KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 13 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) reinforced its position as a regional leader in artificial intelligence (AI) through the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Its Applications (ICON-AI) 2025 organised by the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence (FAI), UTM, held at UTM Kuala Lumpur. The two-day conference gathered global thought leaders, industry experts, and researchers to explore cutting-edge AI innovations, applications, and ethical frameworks shaping the future of the digital economy.
ICON-AI 2025 is co-organised by Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM), Zhejiang University, Universitas Semarang, Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK), Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP), and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), the event reflected international collaboration between academia and industry is chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Roslina Ibrahim, Deputy Dean, Research Innovation and Development), FAI. Participants came from countries including Indonesia, the Czech Republic, and Nigeria, while local engagement was strong. Notably, high-school students representing community from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Sentul Utama and SMK Keramat Wangsa actively participated in workshops and exhibitions, demonstrating UTM’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of AI talent.
The conference opened with distinguished guests, including Prof. Dr. Shamsul Sahibuddin, Acting Head, UTM Kuala Lumpur; Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mohamad Fauzan Noordin, Deputy Rector (Student Development & Community Engagement, IIUM; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Azidah Abu Ziden, Director of Academic Excellence Division, Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE); and Prof. Ts. Dr. Mohd Naz’ri Mahrin, Dean of FAI UTM.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Azidah Abu Ziden delivered the officiating speech, highlighting the strategic importance of AI in driving national innovation and research excellence.
The opening plenary by Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mohamad Fauzan Noordin focused on AI and Madani Civilization, emphasizing human-centric AI aligned with ethical principles. This was followed by a montage presentation showcasing UTM’s cutting-edge AI research and technological innovations.
Significant collaborations were formalized during the conference, including a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kyrol Security Labs Sdn. Bhd. and Letters of Intent (LoI) with RIXS Technology Sdn. Bhd., Baituljannah Sdn. Bhd., and Dagang Nexchange Berhad (DNEX).
Industry insights were shared by Mohd Nazmi Mohd Ali Napiah from Petronas on AI-enabled Operational Excellence – The PETRONAS Experience, illustrating how AI optimizes operations and enhances data-driven decision-making.
The conference featured four main streams, each designed to highlight different aspects of AI research, innovation, and practical applications.
Academic paper presentations showcased over 70 research papers from national and international participants, covering diverse AI domains such as machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and AI ethics. These sessions offered a platform for scholars to present their latest findings, exchange ideas, and engage in rigorous discussions with peers and industry experts.
Poster exhibitions highlighted a wide array of AI-focused projects and innovations, divided into research and project categories. Research posters demonstrated theoretical advancements and experimental studies in AI, while project posters showcased applied solutions, prototypes, and real-world implementations. Participants explored projects ranging from intelligent automation systems to generative AI applications, emphasizing the practical impact of AI across industries.
AI-focused workshops provided hands-on learning opportunities, equipping participants with practical skills and tools for AI implementation. Notable sessions included AI-Driven Digital Twins led by Prof. Dr. Norhazilan Md Noor, which demonstrated the use of AI in simulating and optimizing real-world systems, and Introduction to n8n: Building AI-Integrated Workflows Without Coding Limits, conducted by Ts. Zaaba Ahmad and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhamad Abdul Aziz Ab Gani, teaching participants to integrate AI into workflows efficiently without extensive coding experience.
AI@EXPO served as an interactive showcase of the latest AI applications and research innovations, allowing attendees to experience cutting-edge technologies firsthand. Exhibits demonstrated practical AI solutions across multiple sectors, highlighting UTM’s role in advancing AI research and fostering collaborations between academia, industry, and the community. Industry partners such as RIXS Technology Sdn. Bhd. and PPK Technology Sdn. Bhd. participated, alongside displays of research products developed by the research groups of the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence, including drone technology, showcasing both commercial and academic contributions to the AI ecosystem.
In addition, the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence hosted special Webex sharing sessions on 13th November 2025 featuring Zhejiang University professors. Prof. Zhiyu Xiang presented on Robust Stereo and Multi-modal Perception for Robot Navigation (Supervisor to Founder of Deepseek), followed by Prof. Yiyi Liao on From Neural Rendering to Closed-Lo, sharing advanced insights in AI research.
The conference concluded with a closing ceremony recognizing eight Best Poster Award winners (for research and project posters) and six Best Paper Award winners, celebrating outstanding contributions. The event ended with an appreciation speech by Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd Naz’ri Mahrin, Dean of the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence, acknowledging all participants, collaborators, and contributors.
ICON-AI 2025 reaffirmed UTM’s global leadership in AI, fostering international collaborations and empowering the next generation of AI leaders to drive sustainable innovation.
