Dr. Wan Raihana Wan Aasim is an innovation funding leader with extensive experience supporting technology-based companies from early-stage development through commercialisation and scale-up. As Vice President I and Head of the Developmental Fund Management Department at MTDC, she oversees more than RM200 million across national funding programmes supporting over 150 active companies, including deep technology ventures and technology-driven manufacturers.

Her work spans the entire funding lifecycle, giving her practical insight into what makes technology ventures fundable and investment-ready. She works closely with founders, technical experts and public-sector stakeholders to address the financing, commercial and execution gaps that often constrain capital raising, manufacturing scale-up and market expansion.

Dr. Wan Raihana also leads the development of the National Technology Sovereignty Framework for the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. The framework is intended to identify and prioritise technologies of strategic national importance, guide investment and capability-building decisions, and strengthen Malaysia’s resilience, competitiveness and technological sovereignty.

With more than a decade of experience in technology transfer, innovation funding and commercialisation, she is a Registered Technology Transfer Professional, Certified HRD Corp Trainer and Certified Master Performance Coach. She is frequently invited to speak and train on innovation strategy, funding and commercialisation, and serves as an evaluator for several national research and grant schemes.

She holds a PhD in Pharmacology and a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Universiti Sains Malaysia, as well as an MBA in Technology Management from The Open University, United Kingdom. She also serves as Vice President of the Innovation and Technology Managers Association Malaysia. Her early career in neuroscience research continues to inform her evidence-based approach to connecting science, capital and commercial execution.