Technology and telecommunications companies should increase their investments in universities to help develop and test new ideas and technologies before they are brought into real-world use, Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said.
He said universities needed world-class connectivity to provide an environment where new technologies could be tested, developed and refined.
Fahmi said technology and telecommunications companies should also view universities as places to shape the next generation of users who would eventually adopt their products and services.
“Students are not merely a group that receives knowledge or tests an idea. They will become part of the generation of technology users and consumers.
“Exposure to technology while at university could influence their consumption habits and approach to technological advancement and connectivity once they enter the workforce,” he said.
Fahmi was speaking at the University Research and Innovation Investment Summit (URIIS) 2026 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur today.
He said changes in consumer behaviour would be important in helping move pilot initiatives and technologies tested in universities into real-world applications.
Meanwhile, Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said the potential for innovation would remain limited if universities were viewed merely as testing grounds for pilot projects without considering how they could shape future consumer behaviour.
He said closer collaboration between industry players and academics could transform universities from institutions focused mainly on knowledge transfer into foundations for building Malaysia’s future digital society.
“This change in perspective is important to help Malaysia move from testing ideas and technologies to wider real-world applications,” he said.
