The Mahathir Science Award Foundation (MSAF) was established on 11 June 2010.
Mission:
To promote scientific research in solving tropical problems, international exchange programmes and sharing of knowledge.
Objectives:
- To bestow on scientists, institutions or organisations worldwide in recognition of contributions and innovations towards solving problems of the tropics through science and technology; to confer the award to researchers who have made internationally recognised breakthroughs in pioneering tropical research and who have contributed cutting edge tropical research that have brought impact on the well-being of society in the fields of Tropical Agriculture, Tropical Architecture and Engineering, Tropical Medicine and Tropical Natural Resources.
- To uplift the stature of the science award to be as one of the prominent international science award, and to oversee the selection process for such a science award.
- To encourage excellence in tropical science research that will accord direct benefits to countries in the tropics and the global community; to contribute towards scientific tropical research that will benefit mankind, promote international exchange programmes, sharing of knowledge, and other business development through scientific activities in connection with the foregoing objectives.