Construction Research Institute of Malaysia (CREAM)

What Construction Research Institute of Malaysia (CREAM) does

Construction Research Institute of Malaysia (CREAM) is a government-affiliated non-profit research and certification body that serves the Malaysian construction industry. Established in 2004 and operating fully since 2006, CREAM is structured as a company limited by guarantee and has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Construction Industry Development Board Malaysia (CIDB) since 2016. The institute employs approximately 65 staff across its Kuala Lumpur headquarters and three Makmal Kerja Raya Malaysia (MKRM) testing laboratories in Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, and Kota Kinabalu.

CREAM operates four interlocking business lines: (1) research and development spanning BIM, IBS, and Construction 4.0; (2) national assessment systems — QLASSIC (workmanship quality), SHASSIC (safety and health), MyCREST (carbon and sustainability), and Sustainable INFRASTAR (infrastructure sustainability); (3) accredited laboratory testing through MKRM, including concrete, steel, scaffolding, and railway infrastructure testing on a 15m x 26m reaction floor with 100–2000 kN universal testing machines; and (4) product certification under CREAM Certification Services (CCS) for building materials compliant with ISO/IEC 17065 and CIDB's Fourth Schedule Act 520. The institute also operates research initiatives such as the D3 Divergent Dwelling Design affordable housing program with Sime Darby Property, the Delight Homes low-income housing initiative, and the peer-reviewed Malaysian Construction Research Journal (MCRJ).

Revenue derives from a mix of transaction-fee streams (certification fees of RM 300 application / RM 800 inspection / RM 800 per certificate, lab testing fees), government-funded assessments for public projects (QLASSIC and SHASSIC fully funded by the government), industry consultancy, and research grants. CREAM holds Approved Research Institute status from the Ministry of Finance, enabling Double Tax Deduction for corporate contributors under Section 34B of the Income Tax Act 1967. Customer segments include construction contractors (requiring QLASSIC/SHASSIC assessments for CIDB registration renewals), property developers (sustainability and quality ratings), building material manufacturers (mandatory certification), and government agencies (public project oversight). The certified client base exceeds 400 entities across concrete, steel, scaffolding, precast, cement, and aluminium producers.

Name

Construction Research Institute of Malaysia (CREAM)

Legal name

Construction Research Institute of Malaysia

Website

https://cream.my

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

CREAM is a CIDB Malaysia-owned research and certification institute serving the Malaysian construction industry. It operates proprietary assessment systems (QLASSIC, SHASSIC, MyCREST, INFRASTAR), three accredited laboratories, and product certification services for contractors, developers, and material manufacturers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur

HQ country

Malaysia

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Laboratory Testing Services: Fee-based testing services for construction materials including concrete, steel, scaffolding, and railway components through MKRM facilities
2. Product Certification Services: Certification fees including application fee (RM 300), inspection fee (RM 800 per unit), and certification fee (RM 800 per certificate) for building materials and products
3. Assessment Services: QLASSIC, SHASSIC, MyCREST, and Sustainable INFRASTAR assessments; government fully funds assessments for public projects
4. Research Grants and DTD: Double Tax Deduction eligibility for contributors under Section 34B of Income Tax Act 1967 as Approved Research Institute

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CREAM is a non-profit construction research institute offering accredited laboratory testing of construction materials (concrete, steel, scaffolding, railway components) through its MKRM network, independent quality and safety assessments (QLASSIC, SHASSIC), sustainability and infrastructure rating tools (MyCREST, Sustainable INFRASTAR), and product certification services for building materials. It also delivers construction R&D across BIM, IBS, and Construction 4.0, industry consultancy, forensic investigation, contractor quality management assessments, and technical opinion reports for the Malaysian construction industry.

Product overview

CREAM offers a comprehensive portfolio of construction industry services organized around research, assessment, testing, and certification. The core offerings include R&D services covering BIM, IBS and Construction 4.0; assessment programs including QLASSIC, SHASSIC, MyCREST, and Sustainable INFRASTAR; laboratory testing through Makmal Kerja Raya Malaysia (MKRM); and product certification services via CREAM Certification Services (CCS) including the SustainBuild Mark. Additional services encompass inspection, forensic investigation, technical opinions, contractor quality management, and journal publication (MCRJ). The institute also facilitates double tax deductions as an Approved Research Institute and operates research initiatives like DIVERGENT DWELLING DESIGN (D3) and Delight Homes for affordable housing innovation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Makmal Kerja Raya Malaysia (MKRM): Construction materials testing laboratory services, accredited to ISO/IEC 17025
• Construction Assessment Centre (CASC)
• Centre for Advanced Construction Technology and Innovation (CACTI)
• Centre for Quality Assurance and Certification (CQAC)
• CREAM Certification Services (CCS)
• CREAM SustainBuild Mark

