Latest news with #Cradle
The Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Cradle launches initiative to drive Malaysian SME innovation
PETALING JAYA: Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd, the lead agency under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti), has launched Cradle Innovation Advisory – a strategic partnership initiative aimed at accelerating technological transformation among corporates and small and medium-sized enterprises in Malaysia. The initiative is designed to address long-standing structural challenges in the national innovation ecosystem, including insufficient post-grant support, weak commercialisation pathways, fragmented connections between industry and startups, and limited SME involvement in research and development (R&D) activities. Science, Technology and Innovation Deputy Minister Datuk Mohammad Yusof Apdal said innovation cannot thrive in isolation and emphasised the importance of collaboration and ecosystem building. 'With Cradle Innovation Advisory, we empower SMEs – Malaysia's economic backbone – to access the expertise, tools, and partnerships they need to innovate, scale and compete on a global stage,' he said in a statement. 'This marks a shift from simply offering support to enabling empowerment. By activating partnerships with universities, corporations, and global startup communities, we aim to create fertile ground where great ideas are not just developed, but launched into the market, with the potential to transform entire sectors.' Cradle Group CEO Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke said the initiative goes beyond introducing new frameworks – it is about building collaborative spaces for innovation. 'This is about creating a space where startups can work closely with key corporate players, thereby strengthening SMEs, which are the backbone of the country's economy. In this proof-of-concept phase, we will focus on refining and optimising the approach before scaling it nationally for greater, long-term impact,' he said. At the heart of the initiative is the Corporate Innovation Lab Programme, a structured platform that offers modular workshops tailored to the maturity and needs of participating organisations. Beyond workshops, Cradle will provide tailored advisory services, including innovation audits, the development of innovation roadmaps and support for R&D commercialisation. Participants will also have access to strategic services, including legal advisory and human capital planning. Aligned with national agendas such as Ekonomi Madani and the Malaysia Startup Ecosystem Roadmap 2021–2030, Cradle Innovation Advisory aims to strengthen Malaysia's overall innovation capacity and enhance its position as a globally competitive startup and SME ecosystem.
Barnama
6 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
Cradle Launches Initiative To Drive Corporate Innovation, SME Growth
KUALA LUMPUR, July 18 (Bernama) -- Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd (Cradle), the focal agency under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), today launched the Cradle Innovation Advisory, a strategic partnership initiative to accelerate technological transformation among corporates and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. In a statement, MOSTI said the initiative was introduced to address structural limitations within the national innovation ecosystem, including inadequate post-grant support, weak commercialisation pathways, fragmented linkages between industry and startups, and limited SME engagement in research and development (R&D) activities. Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Mohammad Yusof Apdal said the Cradle Innovation Advisory provided SMEs with access to the expertise, tools and partnerships needed to continue to innovate, grow and compete globally. 'This marks a shift from support to empowerment. By strengthening partnerships with universities, corporates, and global startup communities, we can create fertile ground where great ideas are not only developed but also launched into the market, transforming entire sectors,' he said. Meanwhile, Cradle Group chief executive officer Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke said the initiative was not merely about introducing new frameworks but also about creating a space for startups to work hand‑in‑hand with key corporate players. 'In this proof‑of‑concept phase, we will refine and optimise our approach before scaling it nationally for deeper, long‑term impact,' he said. According to MOSTI, a key part of the initiative was the Corporate Innovation Lab Programme (CILP), a structured platform offering modular workshops tailored to the developmental maturity of participating organisations. The ministry also said that the initiative would offer bespoke advisory services, including innovation audits, formulation of innovation roadmaps and support for R&D commercialisation. 'Cradle will also offer access to strategic services such as legal advisory and human capital planning.
