The 4th International Conference on Intelligent Manufacturing and Robotics (ICiMR 2026), to be held at Wawasan Open University on 3 and 4 November 2026, has received a boost with support from the Penang State Government through the Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB).
The conference was formally announced at a press conference held at Komtar on 17 August 2026, attended by Penang State EXCO for Tourism and Creative Economy YB Wong Hon Wai, PCEB Chief Executive Officer Mr. Ashwin Gunasekeran, and WOU Chief Executive and Vice-Chancellor Professor Ts. Dr. Yap Eng Hwa.
They were joined by Dato’ Khoo Boo Lim, Director of PCEB and Vice President of Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) National Board, and Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Sean Tan, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of WOU.
PCEB is the state agency tasked with strengthening Penang’s business events sector and positioning the state as a preferred destination for meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE).
YB Wong (pic) said the conference was closely aligned with Penang’s established electrical and electronics (E&E) and manufacturing sectors, particularly as the state strengthens its position in the global semiconductor value chain and expands into higher value capabilities such as integrated circuit (IC) design, validation, advanced packaging, semiconductor equipment, automation, and AI enabled manufacturing.
“ICiMR 2026 is therefore highly relevant to Penang. It will bring researchers, academics, engineers, subject specialists, technology developers, and industry practitioners together to examine how emerging technologies can be translated into practical applications that improve productivity, operational resilience, quality, sustainability, and workforce capability,” he said.
Mr. Ashwin (pic) said ICiMR 2026 aligns closely with Penang’s economic and knowledge strengths and demonstrates how business events can create wider value through research, industry connections, and professional networks.
“A conference of this nature creates value beyond its scheduled sessions. It can initiate research partnerships, connect universities with industries, introduce participants to new technologies and applications, and establish professional relationships that continue long after the event,” he said.
Prof. Yap said hosting ICiMR in Penang provides an important opportunity to connect international research and academic expertise with the state’s manufacturing ecosystem.
“Through ICiMR 2026, WOU and our partners aim to strengthen the connection between research and industrial practice, encourage joint academic and industry initiatives, and support the development of solutions that contribute to more intelligent, resilient, and sustainable manufacturing systems,” he said.
Also representing WOU at the press conference were Ts. Dr. Mohd Hezri Marzaki, Acting Dean of the School of Technology and Engineering Science (STE); Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Lee Yong Siang, STE Deputy Dean; and Dr. Ong Teng Yeow, Chair of ICiMR 2026 and STE Senior Lecturer.
The two-day conference will feature keynote addresses, industrial roundtables, technical talks, and parallel research presentation sessions, with both physical and virtual participation available.
Hosted at WOU’s main campus in Penang, the hybrid conference is organised by WOU in partnership with Sunway University, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), and Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU), Indonesia.
The Conference Committee is inviting original research papers, industrial case studies, technological evaluations, and scientific project findings in areas including smart factories and Industry 4.0, digital twin technology, the Industrial Internet of Things, predictive maintenance, sustainable manufacturing, robotics and automation, artificial intelligence, data analytics, advanced materials, mechatronic systems, and human robot collaboration.
The full paper submission deadline is 15 September 2026.
For more information about ICiMR 2026, visit wou.edu.my/academia/icimr-2026/.