Budget 2025 provides an allocation of RM50 million to expand education related to artificial intelligence (AI) to all educational universities. This is an increase from last year's RM20 million. Universiti Malaya for example will focus on research using AI in medicine to combat deadly diseases such as cancer for example.
Universiti Putra Malaysia will establish the Malaysian Cryptology Technology and Management Center in collaboration with NACSA to pursue quantum computing AI as a preparation to face cyber security threats.
In addition, Universiti Sains Malaysia is exploring semiconductor AI in line with the country's aspirations as a world semiconductor hub through collaboration between Intel and Infineon. In addition, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia is leading the use of AI to perform language translation in an effort to elevate the Malay language as the language of knowledge.
The research and development (R&D) fund was increased to RM600 million under the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI). Lastly, the Malaysia Science Endowment (MSE) Trust Fund is also provided with a RM70 million fund to provide matching grants for private bodies and industry to drive R&D programs.