EXPERTS in robotics, engineering and manufacturing will gather in Penang for an international conference on intelligent manufacturing and robotics this November.
The 4th International Conference on Intelligent Manufacturing and Robotics (ICiMR 2026) featuring keynote addresses, industrial roundtables, technical talks and research presentations will be held at Wawasan Open University (WOU) on Nov 3 and 4.
Penang tourism and creative economy committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the conference came at an important time as the state moved towards higher-value manufacturing and technology-driven activities.
“Penang recorded RM22.4bil in approved manufacturing investments across 232 projects in 2025.
“It reflects 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,” he said at a press conference at Komtar.
Wong said Penang was also strengthening its position in the global semiconductor value chain through activities including integrated circuit design, validation, advanced packaging, semiconductor equipment, automation and AI-enabled manufacturing.
“This makes ICiMR 2026 particularly relevant to Penang.”
He said the conference would bring together researchers, academics, engineers, technology developers and industry practitioners to examine how emerging technologies could be applied to improve productivity, resilience, quality, sustainability and workforce capabilities.
The conference is organised and hosted by WOU in partnership with Sunway University, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University and Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara, with support from the Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau (PCEB).
WOU chief executive and vice-chancellor Prof Dr Yap Eng Hwa said the conference was timely as Penang moved into higher-value semiconductor and manufacturing activities.
“Penang is strengthening its position in the global semiconductor value chain and expanding into higher value capabilities such as IC design, validation, advanced packaging, semiconductor equipment, automation and AI-enabled manufacturing.
“This makes Penang a highly relevant setting for international research and industry dialogue on intelligent manufacturing and robotics,” he said.
ICiMR was established in 2023 by the School of Robotics and School of Intelligent Manufacturing at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University.
Also present at the press conference were PCEB chief executive officer Ashwin Gunasekeran and Malaysian Association of Hotels vice-president Datuk Khoo Boo Lim.
