Speaking during the Malaysia–Japan Agritech Leaders Dialogue & Recognition Ceremony, the Ambassador positioned Qarbotech’s historic success at SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 as evidence of what sustained collaboration between Malaysia and Japan can achieve.
Hosted jointly by the Embassy of Japan in Malaysia and Leave a Nest Group at the Ambassador’s Residence, the ceremony recognised Qarbotech as the first non-Japanese company to win the Grand Prize at SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026.
The recognition extended beyond celebrating a technological breakthrough. The Embassy of Japan in Malaysia and Leave a Nest officially described Qarbotech as ‘a startup that serves as a bridge between Japan and Malaysia’, acknowledging the company’s role in strengthening bilateral innovation while developing solutions for global agricultural challenges.
A Strong Vote of Confidence from Japan
Addressing founders, researchers, investors and industry leaders, Ambassador Shikata described Qarbotech’s achievement as an important milestone not only for the company but also for Malaysia’s broader innovation ecosystem. “This is more than a trophy. It is a beacon for Malaysian ingenuity and a clear signal that breakthrough ideas from Southeast Asia can shape the future of global agriculture.”
He pointed to Qarbotech’s journey as a demonstration of the value created through long-term partnerships between Malaysia and Japan.
“Qarbotech’s rise is also a testament to the power of partnership. Since winning the TECH PLANTER Malaysia and Asia Final in 2021, Qarbotech has worked hand in hand with Leave a Nest and Japanese collaborators, refining its technology, validating it in the field, and opening doors to new markets. This is what happens when Malaysia and Japan team up. We spot promising ventures early, accelerate their growth, and connect them to the world.”
Qarbotech Emerges as a Symbol of Bilateral Innovation
Founded to help farmers produce more food from existing farmland, Qarbotech has developed QarboGrowTM a proprietary nanocarbon-based biostimulant that enhances photosynthesis, enabling crops to utilise sunlight more efficiently while improving productivity and sustainability.
Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Chor Chee Hoe explained that the company’s inspiration came from witnessing the realities farmers and growers face. Today, QarboGrow™ has been validated across more than 40 crop varieties covering over 8,000 acres of commercial farms. Projects in Indonesia, Japan, Zambia and Pakistan have also demonstrated encouraging productivity gains. The company recently completed a rice-cultivation project in Penang, Malaysia, benefiting nearly 1,000 farmers and generating an estimated US$630,000 in additional net income for participating smallholders.
“QarboGrowTM can help plants develop greater resistance against climate change factors such as heat stress, cloudy skies and drought. We hope that there will be greater opportunities for biostimulant innovations to be accepted as solutions on a wider scale,” said Chor, responding to MALAYSIA SME’s question on how Qarbotech’s innovation could help with the impending El Niño predicament.
Leave a Nest Continues Building Regional Innovation Bridges
Leave a Nest Group highlighted Qarbotech as one of the strongest examples of how long-term ecosystem building can transform scientific research into globally competitive innovation. After winning TECH PLANTER Malaysia and the TECH PLANTER Asia Final in 2021, Qarbotech received mentoring, investment opportunities, technology validation and international partnerships through the Leave a Nest ecosystem.
Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer Dr Yukihiro Maru stressed that agriculture remains fundamental to humanity and expressed confidence that Malaysia has the scientific capability and entrepreneurial talent to become an important innovation hub for Southeast Asia. Leave a Nest’s TECH PLANTER platform has now supported nearly 5,000 startup teams across Asia, with Malaysia serving as the regional headquarters for its Southeast Asian operations.
A Partnership Shaping the Future of Agritech
The event also featured presentations by FlyLab from Thailand and Japan’s ARK Inc., demonstrating complementary technologies that can strengthen regional food systems. Qarbotech’s recognition reflects how sustained collaboration can accelerate scientific innovation, strengthen food security and position Malaysian deep technology on the global stage.
