Malaysia's minister for science, technology and innovation has revealed planned changes to funding for information and communication technology research and development. According to the proposed changes, grant recipients would have to pay back their grants if their research is commercially successful, and to share intellectual property rights with the government.

An association of technological entrepreneurs says its members would be happy to repay grants, but that sharing ownership of intellectual property would be impractical and could result in their innovations being licensed to competitors.

The Multimedia Development Corporation (MDC), which administers grants, has been gathering feedback on the proposed changes. Entrepreneurs say that not enough information has been made available about the changes or why they are being proposed, and are calling for greater consultation. The MDC has delayed decisions on ten grants and researchers worry this could mean the grants have been frozen while funding rules are restructured.

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