Cradle launches initiative to boost Malaysia's SME innovation
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.
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