More Than 1,000 Experts From 30 Countries Join ESTCON 2020

KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 (Bernama) -- The world’s largest congress - World Engineering, Science and Technology Congress (ESTCON) 2020 saw an impressive turnout with more than 1,000 experts from the academic fraternity, industry as well as government and non-government organisations from around 30 countries. Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP, or a leading private university in Malaysia), in a statement Thursday, said this is despite the congress being organised virtually for the first time since its inauguration in 2010. According to the statement, ESTCON 2020 as a UTP flagship event comprised nine international conferences held concurrently. "The congress provided a platform to connect, share knowledge and learn about the most recent innovation, trends, concerns and solutions adopted by key players around the globe," the statement read. Meanwhile, Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry secretary-general Dr Siti Hamisah Tapsir said through a congress such as ESTCON 2020, Malaysia will continue to respond to the challenges in becoming a leading player in the latest technology and innovation. Siti Hamisah said this includes improving productivity to elevate the country to become a high-tech nation in the global arena. "There are also several roadmaps in technologies to support all these policies that have been developed and some is about to complete for example E and E (Electrical and Electronic) Roadmap, AI (Artificial intelligence) and Blockchain Roadmap, Advanced Materials and Start-ups to name a few. "I believe that the evolving and challenging landscape now will require a new level of thinking and novel approaches to business that I am confident have been achieved here at this ESTCON," she said during her closing speech. UTP Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic Professor Ir Dr Hilmi Mukhtar who is also ESTCON 2020 co-chairman said in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, the congress had accepted 750 papers from 27 countries, while having five prominent and engaging keynote speakers, 18 plenary speakers and three forums with 13 panelists. "The conference may be over but still it will be remembered due to the way it was conducted. I am positive that the congress has been a wholesome experience that had the delegates and participants asking for more with promises of returning next year," he said in his speech virtually. Hilmi said since ESTCON is a biennial event, the next congress is scheduled to be held in 2022, where they shall reconvene to discuss more on issues and trends in engineering, science, technology and humanities. ESTCON 2020 was co-organised by the Alliance of Government-Linked Universities, supported by the Higher Education Ministry; Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry; the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM), and held in collaboration with Petronas, Yayasan UTP and Malaysia Board of Technologists. -- BERNAMA