Taking note of National Innovation Foundation of India's (NIF-India) progress in grassroots innovation, the Malaysian Foundation of Innovation, or Yayasan Inovasi Malayasia (YIM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NIFI on Friday.

The decision was taken with the aim of focussing on grassroots level encouraging individuals to contribute to the pool of innovative talent in the country. Both parties are expected to share resources and expertise to develop specific programmes.

YIM is the entity entrusted by the Malaysian government to promote and inculcate the culture of creativity and innovation among Malaysians while NIFI has been mandated to build a national register of ideas, innovations and traditional knowledge practices related to agriculture, plants, animal health, and human health in India.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the collaboration was signed by Dr Raslan Ahmad, CEO of YIM and Professor Anil Gupta, executivevice-chairperson of NIFI at a ceremony held in Malaysia.

Speaking on the occasion, Ahmad said, "Their success in grassroots innovation is currently being emulated by many other countries, including Malaysia, who will be benefited immensely by this sharing of knowledge by NIFI."

Professor Anil Gupta said that NIFI was pleased to collaborate with YIM. "With the Malaysian government already identifying innovation as the key mechanism, we are more than happy to impart our technical know-how to help Malaysia realise its dream."