Local Start-Up Assistance through Innovation and Community Engagement
Universiti Sains Malaysia provides free assistance in the local community supporting the start-up of financially and socially sustainable businesses through its Social Innovation and Knowledge Transfer Unit under the Division of Industry and Community Network (DICN) and the Centre for Innovation and Consultation (CiC). These initiatives combine mentorship programmes, training workshops, and access to university expertise and facilities to strengthen entrepreneurship capacity and promote inclusive, sustainable enterprise development.
In February 2024, USM organised the Kampus Tani Hydroponic Project in collaboration with the Penang State Department of Agriculture. This hands-on training workshop equipped low-income staff with practical skills in hydroponic cultivation, nutrient formulation, and sustainable farming techniques. The programme not only fostered environmental awareness but also provided participants with income-generating opportunities, supporting both financial resilience and community greening. In June 2024, BJIM launched the Gate to Borderless Market (GBM’24) programme for Bumiputera entrepreneurs in Penang, offering comprehensive business mentoring, digital commerce training, and micro-credential certification, all free of charge. The initiative enabled participants to enhance product quality, packaging standards, market access, and financial literacy while connecting them with government and industry mentors.
In December 2024, the SIPS Gula Apong Premium Commercialisation Project extended USM’s community-based entrepreneurship efforts to Sarawak. Conducted with SPL Food Industries Sdn. Bhd., the programme provided training on sustainable production practices, introduced standard operating procedures for clean sugar processing, and distributed production equipment to local participants, supporting continuous small-scale enterprise development within rural communities.
Complementing these community-focused programmes, the Centre for Innovation and Consultation (CiC USM) held the Bengkel Kertas Strategi Syarikat Pemula/Syarikat Terbitan Universiti from 22 to 23 December 2024 at the Olive Tree Hotel, Penang. The two-day strategic workshop, attended by senior USM leadership and innovation experts, focused on strengthening the university’s start-up and spin-off ecosystem through policy alignment, legal guidance, and innovation strategy development.
Through these combined efforts, USM demonstrates a strong institutional commitment to advancing social innovation, entrepreneurship, and community empowerment. By providing free education, mentorship, and resource access, the university plays an active role in nurturing financially and socially sustainable start-ups, contributing to inclusive local economic growth and Malaysia’s broader sustainable development agenda.
