Ministry launches 2 initiatives to boost IP commercialisation

The Malaysian Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living has introduced two new initiatives to enhance the commercialization of intellectual property (IP). One of these initiatives is a RM1 million fund to assist local companies in covering the expenses of professional IP valuation services. The fund's primary objective is to aid technology-based startups and small to medium-sized enterprises in securing financing, as they often lack traditional physical collateral.

The second initiative is Malaysia's inaugural IP valuation module, which aims to establish standard valuation practices and facilitate the training of local IP valuation experts.

The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living's Minister, Armizan Mohd Ali, emphasized that these two initiatives would work together to create a more structured IP-backed financing system. The fund will enable companies to access valuable valuation services, while the module will bolster the expertise, standards, and capacity necessary to conduct IP valuations effectively.

The launch of these initiatives coincided with the National Intellectual Property Commercialisation Conference and Exhibition (IP Confex) 2026, which was held at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur. The two-day event attracted more than 500 participants, including industry professionals, financial institutions, researchers, innovators, and government agencies.

During the conference, Armizan also announced strategic collaborations between MyIPO and six organizations, such as the World Intellectual Property Organisation, Multimedia University, and the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation. These partnerships aim to strengthen MyIPO's international and local networks, as well as promote the sharing of expertise, capacity-building, and commercialization efforts for local IP assets.