KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 28 (Bernama) -- Celebrating 20 years this year, BioNexus Status remains Malaysia’s key status and platform for growing biotechnology companies, with its enhanced framework building on existing support while responding to the industry’s evolving needs.
A total of 14 companies received their BioNexus Status certificates from Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Chang Lih Kang at a ceremony held in conjunction with the National Innovation and Commercialisation Expo 2026 (NICE 2026) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Thursday (Aug 27).
Awarded by the Malaysian Government through the Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation (Bioeconomy Corporation), an agency under the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry, the status recognises qualified biotechnology companies while providing access to business facilitation, partnerships, technical expertise, market opportunities and investment support.
Since 2006, 378 companies were awarded the BioNexus Status, which have generated RM25.6 billion in revenue, created more than 14,500 jobs and recorded RM8.6 billion in approved investments, of which nearly RM5 billion has been realised.
They have also generated RM9.2 billion in exports to markets including Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, the United States, China, Japan and the Middle East, while 17 have listed holding companies.
Bioeconomy Corporation chief executive officer Mohd Khairul Fidzal Abdul Razak said the enhanced BioNexus Status framework, introduced in July 2025, was designed to respond to evolving industry needs and strengthen alignment with the National Biotechnology Policy 2.0.
“The BioNexus Status now places stronger emphasis on government recognition, business facilitation, ecosystem access, and industry growth. The minimum paid-up capital requirement was also reduced from RM250,000 to RM150,000, a move that facilitates greater access to support and assistance for promising emerging biotechnology companies,” he said.
Mohd Khairul said the corporation’s priority was to build a BioNexus community based on quality, credibility and commercial potential rather than simply increasing the number of participating companies.
“We are not chasing numbers simply to make the BioNexus Status community bigger. Our priority is to identify and support companies with strong innovation, and with strong potential for commercialisation, exports, technology development and national impact.
Through stronger engagement with industry players, investors, universities and research institutions, we want BioNexus Status to become a mark that says: this is a Malaysian company ready to compete with the world.”
Through BioNexus Status, companies can gain access to business matching, market and investment facilitation, strategic partnerships, technical expertise, shared laboratories and research facilities, as well as wider industry and international networks.
Several companies in the latest cohort have already achieved notable milestones. At NICE 2026, Natureceuticals Sdn Bhd was awarded a RM1 million grant under the Dana Pengkomersialan programme to support the development and commercialisation of their product Nuvastatic™, a clinically validated botanical therapeutic derived from Misai Kucing to manage cancer-related fatigue. The product was also officially launched during NICE 2026, witnessed by Datuk Chang Lih Kang.
Global Precision Diagnostics Sdn Bhd has received Malaysia Book of Records recognition for its pharmacogenomics work, while My Cytohealth Sdn Bhd has obtained a Malaysian patent for therapeutic extracellular vesicle technology. Central Corporate Engineering Sdn Bhd has progressed to commercial-scale microalgae production and secured a patent for its Euglena culture device.
The 14 companies operate across areas including precision diagnostics, regenerative medicine, botanical biotechnology, microalgae, fermentation, animal nutrition and functional health, reflecting the diversity of Malaysia’s emerging biotechnology ecosystem.
NICE 2026 also saw the launch of LAMATU™ Controlled-Release Urea, a fertiliser coating designed to regulate nitrogen release by Nanofertech Sdn Bhd.
Chang also presented the BioNexus Partners Lab Award to Pusat Instrumentasi dan Perkhidmatan Sains (PIPS), Universiti Malaysia Sabah, in recognition of its contribution to biotechnology research and development. NICE 2026, themed “Mission to Market: Malaysia to the World”, focuses on moving Malaysian innovation towards commercialisation, investment and global markets.
About Bioeconomy CorporationMalaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation (Bioeconomy Corporation) is Malaysia’s leader in economic development for the biotechnology and bio-based industries, operating under the purview of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.
Bioeconomy Corporation supports businesses, academia, and scientific communities by providing facilitation, advisory, as well as ecosystem development services, covering business, market access, investment, R&D and commercialisation, human capital development, financial assistance, legal and regulatory framework, with government support and commitment.
Its flagship programmes include BioNexus Status, a government-supported recognition awarded to eligible biotechnology companies, providing them with facilitation and support to grow their business. It also offers the Bio-based Accelerator programme to help emerging bio-based companies scale up and commercialise their innovations.
For further details, visit
www.bioeconomycorporation.mySOURCE: Bioeconomy Corporation
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Nur Akmar Yusoff
Senior Executive,
Strategic Communication
Tel: +6012 690 6108
Email: akmar.yusoff@bioeconomycorporation.my
--BERNAMA
