- Initiative focuses on policies, habitat eagerness, and development facilities
- 1st stage to push off with the Asean Startup Portal to support local businesses, owners
The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation ( MOSTI ) as the National Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation ( COSTI ) Chair of Malaysia has mandated Cradle Fund Sdn. Bhd., the focus point company for Malaysia’s business habitat, to guide the Asean Startup Initiative under the Science, Technology and Innovation business.
With the purpose to develop greater collaboration, technology, and rise among startups in the region, our important initiatives under the Priority Economic Deliverable have been presented and endorsed by the Asean STI Ministers, setting the stage for major advancements in the Asean business ecosystem, the agency said, in a statement.  ,
The Asean Startup Initiative, led by Malaysia, addresses three main concerns: increase” startup-friendly” policies to create a conducive environment for startups to grow, increase ecosystem readiness among Asean Member States to maintain a supportive infrastructure for business growth, and encourage collaboration to develop effective partnerships and synergies in the region.
” After KL20, we all witnessed the Tech in Asia Conference, which was held for the first time in Kuala Lumpur, at the pinnacle of Southeast Asian technology. Moving forward, Mosti, through Cradle, will kick off the Asean Startup Portal by Q4-2024, reflecting our commitment to fostering a robust and collaborative startup ecosystem within Asean”, Chang Lih Kang, minister of Mosti said.  ,
He added” With Malaysia taking the chairmanship in 2025, Cradle plans to lead the way in implementing Asean Technology Startup Ignite as Malaysia’s 2025 Priority Economic Deliverable, which has been endorsed by the 85th Meeting of the Asean Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation ( COSTI-85 ) and the 20th Asean Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation ( AMMSTI-20 ) in Siem Reap, Cambodia recently. By addressing key areas such as policy, ecosystem readiness, and regional collaboration, we aim to position the Asean Member States as leading players in the global startup landscape” . ,
.jpg "Cradle leads Asean startup initiative to foster regional collaboration, innovation, and growth")
According to the Priority Economic Deliverable 2025,” We are thrilled to announce our main Cradle deliverables.” Each of these deliverables has been carefully selected to address both regional and local issues. By acting as one entity, we hope that all Asean Member States can draw on our shared strengths, address common difficulties, and create a vibrant ecosystem that benefits all member states. Our concerted efforts will help us secure a prosperous and sustainable future, according to Cradle Group CEO Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke ( pic ).
Cradle will start implementing the Asean Startup Initiative in phases starting in 2024. The Asean Startup Portal, a pillar for regional startup collaboration and a valuable resource for startups and investors across Asean, will be the first phase of development.
In 2025, the second phase of the Asean Startup Initiative will commence, focusing on capacity-building programmes. This phase will coincide with Malaysia’s Asean Chairmanship in 2025 and include pitch competitions, startup accelerator programmes targeting Asean-themed and corporate-based challenges, Startup Village, the Asean-India Startup Festival 2025, and a declaration by established leaders to expand the global startup network and strengthen cross-border ties.