KOTA KINABALU, Aug 6 – The 2026 Malaysia-Japan Workshop on Radio Technology (MJWRT 2026) successfully brought together researchers, academics, professionals and students from Malaysia and Japan for three days of technical exchange, research networking and cultural engagement in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Held from 4 to 6 August 2026 at Hyatt Regency Kinabalu, the sixth edition of MJWRT continued its role as an important international platform connecting the Malaysian and Japanese research communities in radio and wireless technologies. With the theme “Transforming Connectivity with Intelligent Wireless Innovation,” the workshop provided opportunities for participants to exchange recent research findings, explore emerging technologies and strengthen international research partnerships.

MJWRT 2026 was organised by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Malaysia Antenna and Propagation (AP)/Microwave Theory and Techniques (MTT)/Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Joint Chapter and the Technical Committee on AP of the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers (IEICE/AP), Japan, with the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) as co-organiser and the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society (AP-S) Tokyo Chapter as co-sponsor.

UTM played a key role in the organisation of MJWRT 2026, with Assoc. Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Kamilia Kamardin serving as General Co-Chair alongside Prof. Tetsuro Imai of Tokyo Denki University, Japan. Prof. Yoshihide Yamada of UTM served as Vice-Chair, while Ir. Dr. Hazilah Mad Kaidi led the Technical Programme and Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Sumiaty Ambran served as Local Arrangement Chair.

A defining feature of MJWRT 2026 was the strong participation of researchers from Japan, providing Malaysian researchers and students with valuable opportunities to engage directly with experts from Japanese universities and research institutions.

The first two days featured technical presentations covering antennas and propagation, microwave devices and terahertz circuits, radio communication systems, electromagnetic simulation, Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled wireless communication.

Keynote presentations by Prof. Qiang Chen of Tohoku University, Japan, and Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohd Haizal Jamaluddin of UTM addressed emerging antenna technologies, including beam-steerable reflectarray antennas and high-efficiency MIMO dielectric resonator antennas for future wireless communication systems.

MJWRT 2026 also placed strong emphasis on research networking. Malaysian and Japanese researchers exchanged ideas, discussed common research interests and identified opportunities for future collaboration.

Such international engagement was particularly valuable for young researchers and postgraduate students, exposing them to diverse research perspectives and emerging areas of investigation.

On the third day, participants joined an optional cultural visit to Koisaan Cultural Village, providing an opportunity to experience Sabah’s local culture while continuing informal interaction among researchers.

This combination of technical exchange and social engagement reflected one of the long-standing objectives of MJWRT: advancing research and development in radio technology while strengthening friendship and sustained collaboration between Malaysian and Japanese researchers.

The programme also contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals through international knowledge sharing, technological advancement and sustained collaboration.

Through MJIIT’s continued involvement, UTM remains actively engaged in fostering Malaysia–Japan research partnerships and creating opportunities for future collaboration and innovation in advanced radio and wireless technologies.

Authored by Ir. Dr. Hazilah Mad Kaidi and Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Kamilia Kamardin