MALAYSIA is accelerating its ambitions to become a regional space technology leader with the official establishment of the SpaceTech Malaysia Association (SMA).
The association which held its inaugural Annual General Meeting (AGM) this week is the nation’s leading industry-led organisation dedicated to advancing Malaysia’s space economy through strategic alignment with national government initiatives.
SMA’s formation marks a pivotal milestone in Malaysia’s space journey by bringing together space industry players, academia and research institutions, government ministries and agencies as well as both foreign and domestic investors (FDI & DDI) under a unified strategy to build space talent, accelerate technology development, attract investment and enhance national capabilities.
Originally seeded as the PIKOM SpaceTech Chapter in 2021 under the presidency of Datuk Dr Sean Seah Kok Wah, SMA has evolved from a discussion platform into a registered national entity operating at the intersection of industry, academia, government and international cooperation.
Formally registered under the Societies Act in 2023, SMA acknowledges PIKOM’s key role in incubating the early foundation of Malaysia’s space tech community and providing the institutional support that allowed the ecosystem to take root, expand and grow.
“Space is no longer just about exploration – it is an economic and national security imperative,” enthused Seah.
‘Malaysia must act decisively to shape its future in the space economy. SMA will work closely with our members, local and global Space ecosystem players and the government to drive this agenda, thus ensuring our nation secures its place in the global space sector.”
National priority
As it is, the Malaysian government has outlined a bold vision through the National Space Policy 2030 and the Malaysia Space Exploration 2030 (MSE2030) framework.
The earmarked areas include:
- Satellite sovereignty & infrastructure development: Expanding domestic satellite capabilities to reduce reliance on foreign networks for communication, navigation and security;
- Aerospace & space tech industry growth: Empowering local companies to build high-value technologies across the space supply chain;
- Space data & national security: Leveraging earth observation and geospatial data for climate resilience, disaster management and defence; and
- Global positioning & collaboration: Enhancing Malaysia’s role in regional and international space diplomacy, AI (artificial intelligence)-driven applications and deep-space exploration.
Moving forward, SMA is poised to be the key industry partner supporting national space objectives with a focus on the following:
- Regulatory reforms: Collaborating with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA) and the Space Regulatory Division of the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry to modernise licensing, spectrum management and commercial space regulations;
- Investment & market growth: Connecting venture capital, government-linked investment arms and global aerospace firms to drive local industry scale-up; and
- Talent & workforce development: Partnering with universities and TVET (technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions to prepare Malaysia’s next generation of space professionals.
Beyond that, SMA will represent Malaysia at key international engagements to elevate national visibility and encourage cross-border partnerships at events such as:
- National Space Camps to inspire young talent through STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education;
- Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2025 (LIMA 2025) (Langkawi, May 20-24) to promote pace as a pillar of maritime-aerospace integration;
- 76th International Astronautical Congress (Sydney, Sept 29- Oct 3) to position Malaysia on the global innovation stage; and
- Asia-Pacific Space Community Council 2025 (APSCC 2025) (Taipei, Nov 4-6) to engage with Asia-Pacific’s satellite and spectrum stakeholders
“These efforts align with Malaysia’s broader goal of becoming a serious contributor to the global space economy which is projected to exceed US$1 tril by 2040,” revealed Seah.
“This is the moment for Malaysia to claim its place in the global space economy. We call on all stakeholders – government, academia and industry – to join us in making this vision a reality.” – March 26, 2025
