Culture of innovation not just for startups and private sector - PM Najib

The culture of cultivating innovation should not only be a thing of the private sector, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, adding it is also increasingly prevalent in the public sector.

He said the government will continue to stress on nurturing creativity and innovation among Malaysians in an effort to generate new economic avenues and bring the country to greater heights.

“I do not accept that innovation is purely for the startups and the private sector, or for the Steve Jobs and the Elon Musks of this world. Innovation must be implemented for everyone, by everyone," he said.

The Prime Minister said this when opening the Global Entrepreneurship Community (GECommunity) Summit 2017 with the aim of catalysing the growth and development of the global entrepreneurship movement here, Tuesday.

He added that since its introduction in 2009, the National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS) had been a key pillar in national transformation as the government followed what was known as the Blue Ocean Shift process to tackle a wide range of economic and social issues, and rapidly deliver high impact initiatives for the benefit of the people and at low cost to the government.

“In the eight years since its implementation, more than 90 government ministries and agencies are now collaborating to break down bureaucratic silos and develop creative and innovative initiatives to transform the nation.”

Najib said, as far as collaborations and innovations go, they should be more fluid between all the different sectors in the country.

“The new normal will be about getting government institutions and regulators working together with corporates and startups in a collaborative environment.

“We need to keep that momentum of innovation, because I believe we are at the tipping point of a new phase of the digital revolution.

"And I truly believe that public sector innovation in particular will be crucial in this new era,” he said.

The summit is expected to gather over 13,000 local and international entrepreneurs, corporates, investors and policymakers.

Najib also reiterated the importance of the country’s young innovators in carrying out the country's National Transformation 2050 (TN50) initiative over the next three decades.

“It is clear that we have talented young entrepreneurs in abundance, if only we make sure we nurture them so that they can succeed.

"It's imperative that we do so, so that young innovators are at the forefront of carrying forth the country's vision into the next generation,” he said.

The event also saw the inaugural Global Blue Ocean Shift Awards being handed out by Najib to recipients including Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein Onn and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa for their work in implementing the ''blue ocean strategy''.