YBhg. Datuk Professor Dr. Azlinda binti Azman
Director General, Department of Higher Education
Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia
The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), through the Department of Higher Education (JPT), takes great pride in leading the implementation of the University Research & Innovation Investment Summit (URIIS) 2026 - a national initiative positioning Malaysia’s universities as catalysts for research investment, innovation, and sustainable economic growth.
Guided by the vision of YB Minister of Higher Education, the Department remains committed to transforming Malaysia’s higher-education ecosystem from institutions of knowledge creation into dynamic, investment-ready drivers of economic value through research, innovation, and strategic partnership.
As Malaysia’s national platform for research and innovation investment, URIIS 2026 unites ministries, universities, industries, investors, and development agencies under one coordinated ecosystem. Led by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) through its Centre for Industrial Relations & Networks (CiRNeT) as the Main Secretariat, and involving all 20 public universities along with private-sector partners, this initiative embodies the collective mission to build a cohesive, high-impact innovation ecosystem that connects academia, industry, and investors.
URIIS 2026 supports Malaysia’s aspirations under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMKe-13), the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030), and the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) - aligning higher education with the nation’s pursuit of technological advancement, green transition, and inclusive growth. Through structured pre-summit workshops, soft launch sessions, research showcases, regional investment roadshows, and the main summit in July 2026, URIIS will feature investible university portfolios and facilitate partnerships that attract both domestic and foreign direct investment.
JPT commends the strong leadership of UPM and CiRNeT in coordinating multiple working committees and nationwide engagements with the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), economic corridors, government-linked investment companies (GLICs), and industry leaders such as Siemens, NXP Malaysia, and SanDisk.
Across the university network, significant partnerships have emerged, reflecting the collective strength of Malaysia’s higher-education ecosystem:
- UPM with NXP Malaysia, Siemens, MIDA, NCIA, SEDIA, RECODA, and Yayasan Sarawak - advancing agro-technology, semiconductors, and green innovation;
- USIM with Invest Negeri Sembilan - promoting halal and social-enterprise innovation;
- UUM with MSM Malaysia Holdings Berhad - advancing supply-chain and logistics analytics;
- UPSI with Arctic Nest Oy (Finland) and Yayasan Hasanah - expanding education technology and sustainable learning systems;
- USM with SanDisk, Intel, Oppstar, NI Malaysia, and TEL - leading Malaysia’s semiconductor and microelectronics advancement; and
- UMPSA with CyberSecurity Malaysia and EV Plus Mobility Solutions - driving innovation in cybersecurity and electric mobility.
These collaborations exemplify how Malaysian universities are translating research excellence into economic value - ensuring that innovation produces technologies, policies, and solutions that strengthen national competitiveness.
Most importantly, URIIS 2026 reinforces the belief that university excellence must yield tangible societal and economic outcomes. Research must move beyond publications and prototypes to create real-world impact - improving lives, enabling industries, and building a resilient economy.
On behalf of the Ministry of Higher Education and the Department of Higher Education, I extend my deepest appreciation to YB Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir, Minister of Higher Education, for his leadership and vision; to all Vice-Chancellors and universities for their collective commitment; and to our strategic partners - including MIDA, NCIA, SEDIA, RECODA, InvestKL, InvestPenang, and Yayasan Sarawak - for their continued collaboration in realising this transformative national agenda.
URIIS 2026 marks the beginning of a sustained journey of university–industry synergy - transforming Malaysia’s research landscape beyond 2026 and ensuring our universities remain engines of innovation, prosperity, and sustainable development.