The Star
6 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Cradle launches initiative to boost Malaysia's SME innovation
Cradle Fund group chief executive officer Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke. PETALING JAYA: Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd has launched Cradle Innovation Advisory, a strategic partnership initiative to accelerate technological transformation among corporates and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. The initiative aims to address structural limitations within the national innovation ecosystem, including inadequate post-grant support, weak commercialisation pathways, fragmented linkages between industry and startups, and limited SME engagement in research and development (R&D) activities. '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 Datuk Mohammad Yusof Apdal, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation. Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, Group CEO of Cradle, said the initiative also creates a space for startups to work hand‐in‐hand with key corporate players, thus strengthening SMEs. Central to the initiative is the Corporate Innovation Lab Programme, a structured platform offering modular workshops tailored to the developmental maturity of participating organisations. The Cradle Innovation Advisory will provide bespoke advisory services, including innovation audits, innovation roadmap formulation, and R&D commercialisation support. Cradle will also offer access to strategic services such as legal advisory and human capital planning.
The Star
04-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
MYStartup Accelerator channels RM5.5mil into local startups
Cradle Fund group chief executive officer Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke. KUALA LUMPUR: Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd's MYStartup Accelerator has facilitated nearly RM5.5 million in investments over five cohorts, underscoring its role in strengthening Malaysia's startup ecosystem and advancing the country's position as a regional innovation hub. In a statement today, Cradle said the programme, under the purview of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, is operated by Cradle in partnership with NEXEA, a venture capital and startup accelerator firm. "Having completed five cohorts, we have gained meaningful insights into the needs of Malaysian startups. "Our next goal is to expand our reach nationwide and ensure startups in all regions have equal access to growth opportunities," said group chief executive officer Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke. According to Cradle, the Cohort 5 Demo Day showcased innovative solutions in areas including artificial intelligence (AI), aquaculture, electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, and smart retail. Of the eight finalists, five received cash prizes from Cradle, while four secured a total of RM800,000 in investments from NEXEA. The finalists were selected from a competitive pool of 747 applicants. It noted that among the standout startups were Paix Tech, which automates enterprise utility payments using AI; Ocean Rich Resources, which developed a scalable oyster farming system; and Recharge Xolutions, which offers integrated EV charging and green energy solutions. The MYStartup Accelerator continues to play a vital role in building Malaysia's tech-driven future by empowering bold, innovative, and sustainable startups, Cradle added. NEXEA is distinguished by its network of mentors, many of whom are successful entrepreneurs and C-level executives, and has helped its portfolio companies achieve annual growth of up to 16 times. Meanwhile, the focal agency for early-stage startups, Cradle, has supported over 1,100 tech startups and boasts the highest commercialisation rate among government grants. - Bernama
The Sun
04-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Eight GLCs chosen for Bengkel Inovasi GLC programme with RM10.7 million grants
PUTRAJAYA: Eight government-linked companies (GLCs) have been chosen to participate in the Bengkel Inovasi GLC (BIG) programme, a joint initiative by the Ministry of Finance (MOF), the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), and Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd. Each selected GLC will receive matching grants of up to RM2 million, totalling RM10.7 million in funding. The participating GLCs are Bank Islam, CelcomDigi, EDOTCO, Malaysia Aviation Group, Sime Darby Property, S P Setia, Tenaga Nasional Bhd, and Cenviro. According to Cradle, the selection was based on their use of innovative digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to improve operational efficiency and business growth. 'The selection of the GLCs is based on the use of innovative digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) that have been highlighted and have high potential to enhance operational efficiency, support business growth and scaling in their respective industries,' said Cradle. MOSTI Minister Chang Lih Kang emphasised that BIG aligns with the government's efforts to bridge the gap between startups and corporations. 'MOSTI is proud to support this initiative through the National Technology and Innovation Sandbox (NTIS) and our deep tech network,' he said. Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah added that the programme aims to foster corporate innovation and strengthen ties between GLCs and startups. 'If successful, the MOF hopes to expand this programme to the private sector in the future,' he said. Over the next six months, the selected GLCs will work with startups and business developers under two tracks: the Venture Client Track and Venture Co-Creation Track. They will develop proof-of-concept projects to be showcased in a Demo Day session. Startups interested in collaborating with the GLCs can register via the BIG website at - Bernama
