SME INNOVATION DAY 2026: USM LAUNCHES AI PLATFORM, STRENGTHENS INDUSTRY COLLABORATION WORTH RM1.2 MILLION
PENANG, 6 August 2026 – More than 150 representatives from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and experts from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) gathered for SME Innovation Day 2026, an initiative under the USM-SME Synergy Program organised by the USM Industrial and Community Network Division (BJIM), which serves as a platform to strengthen collaboration between universities and industries in driving innovation, digitalisation, and local technology development.
This program focuses on various strategic fields including digitalisation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), data analytics, automation, research and development (R&D), product innovation, intellectual property, commercialisation, and talent development to support the growth and competitiveness of enterprises.
In the welcoming speech delivered by Associate Professor Ts Dr. Wan Maryam Wan Ahmad Kamil, the Director of the Industrial Network, Industrial and Community Network Division (BJIM) of USM, emphasized that the synergy between universities and industries is a crucial catalyst in accelerating technology transfer, generating high-value innovations, and strengthening the national innovation ecosystem.
“We are forging sustainable and meaningful collaborations with the companies that are present with us today, to build a competitive economic ecosystem for tomorrow,” she said.
According to her, the effectiveness of this collaboration is demonstrated through the signing of 9 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) today, which reflects a mutual commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership between USM and industry partners.
SME Innovations Day 2026 also witnessed two major announcements, namely the launch of the AI-powered Enterprise Innovation Platform (EIP) and the achievement of RM1.2 million in project value and collaboration through the USM-SME Cluster.
The EIP platform was developed to expedite the matching process between industry needs and the expertise, technology, and research facilities possessed by USM, thereby strengthening the collaboration network among experts from USM, SMEs, and industry strategic partners.
In addition, the achievement of the RM1.2 million project demonstrates the effectiveness of USM’s collaboration with the industry through various initiatives such as contract research, technology development, professional training, digitalisation, and automation, which are expected to have a positive impact on productivity, innovation, and the competitiveness of enterprises at both the national and international levels.