Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia

What Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia does

Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia (YIM) is a non-profit foundation established on October 20, 2008, under Malaysia's Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), structured as a Company Limited by Guarantee. Since 2022 it has served as the mandated implementing agency for the Social Innovation Initiative (MyIS), positioning it as the principal national vehicle for grassroots innovation policy delivery. The foundation's core activity is the operation of 25 RDC (Ruang Daya Cipta) makerspaces distributed across Malaysia, supported by a registered network of more than 6,000 innovators and a portfolio of programs including MaGRIs, MyIS Komuniti, MyIS Perintis, MyMobiFix, and PEKB. It also co-develops deployable grassroots innovations such as SmartHive (with Universiti Malaysia Terengganu) and convened the ASEAN-India Grassroots Innovation Forum in 2023.

YIM's service architecture combines physical infrastructure (the RDC makerspaces), community-building programs targeting B40 and underserved communities, and policy-shaping outputs such as the Social Innovation Policy launched at the 2024 Karnival Inovasi Sosial (KIS) event. Multi-stakeholder delivery is enabled through partnerships with MOSTI, HSBC, MARA, SSM, SME Corp, and UMT. The foundation is led by CEO Dr Sharmila Mohamed Salleh.

The business model is grant-funded rather than commercial. YIM does not generate revenue from product sales or service fees to beneficiaries; instead, capital is allocated via MOSTI grants (RM3 million was disclosed for construction of 10 RDC facilities) and supplemented by corporate and institutional co-funding through partners such as HSBC. Customer segments are therefore beneficiaries (grassroots innovators and B40 communities receiving free services) rather than paying customers, and the funder side is concentrated in a single principal — MOSTI — with secondary co-funding partners.

Name

Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia

Legal name

Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia

Website

https://yim.my

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia (YIM) is a MOSTI-mandated non-profit foundation operating 25 RDC makerspaces and a 6,000+ innovator network across Malaysia to deliver social innovation programs targeting grassroots and B40 communities via government grant funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Innovation Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Program & Project Implementation (TA Delivery) (BPADAEAA)

Keywords

• Social innovation funding
• Grassroots innovation grants
• Community innovation programs
• Innovation makerspace facilities
• Skills training certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Kuala Lumpur

HQ country

Malaysia

HQ region

Asia

Offices25 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding and Grants Administration: YIM is a foundation established under MOSTI that receives government funding to administer innovation development programs. The foundation acts as an implementing agency for Social Innovation Initiative (MyIS) programs, disbursing grants to grassroots innovators and community projects. Revenue is derived from ministry allocations rather than commercial operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia (YIM) is a non-profit foundation that administers the Malaysia Social Innovation Initiative (MyIS) on behalf of MOSTI. It operates grant programs (MaGRIs, MyIS Komuniti, MyIS Perintis) for grassroots innovators, community projects, and university students; runs a nationwide network of Ruang Daya Cipta (RDC) makerspaces; delivers skills training and certification (MyMobifix, Pensijilan Inovator Sosial, PEKB); and convenes annual social innovation events (Konvensyen Inovasi Sosial).

Product overview

Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia (YIM) operates a comprehensive ecosystem of social and grassroots innovation programs under the Malaysia Social Innovation Initiative (MyIS). The portfolio consists of three grant programs (MyIS Akar Umbi/MaGRIs for grassroots innovation commercialization, MyIS Komuniti for community technology applications, and MyIS Perintis for university student innovators), a network of 15 physical makerspaces called Ruang Daya Cipta (RDC) equipped with 3D printers and robotics, skills training programs including MyMobifix for smartphone repair and PEKB for urban community entrepreneurship, certification programs for social innovators, an annual convention (Konvensyen Inovasi Sosial/KIS), and digital platforms including INNOMAP catalog and Teh Tarik Talk podcast. The organization focuses on the B40 group, leveraging Science, Technology, Innovation and Economy (STIE) approaches.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MyIS Akar Umbi (MaGRIs): Grassroots innovation development and commercialization program focusing on capacity building for local grassroots innovators.
• MyIS Komuniti
• MyIS Perintis
• Ruang Daya Cipta (RDC)
• MyMobifix
• Pensijilan Inovator Sosial
• Pertandingan Inovasi MALA 2.0
• Pemerkasaan Ekonomi Komuniti Bandar (PEKB)
• Cabaran Inovasi Sosial (CIS)
• Teh Tarik Talk

Products and services

• MyIS Akar Umbi (MaGRIs)

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,281 innovations tracked with 65 approved and 52 commercialized under MaGRIs program
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and supporting.

