USM takes research beyond the lab

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has secured RM1.202 million in new funding from Intel Malaysia and Micron Memory Malaysia, fueling Malaysia's push to advance semiconductor capabilities and transform university research into real-world applications. At the University Research and Innovation Investment Summit (URIIS) 2026, USM's Vice-Chancellor emphasized the funding as a response to the persistent challenge of moving promising research from publications to commercial validation.

Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the critical gap between research and market adoption, urging three shifts: moving from grants to broader capital ecosystems, transitioning from research outputs to real-world solutions, and fostering enterprise and ownership. With a strong innovation base, Malaysia ranked 34th globally in the Global Innovation Index 2025 and second among upper-middle-income economies.

The strategic goal is to connect top ideas with credible partners, capital, and clear pathways to scale. URIIS 2026 brought together universities, investors, industry, and policymakers around 200 investment-potential technologies across nine sectors. USM showcased its model, with Intel Malaysia and Micron Memory Malaysia pledging RM482,000 and RM720,000 respectively.

The USM-Intel partnership, active since 2023, has funded 11 advanced packaging projects and introduced industry-aligned education programs and a joint lab. Malaysia's position as a leading innovation hub is further enhanced by USM's international collaborations, including an MoU with Leave a Nest Japan, fostering connections with research, development, and investment opportunities worth US$120,000.