Centre for Industrial Relation and Network (CiRNeT), Universiti Putra Malaysia

What Centre for Industrial Relation and Network (CiRNeT), Universiti Putra Malaysia does

Centre for Industrial Relation and Network (CiRNeT) is a 5-person industry liaison centre embedded within Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), a Malaysian public research university, operating under the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Industry & Community Relations). Its mandate is to act as the sole institutional bridge between UPM's faculties, institutes, and research centres and external industry partners, coordinating programs covering student and staff development, industrial training, internships, R&D grants, consultation, contract research, and the CEO@Faculty programme. Rather than a commercial software or services firm, CiRNeT is structured as a non-profit intermediary whose work product is partnerships, training events, MoU/MoA execution, and placement of UPM students and researchers into industry settings domestically and across Korea, Thailand, Australia, Luxembourg, and New Zealand.

The centre's core technology asset is the internal Industry Collaboration Records and Information System (ICRIS), used to track partnership activities and collaboration metrics across UPM's organizational units, paired with the JINM Scope HiStaf system for PTJ-level reporting. Operational products include the CEO@Faculty Programme (industry-leader engagement), iDiLS (industry expert sharing sessions), industrial training and internship placement services, and a training & consultation practice covering grants, attachments, incubators, and Industry Centre of Excellence (ICOE) programs. Outcomes attributed to facilitated projects include a 25% uplift in water-use efficiency via IoT-driven automated irrigation in Selangor, a 30% yield improvement via GPS-guided rice planting in Kedah, and a 30x production increase from an innovative misai kucing harvester.

Commercially, CiRNeT's revenue mechanics are indirect: input data shows two streams, grant funding from government and industry partners for collaborative projects, and professional services in the form of training, consultation, and workshop facilitation. Specific pricing is not publicly disclosed, services are primarily non-commercial, and the centre is funded through UPM's budgets and partner contributions rather than transactional billing. Customer segmentation is institutional (UPM students, UPM academics, industry partners, and government bodies) rather than commercial-buyer led, and engagement is driven via direct liaison, MoU ceremonies, the e-PUTRA newsletter, and social channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok).

Name

Centre for Industrial Relation and Network (CiRNeT), Universiti Putra Malaysia

Legal name

Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)

Website

https://cirnet.upm.edu.my

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CiRNeT is the 5-person industry liaison centre within Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) that brokers industry-academia partnerships, industrial training, R&D grants, consultation, and the CEO@Faculty programme across Malaysian and international companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

University-Industry Liaison Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Universities with Strong Industry Partnerships (EDAHAEAG)

Keywords

• Industry academia liaison
• University industry partnerships
• Industrial training programs
• Research collaboration services
• Contract research consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Serdang

HQ country

Malaysia

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: Research and development grants from government and industry partners for collaborative projects
2. Professional Services: Training programs, consultation services, and workshop facilitation for industry partners and government agencies

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CiRNeT is the central industry liaison office of Universiti Putra Malaysia, brokering strategic collaboration between UPM's faculties and research centers with domestic and international industry partners. Its core deliverables include student and staff industrial training placements, career and internship pathways, research and development grant facilitation, consulting work, and contract research projects. It also runs structured engagement programs such as the CEO@Faculty Programme and iDiLS to transfer knowledge between industry leaders and the university community.

Product overview

CiRNeT (Centre for Industrial Relation and Network) is an industry liaison and networking center under Universiti Putra Malaysia's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Industry & Community Relations) office. Rather than a technology product company, CiRNeT provides industry-academia bridging services including the CEO@Faculty Programme for connecting students with industry leaders, ICRIS for managing collaboration projects, industrial training and internship placements, and various training/consultation programs. The center focuses on facilitating strategic collaborations between UPM and industry partners across multiple sectors including agriculture, technology, and manufacturing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CEO@Faculty Programme An industry engagement initiative connecting UPM students and staff with CEOs from major companies (e.g., Tony Fernandes of AirAsia, Bakke Salleh of Sime Darby) for mentorship, insights, and direct interaction with industry leaders.
• Industrial Training Programs Placement programs offering UPM students and staff opportunities in domestic and foreign industries, covering industrial training, attachment training, student mobility (inbound & outbound), and internship volunteer roles.
• Training and Consultation Services Professional development and consulting services for industry partners and UPM staff, encompassing grants facilitation (research/development), attachment programs, consultation, incubator support, and Industry Centre of Excellence (ICOE) programs.
• iDiLS (Industry-Driven Learning and Sharing) Industry expert sharing sessions and student industrial project programs that connect UPM students with industry professionals for practical knowledge transfer and project-based learning.

