Public Research Institutions (PRIs) play a pivotal role in delivering socially inclusive innovation by bridging scientific knowledge with community needs. Moving beyond industrial research and policy support, PRIs increasingly contribute to public value by integrating co-creation, participatory methods, and mission-oriented research. The Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) exemplifies this transformation. Through structured rice varietal research and development (R&D), MARDI enhances food security while engaging smallholder farmers in late-stage trials. Besides, the URBANkit™ Aquaponic System showcases a grassroots-driven innovation led by a MARDI researcher that scaled through institutional support and community partnership. Both cases reveal how PRIs navigate between top-down mandates and bottom-up experimentation to foster inclusive development. Strategic collaborations, cross-sector partnerships, and policy alignment further enable PRIs to democratise science and address real-world challenges. Repositioning PRIs as socially engaged institutions ensures that science serves the broader goals of sustainability, equity, and public empowerment.