Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd, a key agency under Malaysia’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), announced the launch of Cradle Innovation Advisory last Friday. This new program aims to help companies and small businesses in Malaysia speed up their use of new technology.
MOSTI said in a statement that the initiative aims to address structural limitations within the national innovation ecosystem, including inadequate post-grant support, weak commercialization pathways, fragmented linkages between industry and startups, and limited SME engagement in research and development (R&D) activities.
“Innovation cannot thrive in silos. With Cradle Innovation Advisory, we enable SMEs, Malaysia’s economic backbone, to access the expertise, tools, and partnerships they need to innovate, scale and compete globally.
“This marks a shift from support to empowerment By activating partnerships with universities, corporates, and global startup communities, we can create fertile grounds where great ideas are not only developed, but launched into the market, transforming entire sectors,” said Haji Mohammad Yusof Bin Apdal, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation.
Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, CEO of Cradle, said the new program is not just about bringing in new ideas. It’s about giving startups a chance to work closely with big companies and helping small businesses grow, as they are a key part of Malaysia’s economy.
“In this proof‐of‐concept phase, we will refine and optimize our approach before scaling it nationally for deeper, long‐term impact,” he added.
According to the statement, central to the initiative is the Corporate Innovation Lab Program (CILP) a structured platform offering modular workshops tailored to the developmental maturity of participating organizations.
Along with workshops, the program will also offer special advisory services like checking a company’s innovation progress, helping them plan future innovation steps, and supporting the launch of new products from research.
Cradle will also give support in important areas such as legal advice and workforce planning.
This program follows national plans like Ekonomi MADANI and the Malaysia Startup Ecosystem Roadmap (SUPER) 2021–2030. It aims to boost Malaysia’s ability to innovate and become a strong player in the global startup and small business scene.
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