📝 Summary
The 13th International Conference on Emerging Energy and Process Technology (i-CONCEPT 2026) was held in Kuala Lumpur, bringing together researchers, industry practitioners, and policymakers to discuss emerging technologies for a sustainable energy future. The conference featured plenary speakers and technical sessions on topics such as ocean energy, nuclear energy, and hydrogen technologies. The event aimed to strengthen quadruple-helix collaboration among academia, industry, government, and society to drive innovation and adoption of green technologies.
KUALA LUMPUR, Sep 23 – The 13th International Conference on Emerging Energy and Process Technology (i-CONCEPT 2026) brought together researchers, academicians, industry practitioners and policymakers on 22–23 September 2026 at UTM Hotel & Residence, Kuala Lumpur, to discuss emerging technologies and collaboration for a sustainable energy future.
Officiated by the Head of UTM Kuala Lumpur Branch Campus, Prof. Fauziah Sh. Ahmad and chaired by Prof. Mohamed Mahmoud Elsayed Nasef, the conference was organised by the Institute of Future Energy (IFE), led this year by the Centre of Hydrogen Energy (CHE), with support from the UTM Ocean Thermal Energy Centre (UTM-OTEC) and the Centre of Electrical Energy Systems (CEES).
The conference featured speakers sharing expertise in ocean energy, nuclear energy, smart energy systems, hydrogen technologies, nanotechnology and rare earth applications. Plenary speakers included the Founding Director of the Malaysian Association of Hydrogen Energy (MAHE), Prof. Emeritus Dato’ Ir. Dr. Wan Ramli Wan Daud; Programme Director of the Nuclear Project Management Office at TNB Power Generation Sdn. Bhd., Dr. Mohd Syukri Yahya; Director of the Institute of Ocean Energy at Saga University, Japan, Prof. Yasuyuki Ikegami; and Director of the Smart Energy Systems Lab at Ontario Tech University, Canada, Prof. Hossam A. Gabbar.
Other speakers included Director of the National Nanotechnology Centre, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Ahmad Mukifza Harun; Founding Director of UTM-OTEC, Prof. Dato’ Ir. Dr. A. Bakar Jaafar; Product Development Manager at Lynas Rare Earths Ltd.; Dr. Hacib Benaissa; Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Global OTEC, United Kingdom, Dan Grech; Director of Xi’an Key Laboratory on Intelligent Additive Manufacturing Technologies Prof. Peiying B. and Prof. Takahiro Adachi of Akita University, Japan.
Technical parallel sessions enabled researchers and postgraduate students to present their work, receive feedback and engage with the research community. A strategic roundtable focused on strengthening quadruple-helix collaboration among academia, industry, government, and society. Discussions explored potential research grants, consultancy projects and green technology adoption, highlighting ways to connect research with industrial and societal needs.
The organising committee thanked sponsors and partners Lynas Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Tenaga Nasional Berhad, Lotus West Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Holdings Berhad, BRAINet (M) Sdn. Bhd., VIRIDIS Engineering Sdn. Bhd. and IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society Malaysia for their support. It also acknowledged the UTM Centre for Community and Industry Network (CCIN), through the AIMS4STAR Grant, which supported the networking session and related initiatives.
The conference also recognised recipients of the Best Oral Presenter Awards. Through international knowledge exchange and cross-sector engagement, i-CONCEPT 2026 reinforced UTM’s commitment to research-driven innovation and university–industry collaboration in sustainable energy technologies.
