This book analyses the development of the medical device industry in Malaysia, focusing on its industrial structure, regulatory environment, trade performance, and position within global value chains. It examines how the industry evolved into a key export-oriented sector while facing challenges related to competitiveness, innovation, technological upgrading, and supply chain resilience. A key feature of the book is its multi-method and multi-stakeholder approach, combining structural gravity modelling, augmented Structural Vector Autoregression (SVAR) analysis, firm-level surveys, and stakeholder interviews. These complementary methods enable a comprehensive assessment of trade efficiency, the transmission of global economic shocks, and the opportunities and constraints facing firms. Integrating quantitative and qualitative evidence, supported by comparative trade indicators and industry insights, provides a nuanced understanding of industry dynamics and policy challenges. The book offers readers an evidence-based assessment of the opportunities and constraints shaping Malaysia’s medical device industry, along with actionable policy and industry insights. It provides a strategic roadmap for strengthening competitiveness and resilience, fostering innovation and technological upgrading, and supporting the transition towards a more innovative and higher-value industry ecosystem.

Evelyn S. Devadason is Professor at the Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Malaya, and Vice President of the Malaysian Economic Association (MEA). Her research focuses on international trade, regional integration, and policy-relevant economic analysis, with a strong emphasis on applied and comparative perspectives across emerging and developed economies.

Mala Raghavan is an Associate Professor at the Tasmanian School of Business and Economics, University of Tasmania, whose work explores the complexities of global economic interdependence and international trade linkages. Her research and teaching focus on the dynamics of open economies and the effectiveness of macroeconomic policy in an increasingly interconnected world, where shocks in one region can quickly ripple across global markets.

Andrew Jia Yi Kam is a Professor of Economics and Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies (IKMAS), National University of Malaysia. His research interests span development economics, international trade, non-tariff measures, global value chains, production sharing and fragmentation, productivity analysis, industrialization, and technology transfer.