The Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) has agreed to invest in Oncode Scientific, a local deep-tech company specialising in molecular diagnostics and precision medicine.
The size of the funding remains undisclosed.
Established in 2015, Oncode has developed core expertise in next-generation sequencing (NGS), bioinformatics, and precision diagnostics–all critical pillars for personalised, data-driven healthcare.
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The MTDC investment will empower Oncode to pursue several key initiatives:
- Expand molecular diagnostics labs in Malaysian hospitals.
- Advance AI-powered biosensors for the early detection of cancer and immunological disorders.
- Launch new point-of-care diagnostic kits specifically tailored to Malaysia’s genetic diversity.
These initiatives are aligned with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation’s (MOSTI) MyGenom Project, which aims to sequence 10,000 Malaysian genomes, and the NTIS Health Tech Hub, where five public hospitals are designated as testbeds for emerging medical technologies.
The investment also strategically positions Oncode for regional growth across Singapore, Hong Kong, and Indonesia, with plans for joint ventures to deploy diagnostics labs and co-develop biosensing platforms for both regional and global markets.
This collaboration directly supports MOSTI’s ambition to position Malaysia as a regional healthtech innovation hub by 2030. It is also firmly aligned with several national frameworks, including:
- The National Policy on Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTIN) 2021–2030, which targets raising Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) to 2.5 per cent of GDP, with 70 per cent originating from the private sector.
- The Malaysia Startup Ecosystem Roadmap (SUPER) 2021–2030, aiming for the creation of 500 local startups by 2030.
- The National Biotechnology Policy (NBP) 2.0, which targets a biotechnology GDP contribution of 5 per cent and the creation of 80,000 high-income jobs.
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Established in March 1992, MTDC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional Berhad, focussed on technology investments, capacity development, and advisory services for SMEs.
As of 2025, MTDC’s track record includes:
- Supporting over 850 tech companies.
- Generating RM8 billion in ecosystem revenue. (Note: Conversion of
- Malaysian Ringgit (RM) to US Dollars is not possible as exchange rates are not provided in the source material.)
- Achieving RM1 billion in exports from deep-tech firms.
- Facilitating 18 IPOs.
- More than 700 intellectual property filings by MTDC’s ecosystem companies.
- Approving 84 NTIS projects across medtech, robotics, and clean energy.
- Training 21,800 professionals through its Technopreneur Training Academy (TENTRA).
“Malaysia’s technology ambitions will fall short without qualified talent and trust in local capabilities. That’s why we’ve been deliberate in building deep-tech capacity, from lab to leadership. Our innovators must be equipped not just with technical skills, but with the confidence to solve complex national challenges,” said Ts. Hj. Mohammad Hazani Hj. Hassan, Group Chief Executive Officer of MTDC.
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