• MARA (Majlis Amanah Rakyat)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023MARA is a main strategic partner for KIS 2023 and other YIM programs, supporting the development of indigenous entrepreneurs and innovators through YIM's ecosystem.
• ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI) and National Innovation Foundation IndiamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023YIM hosted the 4th ASEAN-India Grassroots Innovation Forum (AIGIF) in November 2023, facilitating regional collaboration in grassroots innovation between ASEAN countries and India.
• Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022MOSTI is the parent ministry that established YIM on October 20, 2008, and has mandated YIM as the implementing agency for the Social Innovation Initiative (MyIS) since 2022. MOSTI provides funding and strategic direction for YIM's programs including the Konvensyen Inovasi Sosial.
• SE Uniforms Solutions (SEUS)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2022SEUS is the NGO partner that runs the MyMobiFix program, providing skills training in smartphone repair and servicing to B40 communities. The program includes Malaysia Skills Certification (SKM) for participants.
• Persatuan Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan (MALA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022MALA organizes the annual MALA Innovation Competition with support from KPKT (Ministry of Housing and Local Government). YIM serves as the secretariat for this competition, providing management and administrative support.
• Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018UMT collaborated with YIM on the SmartHive project for stingless bee farming. UMT's research group led by Prof Dr Shamsul Bahri Abd Razak developed the patented SmartHive innovation that helps coastal fishermen diversify income during monsoon seasons.
• SSM (Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSM collaborates with YIM on innovation programs, helping innovators register businesses and formalize their operations as part of the commercialization support.
• SME Corp MalaysiasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSME Corp partners with YIM to support small and medium enterprises emerging from the grassroots innovation ecosystem.
• RISDA (Lembaga Getah Malaysia)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRISDA collaborates with YIM on social innovation initiatives supporting rubber smallholders and rural communities.
• ABBsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerABB is a strategic partner for KIS 2024, contributing to social innovation development and technology advancement initiatives.
• SOCSO (Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOCSO partners with YIM for KIS 2024, supporting social protection and welfare initiatives for workers and communities.
• Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUPM is a strategic partner for KIS 2024, contributing academic expertise and research capabilities to YIM's innovation ecosystem.
• Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUKM is a strategic partner for KIS 2024, providing academic collaboration and research support for social innovation initiatives.
• Jabatan Pembangunan Kemahiran Malaysia (JPK)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJPK collaborates with YIM on the Social Innovator Certification program (Pensijilan Inovator Sosial), providing Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) through Diploma Kemahiran Malaysia (DKM) for innovation and design.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Ashoka: Ashoka is a global organization supporting social entrepreneurs and changemakers. Both YIM and Ashoka operate programs to identify, support, and scale social innovators, though Ashoka operates as a global network while YIM is a Malaysia-focused government foundation.
• Penjana Kapital: Penjana Kapital is a Malaysian government-linked entity supporting economic revitalization and entrepreneurship. Both organizations operate government-mandated programs to support Malaysian economic development through grants and capacity building, with overlapping B40 and SME support segments.

Broad incumbents

• Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC): MDEC is a government agency under the Ministry of Digital promoting Malaysia's digital economy. Both organizations operate government-mandated programs to develop technology and innovation ecosystems in Malaysia, though MDEC focuses on digital industry while YIM targets grassroots innovation.
• SME Corp Malaysia: SME Corp Malaysia is a government agency under the Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development overseeing SME development nationwide. Both organizations support small business and entrepreneur development in Malaysia, though SME Corp has a broader commercial SME mandate versus YIM's grassroots community innovation focus.
• Khazanah Nasional Berhad: Khazanah is Malaysia's sovereign wealth fund that has established multiple foundations including Yayasan Hasanah. As YIM's parent MOSTI sits within the broader Malaysian government ecosystem, Khazanah represents a comparable large-scale government investment entity with social development mandates through its foundation arms.
• BiotechCorp (Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation): BiotechCorp is a Malaysian government agency under MOSTI focused on bioeconomy and biotechnology development. Both organizations operate under MOSTI's mandate to develop specific innovation verticals in Malaysia, with comparable government-linked funding models and program implementation structures.

Emerging players

• Nesta: Nesta is a UK innovation foundation that supports social innovation and grassroots entrepreneurship. Both organizations are innovation foundations applying structured program design to support innovators addressing social/economic challenges, with similar missions around evidence-based innovation ecosystem building.

Direct peers

• Malaysian Global Innovation & Creativity Centre (MaGIC): MaGIC is a Malaysian government-linked innovation ecosystem builder under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), focusing on startups and entrepreneurship. Like YIM, MaGIC operates with government mandate to build Malaysian innovation capacity, though its focus skews toward commercial entrepreneurship rather than YIM's grassroots B40 community focus.
• Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd: Cradle Fund is a Malaysian government-linked early-stage investor under MOSTI, providing funding and commercialization support to Malaysian startups. Both YIM and Cradle operate grant/equity programs fostering Malaysian innovation, though Cradle focuses on commercial tech startups while YIM targets grassroots community innovation.
• Yayasan Hasanah: Yayasan Hasanah is a Malaysian foundation under Khazanah Nasional that administers social impact programs and grantmaking. Both organizations are Malaysian non-profit foundations administering government-linked social/community development programs with similar CLBG structures and government-aligned missions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/YayasanInovasi
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/yayasaninovasi
• Facebookfacebook.com/YayasanInovasi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yayasaninovasimalaysia
• Instagraminstagram.com/yayasaninovasi
• TikToktiktok.com/@yayasaninovasi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia