KUALA LUMPUR, 11 December 2024 — Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) and its agency, Cradle Fund Sdn. Bhd. (Cradle), today announced five (5) solutions from local companies as winners of the MYHackathon 2024 Cohort 2 programme. The announcement was made during the programme’s closing ceremony, officiated by YB Tuan Chang Lih Kang, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, at the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers (AICB), Kuala Lumpur.
Each winner of the programme’s second cohort will receive conditional grants of up to RM250,000 to develop their pilot projects, as well as one-to-one project implementation mentorship for the next 12 months. All winners will also collaborate closely with respective problem statement owners to refine their solution implementation plans.
In his keynote speech, YB Tuan Chang stated, “I am truly impressed by the quality of ideas and solutions presented. The innovations highlighted are not only practical but also align with the needs of the country’s digital transformation. I am confident that some of these innovations can be commercialised and scaled up in the future. In this context, the MYHackathon 2024 programme directly supports the aspiration of Malaysia MADANI, which emphasises the values of renewal and innovation in achieving people-centred development.”
“The usage of open innovation to address the nation’s critical issues represents a significant opportunity to accelerate Malaysia’s startup ecosystem and improve the country’s standing in the Global Innovation Index (GII). By encouraging collaboration between the Government, higher education institutions, and the private sector, we can collectively produce innovative and effective solutions. This approach not only spurs
local startup growth but also enhances the nation’s economic competitiveness. Through open innovation, we can attract more investments, develop local talent, and ultimately position Malaysia as a global innovation hub. With the current progress, I am confident we can achieve our goal of ranking among the top 30 countries in the GII by 2025,” YB Minister added.
For the 2024 edition, MOSTI, through Cradle, launched two cohorts under the theme ‘Hackathon Nasional Untuk Malaysia MADANI’, on 23 September and 25 November, respectively. These cohorts identified twelve (12) critical problem statements sourced from various ministries, agencies, and local governments. Seven (7) problem statements were highlighted in Cohort 1, while five (5) were highlighted in Cohort 2.
This initiative received an overwhelming response, with a total of 419 inquiries and applications for the first cohort and 391 for the second, making a combined total of 810. Additionally, MYHackathon 2024 received 3.8% (103) applications from Sabah and Sarawak for Cohort 1 and 3.9% (101) applications for Cohort 2. The winners of this challenge will have the opportunity to develop innovative solutions and implement them through a 12-month pilot programme.
“We are thrilled to witness the creativity, determination, and commitment of the participants in Cohort 2 of the MYHackathon 2024 Programme. driving innovations that address real-world challenges. Since its launch four years ago, MYHackathon has grown into a vital platform for uncovering Malaysia’s best talents, inspiring them to develop high-impact solutions that improve Government service delivery,” said Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, Group Chief Executive Officer of Cradle.
“Cradle remains committed to being a catalyst in nurturing a generation of innovators who can make Malaysia more progressive through our mission to create an inclusive and sustainable startup ecosystem.”
Since its inception in 2020, the biennial MYHackathon Program has successfully delivered several innovative and high-impact solutions from Malaysians for adaptation and application in various government services.
Among the successful solutions developed under this program are Gajah Safe Sdn. Bhd. by Satok Bridge Digital Sdn. Bhd., which integrates artificial intelligence (AI) technology and detection cameras to reduce human-wildlife conflict, and the Anti Drone Detection System (DDS) by FlyBots Technology, which provides solutions for controlling drone intrusions for smuggling or unauthorised surveillance in restricted access areas.
