The 4th edition of the Intelligent Manufacturing and Robotics (ICiMR 2026) conference will be held at the Wawasan Open University from November, 3 and 4, 2026.
Present to announce further details on the conference was Penang State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy YB Wong Hon Wai along with Penang Convention Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) Chief Executive Officer, Ashwin Gunasekeran.
Representing Wawasan Open University was Prof Ts Dr Yap Eng Hwa and his team members.
The hybrid international conference organised by Wawasan Open University (WOU) in partnership with Sunway University, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) and Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU), Indonesia.In welcoming the conference, Wong expressed his support for the
4th International Conference on Intelligent Manufacturing and Robotics, or ICiMR 2026.
“The conference is closely aligned with Penang’s established position in the electrical and electronics and manufacturing sectors. Over the decades, our industrial ecosystem has developed into a strong network comprising multinational corporations, local manufacturers, technology companies, suppliers, engineering specialists, universities and supporting industries.
“This ecosystem continues to be an important foundation of Penang’s economic development and competitiveness.
“In 2025, Penang recorded RM22.4 billion in approved manufacturing investments across 232 projects, reflecting continued investor confidence in our industrial ecosystem and reinforcing the importance of developing the research capabilities, technological expertise and skilled talent required to sustain our competitiveness,” shared Wong.
He also added that Business Events are a key segment in Penang in terms of the number of events secured and it has continued to hold the top position this year.
“We are also strengthening our position within the global semiconductor value chain while expanding into higher-value capabilities such as integrated circuit design, validation, advanced packaging, semiconductor equipment, automation and AI-enabled manufacturing. As our industrial ecosystem continues to move towards higher-value and technology-driven activities, the ability to adopt new technologies, develop specialised expertise and strengthen collaboration between industry and academia becomes increasingly important,” added Wong.
Meanwhile, Ashwin shared that the Manufacturing, Technology and Education sectors maintain top spots for Penang’s Business Events.
“ICiMR 2026 is especially relevant to Penang given the state’s longstanding position as a leading electrical and electronics and manufacturing hub, as well as our continued developmenttowards advanced and technology-driven industries. By bringing together academics, researchers, engineers, postgraduate students, technology developers and industry practitioners in the
fields of intelligent manufacturing and robotics, the conference provides an important platform for knowledge exchange and professional engagement between the academic and industrial
communities.
“More importantly, the value of such a conference extends beyond the scheduled programme, as the interaction and exchange of expertise can potentially lead to research collaborations, industry
partnerships, technology applications and professional networks that continue well beyond the conclusion of the event,” added Ashwin.
VIP guests later exchanged tokens of appreciation and posed for the camera.
