Malaysia’s Wawasan Open University (WOU) will host the 4th International Conference on Intelligent Manufacturing and Robotics (ICiMR 2026), 3-4 November 2026 at its main campus in Penang.
The hybrid international conference is organised by WOU in partnership with Sunway University, Xi’an Jiaotong–Liverpool University (XJTLU), and Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU), Indonesia, with support from the State Government through the Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB).
The announcement was made 17 August at a press conference held at Komtar, 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 Yap Eng Hwa.
Established in 2023 by XJTLU’s School of Robotics and School of Intelligent Manufacturing, ICiMR provides an international platform for researchers and industry practitioners, to examine emerging technologies and explore their applications within manufacturing environments.
By bringing the fourth edition to Penang, WOU aims to connect international research and academic expertise with the state’s established electrical and electronics (E&E) and manufacturing ecosystem.
In 2025, the state recorded RM22.4bn in approved manufacturing investments across 232 projects.
Speaking at the press conference, professor Yap said hosting the conference in Penang was especially significant as the state continued to strengthen its position in the global semiconductor value chain. “Penang is expanding into higher value capabilities such as IC design, validation, advanced packaging, semiconductor equipment, automation, and AI enabled manufacturing, making it a highly relevant setting for international research and industry dialogue on intelligent manufacturing and robotics.
“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.
