A strong line-up of global experts is set to converge in Kuching this September as the Sarawak SHInE International Conference 2026 puts science, health, innovation and engineering in the same room—and on the same agenda.
Running from September 9–11 at the Imperial Hotel Kuching, the three-day conference brings together more than 50 speakers and over 300 delegates. The focus is straightforward: turning research into outcomes that can be measured in public health, climate action and real-world innovation.
Among the key voices is Professor Darren Gray, who will examine neglected tropical diseases and why they continue to persist in many regions. His session focuses on what actually works—better surveillance systems, stronger research coordination and cross-border cooperation that improve responses on the ground.
On the climate and infrastructure front, Ir. Dr Angelia Liew San Chuin will discuss how engineering and climate diplomacy intersect, and how Sarawak is positioning itself within the shift toward a green economy. The emphasis is on policy meeting practical engineering decisions, not just long-term targets.
The health-security conversation continues with Dr Adrian Muwonge, who will connect antimicrobial resistance with climate change. His focus is on microbial diversity and how environmental shifts are influencing resistance patterns—an issue increasingly seen as a global health pressure point.
Dr Khoo Yoong Khean will also focus on preparedness systems, specifically how pathogen surveillance is evolving. The core message: early detection and coordinated data systems are becoming central to managing outbreaks in a more connected world.
A major feature of the programme is the panel discussion “From Ideas to Value: Scaling Impact through SHInE.” It brings together leaders from research, public health, industry and intellectual property to address a recurring gap in innovation—how research moves beyond papers and prototypes into actual deployment.
Panel participants include representatives from the Sarawak Research and Development Council, Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre, UK-SEA Vax Hub at the University of Sheffield, the International Intellectual Property Commercialisation Council and Murdoch University, alongside regional experts working across health security and innovation systems.
As organisers of the conference, the Sarawak Research and Development Council and the Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre, with support from the Sarawak Science Centre and UK-SEA Vax Hub, are positioning SHInE as a working platform, not just a conference circuit stop. The goal is practical collaboration across science, policy and industry.
Under the theme “Advancing Science, Health, Innovation and Engineering,” SHInE 2026 reflects a shift in how these fields are being discussed globally: less siloed research, more cross-sector problem-solving, and a stronger push to turn ideas into applied solutions.
The event is expected to draw policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, investors and young professionals—essentially the mix needed to move from discussion to implementation.
