The country's four research universities have been allocated RM90.8mil each as additional funding under Budget 2009. Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Khaled Nordin said that would enable them to further strengthen their research and development capabilities.

The four research universities - Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Malaya, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Universiti Putra Malaysia - were initially allocated RM153mil each under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.