AKSARAY, Sep 17 – The Innovation Centre in Agritechnology for Advanced Bioprocessing (ICA), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), marked another milestone in its international scientific engagement as a Co-Organizer of the 10th International Congress on Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology (ICABB 2026), held from 14 to 17 September 2026 at Aksaray University, Türkiye.

The congress marked a decade of ICABB while reflecting the sustained scientific relationship between UTM and Aksaray University. The collaboration dates back to 2016, when both institutions co-organized ICABB and the Director of ICA UTM, Prof. Dr. Hesham Ali El Enshasy, was appointed Chairman of the congress. The conference has since continued as an annual international platform alongside wider academic and scientific activities.

The institutional relationship was formalized through a Letter of Collaboration (LoC) in 2022 and strengthened through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in early 2026. The partnership has progressed beyond conference organization to include joint research, staff attachments involving five academic staff from UTM and two from Aksaray University, joint publications and co-supervision of postgraduate students.

ICABB 2026 commenced with welcome addresses by the President of the Eurasian Society for Biotechnology (ESBioTech), Prof. Dr. Ilker Camkertin, and Chairman of ICABB 2026, Prof. Dr. Hesham Ali El Enshasy. The congress was officiated by the Rector of Aksaray University, Prof. Dr. Alpay Arıbaş.

In addition to his role as Chairman, Prof. Hesham contributed to the scientific programme through the Orientation Talk entitled “BioEconomy of Antibiotic Industries: Current and Future Trends,” highlighting current developments and future directions related to the bioeconomy of antibiotic industries.

UTM’s scientific presence was further reinforced by two invited keynote speakers. Head of UTM Pagoh Campus, Prof. Ts. Dr. Ida Idayu Muhamad, delivered “Engineering Functional Biomaterials for One Health: Integrating Food, Human Health and Circular Bioeconomy,” while ICA Research Fellow, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dayang Norulfairuz Abang Zaidel, presented “Optimisation Process for Enhancing Glucomannan Quality and Reducing Calcium Oxalate in Amorphophallus sp.”

The 2026 congress featured ten keynote speakers from Malaysia, Türkiye, Oman, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Egypt, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, alongside speakers and researchers from various countries. ICA UTM was also represented by six selected online oral presenters: Dr. Abd Rahman Jabir Mohd Din, Mohd Farid Ismail, Tc. Salimah Ab Malik, ChM. Khairunnisa Embi, Nooraina Atira Alaudin and Noorafizah Dzahir.

Their participation demonstrated ICA UTM’s active engagement across different levels of the congress and strengthened the Centre’s visibility within the international scientific community. During the programme in Aksaray, Prof. Hesham also engaged with the leadership and academic community of Aksaray University, supporting discussions on the continuity and expansion of collaboration between the two institutions.

As ICABB celebrates its 10th anniversary, the congress represents a decade of international scientific exchange and the continuing development of a partnership connecting researchers, academics, and institutions across borders. ICA UTM looks forward to advancing collaboration through further joint research, mobility, publications, postgraduate supervision and scientific activities in bioscience and biotechnology.