a wide range of start-up issues, from incorporation to prototype development, financing, and R&D.
In addition, collaboration between teams and partner companies is becoming more popular in this period to support business development.

PARTNER
Global Partners
Local Partners
Strategic Partners
ASSET
  1. ASSET01Leave a Nest Communicator
  2. ASSET02Japanese Partner Companies
  3. ASSET03Local Partners
  4. ASSET04Super Factory Group
SUPPORT
  1. SUPPORT01Organizing the vision your business
  2. SUPPORT02Brushing up your presentation
  3. SUPPORT03Opportunities for collaboration with Japanese corporates
  4. SUPPORT04Support for R&D and prototype development
  5. SUPPORT05Support for Knowledge and IP Strategies
  6. SUPPORT06Investment and support for finance
DEMO DAY
Name of the DEMO DAY
TECH PLANTER in Malaysia 2026
Place
Center of Garage, CoPlace 10, Block 2330, Century Square, Jalan Usahawan, Off, Persiaran Multimedia, 63000, Selangor
Date & Time
2026/5/16 (Sat)09:30-15:00 in Malaysia Time
Application Period
2025/12/1(Mon)-2026/3/13(Fri)
Eligible Participants
Deep Tech Startups and Research Teams
Organizer
Leave a Nest Malaysia
Timeline
@Malaysia Time
09:00～09:30
Registration
09:30～10:00
Opening Ceremony
Opening Remarks : Dr. Izwan Zainol, Leave a Nest Malaysia
Keynote Speech: Mr. James Anthony Tan, Tenaga Alam Sekitar Kita
10:00～10:50
Presentation Round 1: Industrial Digitization & Compliance Infrastructure
3 teams (7 Minutes presentation + 5 Minutes Q&A)
10:50～11:00
Break 10 Minutes
11:00～11:50
Presentation Round 2: Sustainable Ecosystems & Circular Economy
3 teams (7 Minutes presentation + 5 Minutes Q&A)
11:50～12:00
Break 10 Minutes
12:00～12:50
Presentation Round 3: Advanced Biotech & Healthcare
3 teams (7 Minutes presentation + 5 Minutes Q&A)
12:50～13:50
Judging Time
Lunch
Booth Tour
Poster Presentation
13:50～14:30
Partners Presentation
Lightning Talk Presentations
14:30～15:00
Awards Ceremony
15:00～15:15
Closing Remarks : Mr. Abdul Hakim Sahidi, Leave a Nest Malaysia
JUDGE
  • Mr. Abdul Hakim Sahidi
    Chief judge
    Managing Director, Leave a Nest Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.
    Mr. Abdul Hakim Sahidi
    Mr. Abdul Hakim Bin Sahidi is one of the pioneer members of Leave a Nest Malaysia, having joined the company in 2016. Since then, he has played a crucial role in establishing and leading a passionate team in the country. His primary focus lies in business and technological advancements that have the potential to create significant impacts on society. With his extensive experience, Mr. Abdul Hakim has been actively involved in mentoring researchers and startups in both Malaysia and Indonesia. He plays a vital role in bridging them with the right partners, both locally and from Japan, to facilitate collaboration and growth opportunities. Through his efforts, he aims to nurture and cultivate a new generation of technopreneurs in Malaysia, while also supporting the implementation of meaningful technologies that can benefit society as a whole.
  • Mr. Chin Kok Woi
    Head of the New Business Creation Department, Ajinomoto Malaysia Berhad
    Mr. Chin Kok Woi
    Chin Kok Woi holds a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology (Honours) from Universiti Putra Malaysia. He joined Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad in 2005 as a Food Development & Application Executive, supporting product development and regional technical activities. He subsequently advanced into key leadership roles, including Head of the Food Development & Application Department and Technical Sales Advisor for the Industrial Business Division. He currently serves as Head of the New Business Creation Department, overseeing strategic initiatives and driving new growth opportunities for the organization.


