Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) is taking a significant step towards a more open and collaborative research future by committing to Open Science and launching the UTP Current Research Information System (CRIS).
To celebrate this milestone, UTP organised an event attended by Vice Chancellor Professor Dato’ Ir Ts Dr Mohamed Ibrahim Abdul Mutalib, representatives from Academy Science Malaysia, Malaysia Open Science Alliance, government agencies, and academic and industry partners.
Open Science aims to democratise knowledge by making scientific research widely accessible and openly shared. By embracing this principle, UTP seeks to create a more inclusive research environment.
CRIS serves as a centralised platform that integrates all of UTP's research outputs, including publications, expert profiles, grants, patents, and research performance metrics. This comprehensive system streamlines research processes, enhances visibility, and facilitates collaboration among researchers.
Building on previous initiatives like the UTP Publication System (Scholars), UTP Knowledge Hub, and UTP Expert Directory, CRIS further strengthens UTP's research ecosystem.
UTP's commitment to Open Science is reflected in its strong research performance. The university boasts a high citation impact, with 13.5% of its publications ranking among the top 10% most-cited worldwide (Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS) Leiden Ranking). Additionally, UTP fosters strong international collaboration, evident in the 86.5% of its publications involving international partners. This global recognition is further solidified by UTP's significant leap in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025, securing a place in the 200-250 band and emerging as the top university in Malaysia and the top private university in ASEAN.
The UTP Information Resource Centre (IRC) plays a crucial role in supporting the university's research endeavours. By implementing effective Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) strategies, managing accessible repositories, and promoting high-impact work, the IRC enhances the visibility and impact of UTP's research. The 401% increase in views on the UTP Knowledge Hub in 2023 is a testament to the IRC's efforts.
By embracing Open Science and launching CRIS, UTP is poised to make significant contributions to the global scientific community. Through collaboration, innovation, and knowledge dissemination, UTP is driving a new era of research excellence.