University-Industry Collaboration: The Role of a Research Centre of Excellence in Malaysia

Abstract

This paper highlights the significant role of a university in developing wealth and generating the economy in the move towards knowledge-based economy. The late main economic theories emphasise that intangible elements play an important part in the economic growth. In fulfilling this role, the governments are now actively promoting the university-industry collaboration in the hope that the transition of knowledge and discoveries could be passed on to the marketplace faster thus offering competitive advantage for the industry. Having considered the important role of an excellent research centre in developing the economy of a country, more research centres need to be established especially in the process of fulfilling the aspire of creating many research universities in Malaysia. This paper displays various factors that have led to the creation of the Malaysian Research Centre for Logistics and Supply Chain at the Malaysia Institute of Transport (MITRANS).