Quantifiable outcome

• Enhanced water-use efficiency by 25% through automated irrigation systems in Selangor agricultural regions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Perodua Sales Sdn. Bhd.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 December 2024Strategic collaboration between UPM and Perodua for staff development. Prof. Dr. Shamsul Bahri, Director of CiRNeT UPM, served as key speaker at two-day Emotional Intelligence and Resilience at Work (EIRA) training program for Perodua staff in Rawang.
• DAGAM Farm, Korea SelatancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational MoU signing between UPM and DAGAM Farm Korea for student industrial training exchanges. Students from horticulture, agriculture, and animal science programs were placed for training at DAGAM Farm Korea.
• PKT Logistics Group Sdn BhdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic collaboration recognized during PKT's 50th anniversary celebration where UPM was honored as Strategic Partner. Includes official visits, student placement discussions, and ongoing collaboration programs.
• FELCRA BERHADcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership between UPM and FELCRA BERHAD to drive excellence in agriculture sector. CiRNeT facilitates coordination between university faculties and FELCRA operations.
• MaybankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple collaborations including mental health programs, Cashville Kidz programme at FACE UPM, industry grant pitching sessions, and community engagement initiatives.
• AirAsiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership including CEO@Faculty program with Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, UPM-AirAsia livery launch, internship programs, and mental health collaboration initiatives.
• PETRONAS Carigali Sdn BhdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTree-planting program collaboration at Sultan Idris Shah Forest Education Centre (SISFEC) supporting environmental sustainability initiatives.
• Malaysia Green Technology And Climate Change Centre (MGTC)coreTechnology or IntegrationMoC exchange ceremony, Green Campus Tour 2021 program, IGEM program collaboration, and various green technology initiatives supporting climate-smart agriculture.
• Bank RakyatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Agriculture Overview training program, employee well-being initiatives, back pain prevention programs, and staff competence improvement training.
• Puncak RM Sdn. Bhd.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoA signing ceremony, Graphene Battery project development for future electric vehicles, and agricultural product development (Budu) collaborations.
• RHB Islamic BanksecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership discussions for potential collaborations and marine aqua ecosystem project exploration.
• Phison Electronics CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signing ceremony between UPM and Phison Electronics Corporation for technology collaboration.
• Octrex HoldingssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerExploration of agricultural collaboration opportunities facilitated by CiRNeT.
• HINOsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPotential collaboration discussions for community development and human capital enhancement initiatives.
• SHELLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHSSE program collaboration, forest tree-planting activities at SISFEC, and agrovoltaic LSS projects.
• Micron Memory Malaysia Sdn BhdsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial visit and cooperation discussions including visit to Micron Memory Malaysia facility in Penang.
• REHAU Polymer Sdn BhdsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeeting organized between REHAU Polymer and UPM Vice Chancellor facilitated by CiRNeT.
• MDECcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital Agtech Adoption project, Innovation Voucher programs, cooperation in high-performance agriculture development, and various digital technology initiatives.
• Malaysia Timber CouncilsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU between Malaysia Timber Council, Malaysian universities, and timber associations facilitated by CiRNeT.
• Aerodyne GroupcoreTechnology or IntegrationCEO@Engineering appointment, courtesy call discussions, and collaboration exploration in aquaculture and drone technology.
• McDonald's MalaysiasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerExploration of potential partnerships for various collaboration opportunities.
• L'Oréal MalaysiasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerManagement Trainee 2021 recruitment program facilitated by CiRNeT for UPM students.
• Sime DarbycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEO@Faculty program with Tan Sri Bakke Salleh, Bintulu campus engagement, and Bintulu students insights sharing sessions.
• Genting PlantationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndowment scholarship program with Tan Sri Dr. Lim Goh Tong Foundation, technical day participation, and scholarship handover ceremonies.
• DreamEDGE Sdn. Bhd.secondaryTechnology or IntegrationOfficial visit to UPM, collaboration discussions with faculties including FRSB, and Idea Factory partnership exploration.
• ARB BerhadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering faculty visit, strategic partnership discussions, and IP transfer to JV company collaboration.
• KOPETROcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signing ceremony to strengthen strategic partnership between UPM and KOPETRO.
• WelloussecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerClosing ceremony of Health and Wellness Fundamentals Program collaboration.
• Axiata Digital LabssecondaryTechnology or IntegrationDiscussion session exploring collaboration potential in natural resource digitization.
• FAACP EnterprisesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeedlot cattle farm professional service visit in Melaka and ongoing collaboration discussions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• SIRIM Berhad: Malaysia's government-owned standards, quality and industrial research agency. Comparable as a broader entity that conducts certification (CiRNeT itself holds SIRIM ISO 9001:2015), applied research and industry partnership programmes across many of the same sectors CiRNeT engages.
• A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research): Singapore's public R&D agency that convenes university-industry collaborations, talent pipelines and joint labs. Comparable mission to CiRNeT but at national scale and with a much larger budget and headcount.
• MIMOS Berhad: National applied R&D agency under the Ministry of Science that brokers university-industry technology partnerships (e.g. with UPM, USM and others). Overlaps with CiRNeT in digital-agtech and innovation-voucher programmes but at national scale.

Direct peers

• Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Industry Linkages Unit: UMS runs industry linkages and community programmes for an East Malaysian public university, pursuing many of the same corporate training, R&D and student placement engagements that CiRNeT pursues for UPM.
• Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Industry & Community Partnerships: UKM's industry and community partnership office plays the same liaison role for a Malaysian public research university, competing for the same corporate partners and government grant pools that CiRNeT depends on.
• Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Industry Relations Office: UTM's industry relations function connects engineering and technology research to industry partners — closely aligned with CiRNeT's Industry Centre of Excellence (ICOE) and CEO@Faculty programmes in technical domains.
• Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Industry & Community Network: USM operates an industry and community engagement office with comparable functions: industry MoUs, student industrial training, contract research and consulting. Comparable in being a public Malaysian research university with a centralized industry liaison mandate.
• Universiti Malaya (UM) Industry Liaison / UMCIC: Universiti Malaya runs an industry and commercialization office (UMCIC) that mirrors CiRNeT's mandate to connect a major Malaysian research university with corporate and government partners. It is the closest domestic peer in scope, geography and customer profile.
• Monash University Malaysia Industry & Engagement Office: Monash Malaysia operates an industry engagement function for an international branch campus, with comparable programmes in student placements, research collaboration and corporate partnerships targeting the same Malaysian corporate market.
• Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Industry Liaison: UiTM operates industry liaison and incubation services for a large public university system, with significant overlap on talent pipeline, training placements and industry-funded research collaborations relevant to CiRNeT.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@pusathubungandanjaringanin1921
• Facebookfacebook.com/CiRNeT.UPM
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cirnet
• TikToktiktok.com/@cirnetupm

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Centre for Industrial Relation and Network (CiRNeT), Universiti Putra Malaysia