The Innovations Office was set up to enable discoveries, inventions, innovations, services and knowledge created by its researchers to be to taken to industry and the market in an efficient manner. It does this by playing an important central role in connecting USM researchers to other researchers (within or outside of USM), business arms of USM as well as directly to the industry by providing relevant communication channels and processes. In addition, it provides a range of services that supports researchers in commercialising their research products that includes legal, patent search, intellectual property protection, company incorporation, exhibition and other services.

The Innovations Office, working together with various units of the University and the business arms of USM, brings expertise from both academic and industrial backgrounds to assist USM to maximise the University's contribution towards nation-building via the growth of new knowledge-based industries throughout the nation. The Innovations Office is headed by its current Director, Prof. Zainul Fadziruddin Zainuddin.