WITH Malaysia’s universities holding a wealth of research and innovation, stronger industry and investor partnerships are needed to turn promising ideas into solutions that can be tested, adopted and brought to market.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said industry should look beyond universities as a source of graduates and work more closely with researchers to identify problems, develop and test solutions, and create pathways for technologies to reach the market.
“Do not come to our universities only when you need graduates. Come with your problems. Come with your challenges,” he said at the opening of the University Research & Innovation Investment Summit (Uriis) 2026 in Kuala Lumpur on Sept 22.
Zambry also urged companies to look at what Malaysian universities can offer before turning to overseas sources for technology and solutions.
He added that investors should view university researchers not only as academics, but also as potential innovators, entrepreneurs and business partners.
“Every promising innovation needs someone prepared to say: ‘We will test it. We will use it. We will invest in it’,” he said.
At the same time, he called on researchers to become more attuned to industry needs and the market by considering who could use their technology, what problem it solves and whether it can be scaled.
“Research cannot end with a publication. Innovation cannot end with a patent. A prototype cannot remain in the laboratory. A discovery must become a solution. A prototype must become a product and an idea must become an opportunity,” he said.
Universities, he stressed, need to turn research and innovation into solutions that can be used in the real world.
Zambry urged universities to become more agile, ensuring that promising ideas are not held back by slow decision-making, unnecessary bureaucracy or institutional boundaries.
“What we need is confidence, speed, partnership and execution. We must shorten the journey from research to market, laboratory to industry and discovery to impact,” he said.
Held from Sept 21 to 23, Uriis 2026 was Malaysia’s inaugural national platform dedicated to connecting university research with investment and industry.
Hosted by the Higher Education Ministry and coordinated by Universiti Putra Malaysia as the main secretariat, the summit brought together 20 public universities alongside key industry and government partners.
The summit covered nine strategic sectors, including food security, healthcare, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, green technology, mobility, defence and biodiversity.
Zambry said the summit’s success should ultimately be measured by what happens after the event, including whether Malaysian technologies are tested, adopted, invested in and scaled.
“Most importantly, innovation must improve lives. It must benefit our industries and businesses, but also our farmers, rural communities, healthcare providers and ordinary Malaysians,” he added.
Also present at the event were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, Higher Education secretary-general Datuk Dr Aminuddin Hassim and Higher Education director-general Prof Datuk Dr Azlinda Azman.
