KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian research has commercial potential but there must be greater confidence, stronger partnerships and faster execution to bring it to market, says Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.
The Higher Education Minister called on universities to move research and innovation beyond the laboratory and turn them into solutions that people can use.
"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 in his opening speech at the University Research and Innovation Investment Summit (Uriis) 2026 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur here on Tuesday (Sept 22).
He noted that the Malaysian Research and Development Commercialisation Portal currently records more than 500 matched patents, valued at over RM2bil, with more than 120 active missions.
"This shows that Malaysia does not lack ideas or talent," he said, adding that the challenge is to turn research output into applicable solutions.
To achieve this, Zambry said universities must also become more agile and ensure that promising ideas are not held back by slow decision-making, unnecessary bureaucracy, or institutional boundaries.
The Uriis 2026 connects university research with industry, investment and market needs to accelerate innovation commercialisation and maximise its impact on society and the nation.
Coordinated by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) as the main secretariat, the summit runs until Wednesday (Sept 23) and brings together 20 public universities alongside key industry and government partners to match technologies and expertise with industry and market needs.
"Uriis cannot become another conference where we meet, deliver speeches, open booths, exchange business cards and then go home," Zambry said.
Instead, the success of the summit should be measured by what happens afterwards, including investments secured, technologies licensed, pilot projects launched, partnerships formed and solutions brought to market, he added.
"We want Malaysian technologies to be tested, adopted, invested in and scaled," he said.
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 director-general Datuk Prof Azlinda Azman and Higher Education secretary-general Datuk Dr Aminuddin Hassim.
