RM400 million research fund for public and private universities

• RM400 million research grant to be made available for public and private universities
• Funds are expected to bolster research on nanotechnology, automotive, biotechnology and aerospace

To help create high-impact research, researchers from all public and private universities will be able to apply for grants from a RM400 millin fund under the Higher Education Ministry starting next year.

Its Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin believes it was time researchers in other public universities were given access to government grants so that they were able to conduct more research which would benefit the nation in the long run.

Another RM600 million has been set aside exclusively for the country's five research universities in fields such as nanotechnology, automotive, biotechnology and aerospace. The five research universities are Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Malaya and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

"Researchers in private universities who are in collaboration with their counterparts in the 15 public universities will also be allowed to apply for these grants," he added.