Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd (Cradle), an agency under the Ministry of Finance, Malaysia (MoF) is the organisation that manages the Cradle Investment Programme (CIP). A total sum of RM100 million was allocated to Cradle for this programme by MoF when it began in 2003. An additional RM50 million was recently added to allocation under the 10th Malaysian Plan.

Cradle Investment Programme (CIP)

The Cradle Investment Programme (CIP) is Malaysia’s first development and technology commercialisation funding programme that enables Malaysia’s budding innovators and aspiring entrepreneurs to transform their raw technology-based ideas into commercially viable ventures or local start-up companies to attain commercialisation. 

CIP offers two types of conditional grants – pre-seed/prototype development (CIP Catalyst & U-CIP Catalyst) and seed/commercialisation (CIP 500). With both grants, CIP is the only end-to-end funding programme that provides funding from idea conceptualisation to commercialisation. 

CIP Catalyst & U-CIP Catalyst 

CIP Catalyst is a pre-seed fund targeted at entrepreneurs in general. It offers conditional grants of up to RM150,000 to groups of innovative individuals with technology-based ideas in the ICT, non-ICT and high growth technology industries. The primary objective of CIP Catalyst is to help entrepreneurs to develop their ideas into prototypes or proof-of-concepts that are commercially viable. 

University CIP Catalyst (U-CIP Catalyst), which is an extension of the CIP Catalyst also offers up to RM150,000. However, the U-CIP Catalyst is specifically targeted at researchers and/or inventors based in local research institutes, private and public universities, colleges and institutes of higher education, as well as the various commercialisation units within each of these organisations. The primary objective of the U-CIP Catalyst is to help researchers and/or inventors develop their innovative technology-based research ideas into prototypes or proof-of-concepts that are commercially viable. 

CIP 500 

CIP 500 is the first pure technology commercialisation fund to be approved in Malaysia. The grant provides funding of up to RM500,000 to help budding Malaysian companies with innovative technology-based ideas attain commercialisation. The primary objective of the CIP 500 is to help start-up companies with a ready product achieve commercialisation. 

Commercialisation Support 

In addition to funding, Cradle also provides its recipients with commercialisation support such as Ideas Bank, Competency Building, Local & International Mentors as well as Strategic Partnerships. 

Ideas Bank – The Ideas Bank is a commercialisation support unit that was set up to help CIP Catalyst & U-CIP Catalyst graduate recipients with commercialisation of their technology-based ideas within a period of 12 months, upon completing the development of their prototype or proof-of-concept. The Ideas Bank works as a platform for CIP recipients to access further funding, secure their very first commercial contract or commercialise their IP. The unit plays an active role in evaluating the commercial profile of an application, then generating commercialisation leads and acting as the main liaison point between the recipients and potential business partners, customers/buyers and investors. 

Competency building – Cradle also provides competency building services, which is a critical success factor that has been packaged together with the funding support. Through its Competency Building Unit, Cradle helps CIP recipients by providing them with the relevant training needs, knowledge resources and coaching, and equipping them with the knowledge and experience to develop better quality products in the market. 

Local & International mentors – With more than 400 local domain and international mentors, Cradle is able to match successful applicants with a mentor throughout their funding process. These mentors, who comprise experts equipped with invaluable skills, knowledge and experience, play an important role as they provide recipients with the relevant domain guidance, feedback and insights, from an external vantage point throughout the developmental stage. 

Strategic Partnerships – Innovation does not happen in isolation. Cradle partnerships bring together experts from industry and the government bodies to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem through joint initiatives. These partners can be clustered into three (3) key groups, namely development, commercialisation and international outreach. International partnerships pave the way for local entrepreneurs to expand and explore international shores. 

For more information, please visit: www.cradle.com.my