ITEX 2026 Opens with Focus on AI and Innovation for Future Growth

18 May 2026

KUALA LUMPUR: ITEX 2026 officially opens today at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, marking its 37th edition as Malaysia’s longest-standing platform for innovation and technology showcasing.

Taking place from 18 to 19 May 2026, this year’s exhibition features over 1,000 inventions from 17 countries and regions, spanning 10 categories and 15 classifications—cementing ITEX’s role as a strategic deal-flow platform for investors and industry stakeholders seeking commercially viable technologies.

Notably, 70% of the innovations are market-ready, with many reaching Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL6) and above, showcasing validated prototypes and significant potential for scale-up, licensing, manufacturing partnerships, and investment. This underscores ITEX’s position as a results-driven event where innovation progresses beyond concept towards deployment and revenue generation.

The exhibition is expected to attract approximately 5,850 visitors, including investors, corporate buyers, manufacturers, technology scouts, and international delegates engaging in curated business matching and structured commercial discussions—further strengthening ITEX’s reputation as a gateway for technology transfer and cross-border collaboration across the region.

Jointly organised by the Malaysian Invention and Design Society (MINDS) and C.I.S, ITEX has evolved since 1989 into a trusted platform for commercialising inventions, bridging industry and investment. This year’s theme, “AI Unleashed: Pioneering Research and Innovation with Generative AI”, highlights the accelerating role of artificial intelligence in transforming industries—with an emphasis on applied innovation, scalability, and real-world deployment.

ITEX 2026 is also supported by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE), the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), and the Ministry of Digital—reinforcing its national significance in strengthening Malaysia’s innovation ecosystem.

The Minister of MOSTI, as Patron of ITEX, exemplifies a shared commitment to developing an end-to-end innovation pipeline—from STEAM education and talent development to research commercialisation, startup acceleration, and industry adoption—ensuring ideas progress beyond recognition towards investment readiness, market entry, and contributing to the nation’s economy.

The Opening Ceremony on 18 May 2026 was officiated by Norsham Abdul Latip, Deputy Secretary-General (Technology Development), MOSTI, representing the Patron, Datuk Chang Lih Kang, Minister of MOSTI. In his speech, read aloud by Puan Norsham, the Minister emphasised the importance of strengthening Malaysia’s innovation pipeline through collaboration among schools, universities, researchers, startups, industry, and government to create a unified ecosystem supporting commercial outcomes.

“Malaysia cannot afford to be a country that only consumes what others invent. We must build, test, and create,” said Yang Berhormat Datuk Chang. “These efforts demonstrate that Malaysia has the ideas, talent, and capability. What we now need is to ensure that these innovations are not left stranded but are given the right pathway to reach industry, society, and global markets.”

Concurrent with ITEX is the World Young Inventors Exhibition (WYIE), comprising the Asian Young Inventors Exhibition (AYIE) and the Malaysian Young Inventors Exhibition (MYIE). Together, these platforms promote youth innovation within a real-world context, strengthening STEAM education and cultivating a long-term pipeline of talent capable of developing investable, future-ready solutions for industry and society.

“When ITEX first launched 37 years ago, it was founded on a simple belief—ideas deserve a platform. If someone worked to solve a real problem, that work deserved to be seen,” said Academician Tan Sri Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr. Augustine S.H. Ong, President of MINDS and Co-Organiser of ITEX 2026. “Today, innovation looks very different. Some inventions are physical. Others are systems, software, or driven by artificial intelligence. But the purpose remains the same—to solve problems, improve lives, and respond to the challenges of our time.”

ITEX 2026 also features structured pitching sessions, investor engagement programmes, technology forums, awards presentations, and the iCAP—ITEX’s Commercialisation Acceleration Programme—designed to fast-track innovations from prototype to market adoption, investment readiness, and industrial scaling.

Amid the rapid adoption of AI, sustainability imperatives, and growing demand for scalable solutions, ITEX 2026 reaffirms its position as a strategic nexus for innovation, investment, and industrial transformation—where ideas are not only showcased but actively advanced towards commercial realisation.