Dr. Zaidi Razak, GM of SMA handing over the mock key to Abang Johari (third right) to symbolically launch the SMA-Tegas Digital Innovation Hub Miri, witnessed by Tegas Chairman, Len Talip.
MIRI, 15 February 2020 – The Right Honourable Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Johari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg launched the SMA-TEGAS Digital Innovation Hub (DIH) at Miri Times Square @ Marina ParkCity today.
The DIH serves as an inclusive platform to support and empower early-stage startups and social enterprises in Sarawak. Funded by Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) and managed by Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Sarawak (TEGAS), the DIH offers access to affordable co-working spaces, incubation and acceleration programmes as well as access to Sarawak Digital Village Ecosystem network.
“The launch of the DIH by The Right Honourable Chief Minister of Sarawak proves that the government is serious about developing talents and promoting Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Sarawak. Our mission is to support and empower early-stage startups and social enterprises, as well as build an inclusive innovation entrepreneurship ecosystem in Sarawak. This initiative is in line with the Chief Minister’s agenda to increase the number of successful technopreneurs and subsequently drive the state’s digital economy,” said TEGAS Chairman, Datu Haji Len Talif Salleh, who is Assistant Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment.
Under the Sarawak Digital Economy Strategy 2018-2022 (Digital Innovation & Entrepreneurship: Action 37), the State Government through SMA will establish one innovation centre in each division and facilitate others (with private sectors, universities and communities).
“The launching of DIH in Miri, as part of the wider Sarawak Digital Village Ecosystem, will be the focal point of entrepreneurial activity in Miri town, and as a prime component of the state’s ecosystem. DIH Miri is one of the five currently available DIH across Sarawak (2 in Kuching, 1 each in Sarikei, Bintulu and Miri) that was established and funded by SMA in partnership with TEGAS as its operator. The Digital Village in Samajaya will be completed by year end and it will be the graduation ground for high-potential early stage start-ups coming out of the regional DIHs. These technopreneurs will be the pride of Sarawak and the nation,” says Dr. Zaidi Razak, General Manager of SMA.
Several programmes to accelerate the growth of early-stage startups at DIH include TEGAS Pre-Accelerator Bootcamp, TEGAS Startup Lab and Sarawak Shell LiveWIRE. The hub’s facilities and benefits include a co-working space, high speed internet, discussion rooms, knowledge sharing and capacity development programmes as well as access to Sarawak Digital Village Ecosystem Network.
The launching of the Hub coincides with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) exchange between SMA and two corporations. The first exchange was between SMA, represented by Dr Zaidi Razak and Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC), represented by its Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Norhalim Yunus. This collaboration between SMA and MTDC dwells on entrepreneur capacity building programmes in Sarawak. The programme known as Road2Growth will begin in April 2020. The other MoU exchange was between SMA, and Yayasan Pesona, represented by Datuk Aznil Bin Haji Nawawi. This MoU focuses on talent development programs for the people of Sarawak.
Additionally, TEGAS also signed five new strategic partners, namely GRAB, Curtin University Malaysia, pitchIN, FutureLab and CentaCube. These strategic partners support the #InnovateSarawak campaign that focuses on promoting digital innovation and entrepreneurship in Sarawak.