  • Dr. Khairul Hafiz Sharkawi
    Head of Research and Product Development Department, Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation Berhad (SDEC)
    Dr. Khairul Hafiz Sharkawi
    Dr. Khairul Hafiz Sharkawi earned his Ph.D. in Geoinformatics (GIS) from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), specialising in 3D GIS. Currently serving as the Head of Research and Product Development at Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) Berhad, he leads initiatives focused on developing impactful digital technologies and fostering collaborations between government, academia, and industry to strengthen Sarawak’s digital ecosystem and innovation landscape.
  • Ts. Dr. Hassan Mohamed
    Senior Manager (Corporate Ventures), Tenaga Nasional Berhad
    Ts. Dr. Hassan Mohamed
    Ts. Dr. Hassan Mohamed is a distinguished engineering leader currently serving as Senior Manager at Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), where he oversees innovation and technology commercialization initiatives while exploring strategic partnerships with local and international innovation ecosystems to accelerate growth and value creation. Previously, he served as Principal Researcher at Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN), leading energy-related research, pilot, and demonstration projects. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and later obtained a PhD in Engineering, specializing in nuclear energy, from University of Cambridge. His expertise spans advanced energy systems, nuclear engineering, energy transition, and sustainable technologies, with a strong track record in driving innovation, research excellence, and industry collaboration within the energy sector.
  • Mr. Andy Othman
    Country General Manager, Plug and Play Malaysia
    Mr. Andy Othman
    Andy Othman is the Country General Manager for Malaysia at Plug and Play, a leading global innovation platform and early-stage investor. Dedicated to driving corporate innovation and nurturing startup ecosystems, Andy bridges local talent with global opportunities, empowering Malaysia's next generation of tech entrepreneurs to scale worldwide.
  • Ms. Shiori Yamashita
    Manager of D-LAB, Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Ms. Shiori Yamashita
    Shiori Yamashita is the Manager of D-LAB, Japan Tobacco. She is primarily responsible for new business development based on “Delightful Moment”. JT and D-LAB is not limited to a sector, but respects the “Delightful Moment” all over the world, and they think about what we can do for the moment every day. She is looking for people who can create the “Delightful Moment” with amazing technologies and knowledges together. She graduated from University of East Anglia (UK) with a bachelor in business management.
  • Mr. Daiki Kumamoto
    Executive Director, UntroD Capital Asia Pte. Ltd.
    Mr. Daiki Kumamoto
    Daiki Kumamoto joined UntroD Capital Japan in 2019 as its first new graduate hire. He played a key role in launching the Real Tech Global Fund in 2020, focusing on deep-tech investments across Southeast Asia, and is currently in charge of Real Tech’s second Global Fund. Daiki has led cross-border investments and supported portfolio companies in scaling regionally and entering the Japanese market. In 2023, he was appointed Director of UntroD Capital Asia, where he oversees the firm’s regional strategy and operations.
  • Mr. Norio Asahara
    Regional R&D Director, Ezaki Glico Company, Limited
    Mr. Norio Asahara
    Mr. Asahara is the Director of Research and Development at Glico Asia Pacific, where he leads new business initiatives across the region. Representing a company whose portfolio spans confectionery, ice cream, beverages, dairy, processed foods, and infant milk formula, he is seeking research partners and exploring opportunities for technical collaboration, investment, and ingredient sourcing to drive innovation and expand Glico’s presence in the Asia Pacific market.
  • Mr. Yusaku Okazaki
    Representative Director and President, Futaba Denki Co., Ltd.
    Mr. Yusaku Okazaki
    He graduated from Berkeley College in New York in 2015, majoring in International Business and Management. After returning to Japan, he joined the head office of Hitachi, Ltd., where he was responsible for major food manufacturing companies. In this role, he engaged in the sales of mission-critical business systems, production management systems, power receiving and distribution facilities, cogeneration systems, and control systems such as DCS. He later joined Futaba Denki, a specialized partner of Hitachi and the Hitachi Group. Today, he leads the company’s efforts to create higher value through engineering capabilities, digital transformation, AI utilization, automation, and energy-efficient solutions. Through TECH PLANTER in Malaysia, he looks forward to supporting deep tech startups and researchers by sharing practical insights from Japanese industry and business development.
FINALIST
  • Futaba Denki Award
    Innoveam Sdn. Bhd.
    Ms. Nur Anis Azmi
    Collaveo is a modular 3D DataOps platform that turns fragmented industrial data into shared operational understanding for faster, safer decisions in asset-heavy and complex environments.

