Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd (Cradle), the focal agency under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), has launched Cradle Innovation Advisory, a new initiative designed to accelerate technological transformation among Malaysian corporates and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The initiative tackles long-standing gaps in the national innovation ecosystem, including weak commercialisation pathways, limited SME participation in research and development (R&D), and a lack of structured post-grant support. It also seeks to bridge fragmented linkages between industry players and startups.
“Innovation cannot thrive in silos,” said YB Dato’ Haji Mohammad Yusof Bin Apdal, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation. “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, creating fertile ground for ideas to be developed and launched into the market.”
Echoing the sentiment, Cradle’s Group Chief Executive Officer Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke described the initiative as a platform to unite startups and corporates for shared growth.
“Our initiative is not merely about introducing new frameworks; it is about creating a space for startups to work hand-in-hand with key corporate players, strengthening SMEs — the very backbone of our economy,” he said. “In this proof-of-concept phase, we will refine and optimise our approach before scaling it nationally for deeper, long-term impact.”
At the heart of Cradle Innovation Advisory is the Corporate Innovation Lab Programme (CILP), which provides modular workshops tailored to the developmental stages of participating organisations. Complementing the workshops are bespoke advisory services such as innovation audits, roadmap development and R&D commercialisation support. Participants will also gain access to legal advisory, human capital planning and other strategic resources.
The initiative aligns with national frameworks including Ekonomi MADANI and the Malaysia Startup Ecosystem Roadmap (SUPER) 2021–2030, reinforcing efforts to position Malaysia as a globally competitive hub for startups and SMEs.
Organisations interested in joining or collaborating with Cradle on this initiative may contact enquiries@cradle.com.my for more information.