Kuala Lumpur, 7 April 2026 – The Public-Private Research Network (PPRN) Conference 2026 was held at Wyndham Grand Bangsar Kuala Lumpur, with approximately 500 participants comprising academics, researchers, industry players, and relevant agencies.

The program, organized by the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT) in collaboration with Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), was officiated by Zambry Abdul Kadir, the Minister of Higher Education. The conference served as a strategic platform to highlight the impact of PPRN projects through forums, exhibitions, and industry networking sessions.

A total of 20 innovation projects based on industry demand were showcased during the conference, involving 20 public universities. Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) was represented by Associate Professor Siti Sarah Othman together with industry partner Infinite Opportunities through a project on the safety assessment of a local perfume product, SugarBomb.

In addition, the Research Management Centre of Universiti Putra Malaysia (RMC UPM) promoted the Double Tax Deduction (DTD) incentive to industry players. As an institution recognized by the Ministry of Finance Malaysia, RMC UPM plays a role in facilitating DTD applications to encourage research collaboration and enhance funding opportunities.

The conference reflects an ongoing commitment to strengthening synergy between academia and industry towards the commercialization of high-impact research outcomes.