    Theme:
    Collaveo is a modular 3D DataOps platform that turns fragmented industrial data into shared operational understanding for faster, safer decisions in asset-heavy and complex environments.

  • SDEC Award & Leave a Nest Award
    ALT Synergy Sdn Bhd
    Mr. Nash Mohamad
    Product Lifecycle Platform for Regulated Products solving cross border regulatory fragmentation

    Theme:
    Product Lifecycle Platform for Regulated Products solving cross border regulatory fragmentation

  • Grand Winner & Special Award
    Terrasense
    Mr. Muhammd Najmi bin Mohd Sa'ad
    Optical-based ground monitoring system

    Theme:
    Optical-based ground monitoring system

  •  
    Materials In Works
    Mr. John Ooi Chong Sen
    Recovered Cellulose Pulp (RCP) Upcycling Technology for Circular Label Waste

    Theme:
    Recovered Cellulose Pulp (RCP) Upcycling Technology for Circular Label Waste

  •  
    Rich Trees Consultancy Sdn. Bhd.
    Mr. Nik Aidi Nik Abdul Adel
    AI platform for real-time tree health, safety, and carbon monitoring at scale

    Theme:
    AI platform for real-time tree health, safety, and carbon monitoring at scale

  •  
    Waste2Watt Labs
    Dr. Muhammad Arshad bin Mohamed Amin
    Integrated MFC converts poultry waste into energy and biofertiliser, reducing cost and pollution.

    Theme:
    Integrated MFC converts poultry waste into energy and biofertiliser, reducing cost and pollution.

  • Ajinomoto Award
    Engkala BioInnovators
    Dr. Siti Zaleha binti Raduan
    Innovative Engkala Functional Drink Platform for Wellness and Hydration

    Theme:
    Innovative Engkala Functional Drink Platform for Wellness and Hydration

  • JT Award
    GohLab
    Dr. Goh Hoe Han
    GlutenDeTox - Tackling global gluten sensitivity

    Theme:
    GlutenDeTox - Tackling global gluten sensitivity

  • UntroD Award
    TML LAB Sdn. Bhd.
    Ts. Dr. Hajar Fauzan Ahmad
    Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) for gut microbiome profiling.

    Theme:
    Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) for gut microbiome profiling.

LIGHTNING TALK
Team Theme Representative
Einstronic Sprout Technology – Simplifying hardware and IoT learning barriers Mr. Lawrence Chau
Reclimate Sdn. Bhd. Biochar Production & Carbon Removal Platform. Agricultural biomass waste Ms. Gloria Jane Edmund
Microbiome AI-Enabled Gut Microbiome Platform – Lack of Personalized Gut Health Insights Mr. Isaac Tan
Pretech Global Plant Prebiotic Ts. Dr. Noormazlinah Ahmad
Enygma Technologies Sdn. Bhd. AI in inspection, monitoring, surveillance, and asset integrity Mr. Rashad Tajuddin
NEWS
【実施報告】TECH PLAN Demo Day in Malaysia 2026：Terrasenseが最優秀賞を受賞
2026/05/20 【実施報告】TECH PLAN Demo Day in Malaysia 2026：Terrasenseが最優秀賞を受賞
  • Malaysia
Deep Tech Breakthroughs: Terrasense Crowned as Grand Winner at TECH PLAN Demo Day in Malaysia 2026
2026/05/18 Deep Tech Breakthroughs: Terrasense Crowned as Grand Winner at TECH PLAN Demo Day in Malaysia 2026
  • Malaysia
Announces Partners and Esteemed Panel of Judges for Upcoming TECH PLANTER Malaysia 2026 Demo Day
2026/05/15 Announces Partners and Esteemed Panel of Judges for Upcoming TECH PLANTER Malaysia 2026 Demo Day
  • Malaysia
TECH PLANTER Malaysia 2026 to Showcase Malaysia’s Emerging Deep-Tech Innovators on 16 May 2026
2026/05/15 TECH PLANTER Malaysia 2026 to Showcase Malaysia’s Emerging Deep-Tech Innovators on 16 May 2026
  • Malaysia
  • ニュース
MALAYSIA5/16
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