USM PENANG, 3 March 2026 – The Industry-University Research and Innovation Investment Dialogue 2026 (URIIS 2026) has been hailed as a strategic platform to drive impactful research and innovation investments, aligning closely with the real needs of industry.

Jointly organised by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) through its Office of Industry and Community Network, the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), the programme was held at the NCER Technology Innovation Centre (NTIC).

URIIS 2026 brought together 48 industry leaders and 52 representatives from public universities, fostering stronger strategic collaboration in research and innovation.

The dialogue aimed to identify barriers to R&D and innovation investment from the industry’s perspective, propose practical solutions, and establish a foundational framework for future discussions.

Key themes included aligning research priorities with industry demands, exploring collaboration and funding pathways, bridging academic and technological readiness gaps, and shaping policy-driven investment strategies to accelerate commercialisation of university research outputs.

Focus areas highlighted during the program included Semiconductors and Electrical & Electronics (E&E), Advanced Manufacturing and AI Robotics, Aerospace, Automotive, Medical Devices and Life Sciences, Agritech and Food Biotechnology, and Logistics.

USM’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, Professor Dr. Habibah A Wahab, delivered a keynote address titled “Advancing Northern Industries with USM”, showcasing USM’s R&D strengths, niche expertise, and collaboration opportunities with industry players.

She also outlined incentives available to industry partners engaging in R&D collaborations with USM.

Also present were the General Manager of Investment-Manufacturing, NCER Investment Division, S. Asmazura Ismail; UPM’s Deputy Director of Professional Advancement, Associate Professor Dr. Sudesh Prabhakaran who introduced URIIS; along with Deputy Vice-Chancellors from several other public universities who presented their respective initiatives.

Original Text: Eliza Yasmin Dahlan, BJIM, USM/Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin/Photo: Ebrahim Abdul Manan & Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER)