URIIS 2026

The University Research & Innovation Investment Summit (URIIS 2026) is a national initiative jointly organised by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) and the Department of Higher Education (JPT), in collaboration with all 20 public universities in Malaysia.

The event is coordinated by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) through the Centre for Industry Relations and Networking (CiRNeT) and will be held from 22 to 23 September 2026 in Kuala Lumpur.

URIIS 2026 serves as a national strategic platform to position Malaysian universities as a hub for investment and innovation, connecting world-class research with industry, investors, and policymakers.

This initiative ensures the national education and research ecosystem is converted into tangible innovation, commercial outcomes, and high-impact talent development.

• Position universities as strategic destinations for investment in research and innovation.
• Stimulate foreign direct investment (FDI) and domestic direct investment (DDI) in high-impact research and development (R&D) sectors.
• Strengthen Malaysia’s global standing as a regional hub for innovation and technology investment.
• Accelerate the commercialization and technology transfer between academia and industry.
• Align the national research ecosystem with forward-looking priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Although Malaysia has a strong foundation in research excellence, the university ecosystem is still under-recognized by industry as a strategic investment destination..

Despite various initiatives to strengthen university–industry collaboration, large-scale strategic investment in higher education institutions remains limited
URIIS 2026 aims to bridge this gap — positioning universities not merely as centres of knowledge, but as innovation engines that are investable..

By positioning universities as key players in the national innovation economy, this summit highlights the true economic value of research and development (R&D) by connecting ideas, capital, and policy within a cohesive national platform.

Through URIIS 2026, Malaysian higher education institutions will:

• Generate new revenue streams by transforming research outputs into market-ready solutions.
• Strengthen university–industry partnerships through joint innovation projects and investment.
• Develop Industry-on-Campus (IoC) collaboration models for real-world impact.
• Align research and innovation with national agendas, including the “Made by Malaysia” initiative and the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK-13).
• Position Malaysian universities as strategic investment partners to drive regional innovation, technology transfer, and economic growth.

Participants Include:

• Universities and Research Institutions.
• Industry and Corporate Leaders.
• Venture Capital Firms and Institutional Investors.
• Government Agencies and Policymakers.
• International Delegates.

Engagement Platforms:

• Investor Pavilion / Innovation Space.
• Closed-Door Investment Roundtable Sessions.
• Pitch Sessions & Networking Events.
• MoU Signing Ceremonies.

• Value of MoUs/MoAs signed
• Total cumulative investment commitments
• Number of R&D and commercialization projects initiated
• Conversion rate to formal investment agreements
• Engagement of students, researchers, and startup companies
• Monitoring of implementation from August to December 2026

© 2026 University Research & Innovation Investment Summit (URIIS 2026)
Coordinated by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) through CiRNeT