Press statement by Digital Penang:
PENANG is charting a new path in digital transformation as it transitions from the landmark Digital Transformation Masterplan (DTMP) 1.0 to the forthcoming Digital Economy Masterplan (DEMP 2.0), which will be launched in August this year.
Over the past five years, DTMP 1.0 has served as a comprehensive framework that empowered Penang’s communities, startups, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through various digital adoption and innovation initiatives.
Guided by the pillars of digital governance, digital economy, digital community, and digital infrastructure, DTMP 1.0 was aligned with national blueprints such as MyDigital and National Digital Network (Jendela).
Through this plan, more than 1,500 SMEs participated in programs like the ‘Micro SMEs Level Up Programme’, with many reporting a revenue boost of at least 30%.
Initiatives also included digital workshops and e-commerce onboarding sessions to help businesses stay competitive in a rapidly evolving digital economy.
At the grassroots level, Digital Penang extended its outreach with the establishment of NADI Centres, which served as digital education and training hubs across the state.
In 2024 alone, over 3,500 community members attended 166 digital classes, facilitated by 372 volunteers and 15 non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
These programmes equipped participants with essential digital marketing skills and tools to increase their reach and impact.
The startup ecosystem, meanwhile, experienced unprecedented growth. The number of active startups in Penang grew to 200 in 2024, doubling since 2022.
Programmes tailored for pre-seed to Series A startups unlocked nearly RM6.6 million in funding and investments, more than RM1 million in startup technology commercialisation revenue.
Several Penang-based startups also gained international recognition, breaking into regional markets such as Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand.
Startups like ADA Biotech Sdn Bhd broke ground by being the first Malaysian startup recognised for Techsauce Innovation Award 2024 at the Techsauce Conference in Bangkok, Thailand.
Meanwhile, Spacein Sdn Bhd, a spacetech company has received numerous recognitions locally and internationally.
The upcoming Digital Economy Masterplan (DEMP 2025-2030) will build on the successes of its predecessor and introduce forward-looking strategies focused on hardtech, deeptech, artificial intelligence (AI), environmental, social, and governance (ESG) & sustainability, and cross-border collaboration for market access.
Expected to be unveiled on August 9 this year at the Penang Digital Economy Summit at G Hotel Gurney, DEMP 2025-2030 aims to transform Penang into a regional tech startup hub that prioritises local company growth and economic resilience.
The registration to the summit is now open for the public to attend the various breakout sessions and provide opportunities for Penangites to learn more of what’s in store for them in terms of initiatives driven by federal, state and private sectors to build the next generation of the digital economy for the state of Penang as it transitions out from its manufacturing dependency.
Digital Penang’s commitment to building a digitally empowered society remains steadfast, as it looks to deepen public-private partnerships and broaden access to international markets, digital tools and talent development opportunities across all sectors.
To explore more, visit www.digitalpenang.my or contact [email protected].
Digital Penang is a government-linked company owned by the Penang government, which began operations in April 2020 to accelerate efforts to capture opportunities in the digital economy and promote a digitally engaged society.