KPT Aims to Strengthen University-Industry Ties, Prioritise Impact-Driven Research – Zambry
KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Higher Education (KPT) is stepping up efforts to strengthen ties between public universities and industry to improve the commercialisation rate of the country’s research output, which remains a major challenge in the innovation ecosystem.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir said the government is placing emphasis on an impact-driven research approach to ensure that every research outcome can be translated into economic value and benefits for industry.
He said this approach differs from previous methods, which were largely publication-based.
“However, we are now focusing on impact-driven research, which is how research output can be directly utilised. This is the approach that has been changed, including in terms of creating a better ecosystem in the relationship between industry and universities,” he said during a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was responding to a question from Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng (BN-Tanjung Piai) regarding the ministry’s strategy in driving high-impact research and development (R&D) at public institutions of higher learning (IPTA), including aspects of funding policy, technology transfer mechanisms to industry, and innovation commercialisation achievements over the past three years.
Zambry said over the past three years, KPT has implemented a strategic plan focused on research capable of solving industrial and societal challenges, rather than relying entirely on academic output.
He said all IPTA, particularly the five research universities, continue to be strengthened to lead world-class research in critical fields such as food security, green technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced engineering.
This move has seen more than 200 products from public university research successfully commercialised, while 286 technologies and know-how have been licensed to industry from 2022 to 2024.
He said the effectiveness of the entire strategy chain, including funding in R&D and innovation for each public university, is also measured through the Malaysia Research Assessment.
These initiatives include the Malaysia Lab for Academia-Business Collaboration (MyLAB) programme, the Industry Matching Grant Programme and the Public-Private Research Network (PPRN) to reduce dependence on government funding while ensuring research meets market demand.
As a way forward, Zambry said KPT will organise the University Research, Innovation and Investment Summit this September, which will connect industry and investors to produce investable research and drive frontier innovation, thereby strengthening Malaysia’s position as Asia’s technology and innovation investment hub.
Bernama