MDEC calls for PRISMA Grants submissions

• Updated five key programmes in benefit of the creative content industry
• BATIK Digital, DCG PRISMA grants offer up to US$9.8k, US$12.2k respectively

The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) announced that it has updated five key programmes in benefit of the creative contents industry, following the recent launch of the Malaysian Creative Industry Stimulus Package (PRISMA) by the Malaysian Ministry of Communications and Multimedia (KKMM).

The total stimulus package under PRISMA is worth US$21.71 million (RM89.2 million), and is set to ensure the survivability and sustainability of some 9,000 industry players in Malaysia.

PRISMA is a KKMM initiative that focuses on three main strategies which aim to facilitate the financing of digital creative content productions; enabling capacity and skills development of businesses that are operating in this space and providing market access for their intellectual properties (IP).

From the RM89.2 million allocation that KKMM put together for 32 programmes that span across all its agencies, an allocated amount of US$1.7 million (RM7 million) will be used to update and expand five programmes that MDEC has developed to support and transform the digital creative content sector.

These expansions, which will be rolled out in stages from now until June 2021, will focus specifically on the five programmes that MDEC – via its Digital Creative Content unit – has put together to drive forward talent development and provide financial assistance for this sector.

These platforms include:

• Digital Creative Content Market Access and Business Matching (2Ps)
• Digital Content Enterprise Development (EDP)
• Creative Content Streaming
• Digital Content Technology Infrastructure Support (BATIK Digital)
• Digital Content Grant PRISMA (DCG PRISMA)

Aligning with PRIMSA

According to MDEC, the PRISMA initiative is a direct injection towards realising some of the goals of Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint (MyDigital).

This includes producing 200 intellectual properties (IP) - from animation to games – for this sector and achieving 8% annual growth rate for digital content exports as well as attaining a top 20 ranking for Knowledge and Technology under the Global Innovation Index.

“These five MDEC-led programmes are now aligned with PRISMA and updated to ensure that they can continue to meet the growing demands of the digital workforce and keep up with industry trends,” Surina Shukri, chief executive officer of MDEC

Surina added that some of these programmes have been industry mainstay initiatives, and have enabled the flourishing of the country’s animation and digital games sectors. According to a MIDA Insights report, Malaysia’s digital games sector contributed US$100 million in revenue for 2018 and will be experiencing a compound annual growth rate of 10.9% (2018 to 2023).

[RM1 = US$0.243]

“With the support of the Government via PRISMA, the digital creative sector can better manage their operations as they will be properly equipped to deal with the disruption that the pandemic has caused,” Surina added.

The programmes

All five programmes are currently open for Registration of Interest (link here). Currently, one of the programmes – 2Ps – is actively engaging digital content businesses that are working on animation, digital games, interactive media and digital comics.

2Ps creates and facilitates bridging opportunities for creative producers – mainly animation and games development studios as well as those working on visual effects – to connect with content buyers comprising publishers as well as broadcasting and streaming networks from local and international fronts.

This will leverage MDEC’s updated platforms – the Virtual Buyer Flyer and Virtual Business Mission – to learn, engage and purchase Malaysian digital IPs and production services.

EDP on the other hand, focuses on talent development – from fresh graduates up-skilling to workforce re-skilling and even improving industry veteran skill-sets. The goal of this programme is to minimise the skill gaps within the digital creative content industry.

In addition, those keen on learning more about digital streaming, can consider signing up for the Creative Content Streaming Programme.

The other two PRISMA-led programmes – BATIK Digital and DCG PRISMA, are grants and funding support. They are expected to expand the talent development and assistance that EDP and 2Ps are already providing.

For those looking for financial support in the forms of grants or through infrastructure transformation can apply for this through the MDEC programmes under PRISMA. There will three separate closing dates for applications running from April 15 till May 25 2021.

Both grants offer up to RM40,000 and RM50,000 respectively. There will be multiple cycles taking place to ensure there is ample time for interested parties to carry out their due diligence and properly prepare their submissions. Each cycle can only accept 40 applicants, with a total of 200 to 250 slots being made available for both programmes.

Registration for all five programmes are now open. More details about the eligibility and timelines of MDEC’s programmes under PRISMA can be found here, while further information on PRISMA is available here.