Nurturing Young Scientists: Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad and Leave a Nest Malaysia Launch Science Castle Grant 2025

KUALA LUMPUR, 15 May 2025 - Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad (AMB) has returned to collaborate with Leave a Nest Malaysia (LVNSMY) for this year’s Science Castle Grant 2025 - Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad Award. A grant presentation ceremony and kickoff workshop were held on 15 May 2025 at AMB’s manufacturing plant in Bandar Enstek, Negeri Sembilan. 

The collaboration is driven by AMB’s passion in creating shared value and contributing to the well-being of the society. Together with LVNSMY, AMB aims to encourage *¹STEM education by nurturing the future young researcher’s science-based education and innovation. The research themes covering sustainability and environmental innovation, health and well-being, food innovation and technology, etc. AMB together with the students to explore innovative solutions in improving food quality, reducing waste and promoting a sustainable future.

This initiative comes at a timely moment, as recent data shows an encouraging upward trend in STEM enrolment among upper-secondary students. While progress is evident, the national target for STEM participation remains unmet after more than five decades, highlighting the continued importance of initiatives like the Science Castle Grant 2025- Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad Award in sparking interest and engagement in STEM among the younger generation.
The grant presentation ceremony was officiated by representatives from State Education Departments of Sabah and Kelantan, along with Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer of AMB, Mr. Daisaku Wadami, and Managing Director of LVNSMY, Mr. Abdul Hakim Sahidi. In the ceremony, total 10 teams were shortlisted from over 500 submissions across the secondary schools in Malaysia including Sabah and Sarawak. Each of the 10 teams were awarded with RM2,000 Science Castle Grant as their fundamental research fund. 

In addition to the research fund support, the participants will receive guidance from mentors, comprising 10 AMB and LVNSMY researchers through online and in-person sessions over the next five months. Their hard works will be showcased at the international conference, Science Castle Asia 2025 in October 2025. During the kick-off workshop, participants were introduced to LVNSMY and AMB mentors, followed by a sensory evaluation session, 'Can You Taste It?', conducted by Dr. Hadi Akbar Dahlan.

The highlight of this year’s grant will be the recognition of the best research project team, which will represent Malaysia at the prestigious Science Castle World (Tokyo) in December 2025. This will offer students a global platform to showcase their talents and aspiration in STEM. 

For more information about the Science Castle Grant 2025 Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad Award, please visit https://s-castle.com/en/castlegrant_list/amb2025/ or follow Ajinomoto Malaysia’s Facebook page @ Ajinomoto Malaysia and Instagram @myajinomoto.

*¹ STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics