Curtin Malaysia, Cradle Fund join forces to turn research into start-ups

Miri, Sarawak – 13 October 2026 – Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) is strengthening its drive to turn research and innovative ideas into viable businesses through a new partnership with Cradle Fund Sdn. Bhd., marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the launch of the university’s inaugural Start-up and Spin-off Pitching Competition.

Held at the university’s campus, the full-day programme brought together researchers, students, entrepreneurs and industry representatives for the Cradle Roadshow Day 2, panel discussions on entrepreneurship and research commercialisation, and a pitching competition showcasing emerging business ideas across multiple sectors.

The collaboration establishes a framework for Curtin Malaysia and Cradle to expand entrepreneurship education, strengthen industry engagement and help promising research projects progress towards commercialisation.

Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, Group Chief Executive Officer of Cradle Fund Sdn. Bhd., opened the programme with an address on Malaysia’s evolving start-up ecosystem and Cradle’s support for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Two panel discussions explored the pathways to entrepreneurship and the challenges of bringing university research to market. The first, titled “Neither Route is Wrong”, featured Dr. Siaw Teck Ung, Lecturer at Curtin Malaysia; Afida Khasuma, Senior Manager of Strategic Planning and Partnership at Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Sarawak (TEGAS); and Arif Abdul Rahman, Managing Partner of Retrospective Discovery LLP. The discussion highlighted how innovation can emerge through start-ups, industry partnerships and commercially oriented research.

The second panel featured Dr. Han Yi Chiew, Lecturer at Curtin Malaysia; Mohd Azimie bin Ahmad, Lecturer at University of Technology Sarawak (UTS); and Professor Ts. Dr. Jagadeesh Pasupuleti, Director of the Institute of Sustainable Green Energy and Technology at i-CATS University College. They shared perspectives on the opportunities and challenges of translating academic research into commercially viable enterprises.

Under the MoU, facilitated by Curtin Malaysia’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub, the university and Cradle will explore initiatives including pitching and presentation workshops, exposure to incubators and start-up hubs, mentorship for researchers, entrepreneurship curriculum development, and joint academic-industry symposia.

Representing Professor Vincent Lee Chieng Chen, Pro Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive of Curtin Malaysia, Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Tuong-Thuy Vu welcomed the collaboration as an opportunity to strengthen the university’s entrepreneurial culture and connect its research community more closely with industry.

“Through this partnership, we look forward to exploring opportunities for our students and researchers to participate in pitching and presentation workshops, gain exposure to incubators and start-up hubs, and benefit from the insights and mentorship of industry practitioners and other members of Cradle’s ecosystem,” Professor Vu said.

He added that the partnership could enrich entrepreneurship education through industry perspectives and practical case studies, while creating opportunities for public lectures, seminars and joint research into start-up ecosystems, innovation policies and entrepreneurial behaviour.

These initiatives are intended to bring academic research closer to the needs of businesses and the wider innovation community, while opening new avenues for collaboration between universities and industry.

Vanhaecke reaffirmed Cradle’s commitment to supporting university-linked ventures through funding programmes such as CIP Spark and CIP Sprint, which support early-stage start-ups in their development and growth.

Following the MoU signing, Curtin Malaysia’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub and Cradle launched the inaugural Start-up and Spin-off Pitching Competition, providing a platform for innovators to present their ideas and receive feedback on their commercial potential.

Eleven teams took part, comprising six teams led by Curtin Malaysia staff and students and five involving industry and community collaborators. Their proposals covered a broad range of fields, including artificial intelligence, healthcare, sustainability, renewable energy, agriculture and community development.

Beyond the pitching sessions, participants attended grant briefings and funding-readiness consultations to help them better understand available support and the steps involved in advancing their ventures.

Ranked App, Biochar Circular Resource and Farmaker Agriculture emerged as the competition’s top three teams, sharing RM2,500 in prizes sponsored by Cradle.

Professor Pauline Ho, Dean of the Faculty of Business, proposed making the competition an annual event, giving innovators a recurring opportunity to refine their ideas, receive expert feedback and strengthen their commercial readiness. The proposal received positive support from Cradle, with the next edition planned for 2027.

Dr. Tiong Ying Ying, Head of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub, said the programme marked the beginning of a longer-term effort to build stronger connections between research, education, entrepreneurship and industry.

“The hub aims to strengthen Curtin Malaysia’s role as a bridge between research, education, entrepreneurship, and industry, helping academic ideas progress beyond campus boundaries to benefit Sarawak, Malaysia, and the wider region,” she said.

Through its collaboration with Cradle, Curtin Malaysia aims to create more opportunities for researchers and aspiring entrepreneurs to develop ideas, access industry expertise and explore pathways towards commercialisation, contributing to a more connected and vibrant innovation ecosystem in Sarawak.

For more information on Curtin Malaysia, visit curtin.edu.my or follow Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn or TikTok.

Professor Tuong-Thuy Vu (right) and Cradle CEO Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke display the signed MoU.

Professor Tuong-Thuy Vu (7th left) joins Curtin Malaysia and Cradle Fund representatives for a group photo.