PUTRAJAYA, 6 November – Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), through its Centre for Industry Relations and Networks (CiRNeT) in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE), has unveiled the pre-launch of the University Research and Innovation Investment Summit (URIIS) 2026—a high-impact national initiative aimed at transforming the university research landscape towards high-value investments and sustainable socioeconomic outcomes.
The event was officiated by the Minister of Higher Education, Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir, witnessed by the Director-General of Higher Education, Datuk Prof. Dr. Azlinda Azman, the Executive Director of MIDA, and UPM Vice-Chancellor, Dato’ Prof. Ir. Dr. Ahmad Farhan Mohd. Sadullah.
UPM Vice-Chancellor Dato’ Prof. Ir. Dr. Ahmad Farhan said URIIS 2026 would serve as a strategic platform bringing together academic leaders, industry stakeholders and investors to strengthen the nation’s research ecosystem while expanding Malaysia’s higher education innovation potential on the global stage.
“Universities are not merely centres of learning—they are catalysts of transformation that shape industries, empower communities and define the nation’s future. Through URIIS, we aim to build a strong bridge between university research excellence, industry needs and investor confidence,” he said.
He added that the initiative aligns with key national agendas, including the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK-13), the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030), the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Every investment in research must translate into innovation that creates jobs, develops talent and strengthens Malaysia’s economic resilience,” he said.
As the secretariat for the Research 2026 implementation, UPM is entrusted to coordinate the initiative with support from the Department of Higher Education, public and private universities, as well as strategic partners including MIDA, NCIA, RECODA, SEDIA, InvestKL and InvestPenang.
CiRNeT UPM’s Head of Strategic Industry Collaboration, Zaidi Tajuddin, said URIIS 2026 will be the first platform involving all 20 Malaysian public universities with the objective of attracting direct industry investments into university research outputs.
“URIIS is not just a research summit—it is a catalyst for building a culture of investment in innovation. It opens pathways for industries to directly fund university R&D projects, thus reducing reliance on government grants,” he said.
He further said that URIIS 2026 reflects a “Whole-of-Nation” approach, integrating the strengths of academia, industry and government to position Malaysia as a regional leader in research-driven innovation.
“More than a summit, URIIS 2026 represents a national movement. It places knowledge at the core of value creation and innovation as a driver of economic growth. The summit connects the world of education with the economy, uniting national aspirations toward a prosperous and resilient future,” he said.
URIIS 2026 is scheduled for its full official launch next year and is expected to become the new milestone in strengthening university research ecosystem grounded in strategic investments and high-impact contributions to national socioeconomic development.
