KUCHING: Sarawak needs innovative and adaptable individuals who can create value to realise the state’s aspiration of becoming a high-income, digitally driven state by 2030.
Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee said talent development and innovation must go hand in hand, anchored by the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 and supported by the Sarawak Digital Economy Blueprint 2030.
These frameworks, he said, position digitalisation, innovation and talent as key enablers of Sarawak’s future growth.
He said innovation is a critical driver across all three dimensions as it allows better job creation,
builds more resilient industries, enhances public service delivery, and develops solutions that are both economically viable and socially impactful.
“Education today is no longer confined to classrooms alone. It must be connected to industry, real-world challenges and opportunities for commercialisation.
“Our talents must be exposed early to problem-solving, critical thinking, innovation and entrepreneurship, so that they are prepared for the realities of a rapidly evolving digital economy.
“I firmly believe that innovation must be nurtured early, supported consistently and guided towards real economic outcomes,” he said during the SDEC Startup Innovation Showcase 2026 held at TEGAS Digital Village here Monday (Feb 2).
His speech was read by the Ministry’s Head of Innovation Department Dr Cheong Yaw Liang.
On the Digital Village Accelerator (DiVA) and Sarawak SaaS Accelerator (SaSAR) programmes, Dr Annuar said they expose participants to mentors, industry perspectives and ecosystem expectations, helping them mature not only as entrepreneurs, but also as leaders.
“From the Ministry’s perspective, this is critical. These programmes complement formal education by offering practical pathways for innovation, entrepreneurship and lifelong learning.
“DiVA and SaSAR are more than accelerator programmes. They are strategic enablers of Sarawak’s long-term development agenda.
“By supporting early-stage startups, these programmes help build local innovation capacity, encourage technology adoption across sectors, and strengthen commercialisation pathways.
“This contributes directly to PCDS2030’s goals of generating higher-value economic activities and creating quality employment opportunities,” he added.
At the same time, he said SaSAR’s focus on Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and scalable digital solutions aligns strongly with the Sarawak Digital Economy Blueprint’s objective of positioning Sarawak as a regional hub for digital innovation and enterprise solutions.
Through structured mentoring, he said ecosystem engagement and market exposure, founders are better equipped to scale their solutions beyond Sarawak, opening pathways for regional and global market access, while continuing to anchor value creation within the state.
“This approach ensures that Sarawak does not merely consume digital technologies, but actively creates, owns and exports innovation, strengthening our economic resilience and long-term competitiveness,” he added.