Products and services

• QLASSIC (Quality Assessment System in Construction) Independent third-party quality assessment of building construction workmanship for contractors, developers, and government project owners, awarded under CIS 7:2014.
• SHASSIC (Safety and Health Assessment System in Construction) Independent safety and health assessment of construction worksites during planning and construction stages, used by contractors and government agencies for compliance under CIS 10:2022.
• MyCREST (Malaysian Carbon Reduction and Environmental Sustainability Tool) Sustainability assessment combining scorecard, carbon calculator, and reference guideline to certify and benchmark the built environment's carbon and environmental performance.
• Sustainable INFRASTAR (Sustainable Infrastructure Rating Tool) Objective evidence-based rating of infrastructure projects across land use, resource management, energy, water, biodiversity, social protection, and stakeholder coordination dimensions.
• Makmal Kerja Raya Malaysia (MKRM) Laboratory Testing Services Full-scale structural testing and construction materials testing (concrete, steel, scaffolding, railway components) using a reaction floor (15m x 26m), reaction wall (6m x 6m), Universal Testing Machines (100-2000 kN), Dynamic Testing Machines, and specialised capabilities across Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, and Kota Kinabalu.
• CREAM Certification Services (CCS) Third-party product certification for building and construction materials (ready-mixed concrete, steel, scaffolding, aluminium, cement, precast) under MS ISO/IEC 17065 and Fourth Schedule of Act 520 CIDB, applying application, inspection, and certification fees.
• CREAM SustainBuild Mark Sustainability certification mark applied to construction products and practices as a recognised indicator of environmental performance.
• Inspection & Sampling Services On-site and lab-based product inspection and sampling of construction materials supporting ISO/IEC 17020-accredited inspection outputs.
• Certificate of Approval (CoA) Formal product approval certification issued by CREAM for construction materials required to satisfy CIDB compliance for market access.
• Forensic Services Forensic investigation of construction issues using non-destructive testing (NDT) and structural diagnostics to identify root causes of defects or failures.
• CPA / Technical Opinion Construction Product Approval and Technical Opinion services supporting innovative products and providing authoritative technical positions on construction matters.
• Contractor's Quality Management System (CQMS) Quality management system assessment and certification programme for contractors, with associated auditor training offered to construction industry professionals.
• Research & Development (R&D) Services Applied research services covering Building Information Modelling (BIM), Industrialised Building Systems (IBS), and Construction 4.0 for the Malaysian construction industry.
• Industry Consultancy and Engagement Consultancy and engagement services that connect government agencies, industry, and academia to drive construction industry development in Malaysia.
• Approved Research Institute (ARI) / Double Tax Deduction (DTD) Government-recognised Approved Research Institute status that enables contributing companies to claim Double Tax Deduction (DTD) on cash contributions to CREAM's approved R&D activities under Section 34B of the Income Tax Act 1967.
• Divergent Dwelling Design (D3) / Delight Homes Affordable housing design methodology and modular housing initiative combining IBS content, human-centred design, and efficient construction methods to deliver adaptable, quality, and sustainable low-income housing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Automatic CCD points = 15 points for contractor's registration renewal through QLASSIC/SHASSIC assessments
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• ACE (Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024MoA signing for Sustainable Construction collaboration aimed at advancing sustainability practices in the construction industry.
• Sime Darby PropertycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerD3 (Divergent Dwelling Design) collaboration focusing on affordable housing with IBS content. Partnership aims to meet affordable housing needs with quality homes through innovative design and construction methods.
• CIDB MalaysiaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization. CREAM operates under CIDB's research function. CIDB established MKRM and structured CREAM as wholly owned subsidiary in 2016. CREAM recognized as Construction Assessment Center (CASC) by CIDB.
• TISTR (Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRailway Transportation System Testing Centre (RTTC) of TISTR visited CREAM for knowledge sharing and potential collaboration on railway infrastructure testing.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves16 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Intertek Malaysia: Global TIC company with quality and safety testing services for construction materials in Malaysia. Comparable to CREAM in testing and certification scope, with broader international network but less government regulatory authority in Malaysia.
• Bureau Veritas Malaysia: International testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) major with construction industry services in Malaysia. Directly competes with CREAM MKRM on construction materials testing and CCS on product certification, with global brand recognition and commercial flexibility.
• SGS Malaysia: Global leader in testing, inspection, and certification with extensive Malaysian operations. Competes with CREAM in construction materials testing and product certification, offering broader international reach and commercial scale, though lacking CREAM's CIDB regulatory mandate.
• Building and Construction Authority (BCA) Singapore: Singapore's government statutory board overseeing building and construction quality, safety, and sustainability. Compares with CREAM as a regional construction regulator and quality assessor, though BCA operates a broader regulatory mandate across Singapore's built environment.
• TÜV SÜD Malaysia: International testing and certification organization active in Malaysia across construction and building products. Competes with CREAM on certification services, offering globally recognized accreditations but without CREAM's specific CIDB mandate.
• DEKRA Malaysia: Global TIC provider with Malaysian operations focused on testing, inspection, and certification including construction-related standards. Comparable to CREAM MKRM and CCS services, with international brand recognition but no government regulatory mandate.

Direct peers

• TISTR (Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research): Thailand's government-affiliated scientific and technological research institute operating testing laboratories and certification services, including the Railway Transportation System Testing Centre (RTTC). Already a CREAM knowledge-sharing partner; directly comparable in mission, structure, and service portfolio.
• SIRIM Berhad: Malaysia's national standards body and government-owned industrial research institute, offering testing, certification, and quality assurance services across multiple industries. Highly comparable to CREAM as another government-backed Malaysian testing and certification body with ISO accreditations and product certification authority.

Regional players

• LPJK (Lembaga Pengembangan Jasa Konstruksi) Indonesia: Indonesia's government body for construction services development, handling contractor certification and industry assessment. Functionally similar to CIDB Malaysia and CREAM's role in regulating construction quality and contractor registration, though Indonesia has different regulatory architecture.
• Hong Kong Construction Industry Council (CIC): Hong Kong statutory body administering construction industry registration, training, and assessment. Functionally analogous to CREAM's CIDB-backed role in Malaysia, though operating in a different regulatory jurisdiction with different assessment frameworks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/creamcidb
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCBzU27DVREaUH7Sbd9Zdr4A
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cream-cidb
• Instagraminstagram.com/creamcidb

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Construction Research Institute of Malaysia (CREAM)