Pandemic-assisted digitisation as well as social distancing becoming the new normal going forward, has cast a global spotlight on the global unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or drone market. The market for drone revenue is expected to double to US$17.9 billion in 2025 in Asia alone.

Greater Kuala Lumpur (KL) is currently in the pole position to take the lion’s share of Asia Pacific revenues, banking on its pool of homegrown drone solutions and talents, targeted industry incentives, and supportive regulation and sandboxes for drone testing and pilot training for different scenarios.

The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) is intensifying drone development via discussions with the Transport Ministry, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation, Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia.

As of April 2022, 25 DroneTech applications had been approved through the National Technology and Innovation Sandbox (NTIS). All companies received financing for commercialisation, regulatory assistance and market development in the agriculture, forestry, smart cities and transportation sectors.

By 2030, Malaysia expects the local drone industry to create up to 100,000 jobs and contribute RM50 billion to GDP.