Conceived under the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) and led by the Department of Higher Education (JPT), URIIS 2026 represents a new model of collaboration - uniting public universities, industries, investors, and development agencies to drive Malaysia’s transition toward a knowledge-driven, innovation-led economy.
Anchored by the theme “Research and Innovation Investment through Collaborative Partnerships for a Sustainable Future,” URIIS 2026 positions Malaysia’s higher-education ecosystem as a strategic partner in national growth - connecting ideas to impact and research to real-world results.
URIIS 2026 aligns directly with Malaysia’s key national frameworks - the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMKe-13), New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030), National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), and Ekonomi MADANI - ensuring that innovation, sustainability, and inclusive prosperity are interlinked. It also supports the government’s call to diversify research funding and reduce reliance on public allocations, positioning universities as investment-ready R&D ecosystems that generate economic and societal value.
The initiative is coordinated by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) through its Centre for Industrial Relations and Networks (CiRNeT) as the Main Secretariat, involving all 20 public universities alongside key industry and government partners. Together, they form a coordinated innovation network - aligning national research priorities with high-impact investment opportunities.
More than a single event, URIIS 2026 is a national movement to unlock the full potential of Malaysia’s universities - transforming them into engines of innovation, enterprise, and sustainable prosperity for the nation and the region.