IMU University Showcases Award-Winning Innovations at ITEX 2026

8 Jun 2026

Article Summary

IMU University achieved significant success at the International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition (ITEX) 2026, securing three Gold Medals, one Silver Medal, and a prestigious Special Award. These achievements reinforce IMU’s growing reputation as a leader in healthcare innovation, translational research, and artificial intelligence-driven solutions.

ITEX 2026 at a Glance

  • 🌏 Over 1,000 inventions from 17 countries and regions showcased
  • 🏅 3 Gold Medals
  • 🥈 1 Silver Medal
  • 🌟 1 Special Award

Showcasing Innovation, Research Excellence, and Groundbreaking Technologies

IMU University has once again taken part in the International Invention, Innovation, and Technology Exhibition (ITEX), held from 18 – 19 May 2026 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. The event provided an excellent platform to showcase innovation, research excellence, and groundbreaking technologies while fostering valuable industry connections and collaborations.

The IMU team at ITEX

This year’s edition marked a remarkable milestone as the largest International Invention, Innovation, and Technology Exhibition (ITEX) yet, showcasing more than 1,000 inventions from 17 countries and regions.

IMU’s participation in ITEX 2026 was well coordinated by Institute for Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI) Business Engagement Office (IRDI-BEO) and supported by colleagues from Industry Partnerships and Engagement (IPE), Facilities Management and Administration (FMA) and IT department.

The team received unwavering support from Prof Winnie Chee, Director of IRDI and Prof Datuk Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research in

  • Advancing IMU University’s research, innovation, and commercialisation ecosystem, while
  • Continuously championing the university’s presence on both national and international innovation platforms.

Sincere appreciation is extended to Prof Datuk Dr Asma Ismail, Vice-Chancellor and CEO of IMU University, and Prof Dr Gerard George, IMU’s Group Managing Director for their visit and encouragement during the exhibition. Their presence was truly meaningful and reflected IMU University’s strong commitment to

  • Innovation
  • Research excellence
  • Research translation

For this year participation, a total of 4 new fresh inventions from IMU inventors were presented at the exhibition and participated in the competition. IMU team secured:

  • 3 Gold medals,
  • 1 Silver medal, and
  • A prestigious Special Award

This reflects the strength of our innovation ecosystem and our growing impact in

  • Translational research
  • Digital health
  • Healthcare technology innovation

A/Prof Dr Umer Daood from the School of Dentistry have scored yet another 2 golds with his inventions.

Gold Medal Innovations

Quantum Sensing and Observation within Dental Biological Tissues: A First Discovery Using Molecularly Imprinted Graphene Quantum Dot

Inventor: A/Prof Dr Umer Daood

The first invention titled “Quantum Sensing and Observation within Dental Biological Tissues: A First Discovery Using Molecularly Imprinted Graphene Quantum Dot” is a novel application of quantum-modified functionalised graphene carbon quantum dots (CQDs). The invention addresses major challenges in dental healthcare, including

  • Incomplete remineralisation
  • Poor tissue regeneration
  • Antimicrobial resistance

By leveraging principles of quantum biology, the study demonstrates how CQDs interact at the molecular and electron-transfer level to

  • Stimulate dentin regeneration,
  • Enhance resistance to demineralisation, and
  • Significantly improve mechanical strength.

Experimental findings show up to threefold increases in remineralisation and tissue growth, along with improved crystal formation and reduced cytotoxicity compared to conventional materials.

This innovative approach offers a transformative pathway from laboratory discovery to clinical application, with strong potential for safer, more effective, and sustainable dental treatments.

Developing an Artificial Clinical Mind for Caries Recognition and Biomimetic Cavity Design

Inventor: A/Prof Dr Umer Daood

The second invention from A/Prof Umer Daood was titled “Developing an Artificial Clinical Mind for Caries Recognition and Biomimetic Cavity Design”.

The project introduces an AI-driven “Artificial Clinical Mind” designed to enhance caries detection and biomimetic cavity design in digital dentistry. This system uses advanced 3D convolutional neural networks and voxel-based modelling to analyse tooth scans and automatically generate optimal, patient-specific cavity preparations and restorations, mimicking the decision-making of experienced clinicians. By leveraging synthetic data and deep learning, the approach

  • Improves treatment precision,
  • Reduces planning time, and
  • Minimises variability in clinical outcomes.

The innovation demonstrates strong potential for integration into digital dental workflows, offering a scalable, cost-efficient solution that advances minimally invasive and standardised dental care.

This year, IMU University proudly introduced two new inventors as part of its participation in ITEX 2026.

EMR Assist: Clinical Real-Time Transcription, Coding and EMR Integration

Inventor: Prof Ts Dr Saravanan Muthaiyah

The first new inventor was Prof Ts Dr Saravanan Muthaiyah from School of Business and Technology with his invention, “EMR Assist: Clinical Real-Time Transcription, Coding and EMR Integration”.

The research introduces EMR Assist, an AI-driven clinical system that integrates real-time speech recognition, multilingual processing, and intelligent medical coding to automate electronic medical record (EMR) documentation.

Designed to address inefficiencies in traditional clinical workflows where up to 30–40% of clinicians’ time is spent on manual documentation, the system converts clinician–patient conversations into structured, EMR-ready records with high accuracy across multiple languages. Validated in clinical settings with over 500 hours of data and achieving around 92% accuracy, EMR Assist significantly reduces documentation time, patient waiting time, and operational costs while improving diagnostic accuracy and patient safety.

This innovation demonstrates strong potential for scalable deployment in hospitals, clinics, and telemedicine platforms, particularly in multilingual healthcare.

To make the victory even sweeter, Prof Ts Dr Saravanan Muthaiyah also has been awarded the prestigious Tun Lim Keng Yaik Award for Best Invention in Generative AI all in his first appearance in ITEX 2026 competition.

The award is given in honour of the late Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik, a former Malaysian Cabinet Minister and long-time supporter of science, technology, and local innovation.

Silver Medal Innovation

Transforming Competency Assessment Through a Continuous, Multi-Point Digital Ecosystem

Inventor: A/Prof Dr Sivakumar Arunachalam

The last innovation is from A/Prof Dr Sivakumar Arunachalam, from the School of Dentistry. A/P Dr Sivakumar Arunachalam and team managed to secure a silver medal from their invention “Transforming Competency Assessment Through a Continuous, Multi-Point Digital Ecosystem”.

The research presents I3NTRUST, a cloud-based digital platform designed to transform competency assessment into a continuous, multi-point evaluation ecosystem across various professional fields such as healthcare, engineering, and TVET.

Addressing the limitations of traditional paper-based and fragmented assessment systems, it integrates scheduling, direct observation, structured feedback, and longitudinal analytics into a single workflow that provides real-time insights into learner performance. The system is fully paperless, cost-efficient, and scalable, achieving high user engagement and satisfaction while enabling institutions to monitor competency development more effectively.

By shifting from static assessments to dynamic, data-driven competency intelligence, the platform enhances educational quality, accountability, and decision-making in training environments.

An Emerging Force in Innovation and Research Excellence

The remarkable accomplishments of IMU University inventors at ITEX2026 have further strengthened the university’s position as an emerging force in innovation and research excellence, both locally and internationally. These achievements again reflect IMU’s vision and commitment towards attaining a global top 500 ranking.

Heartiest congratulations and kudos to all award recipients for their outstanding achievements and dedication. Their success continues to inspire the entire IMU community to:

  • Push boundaries,
  • Pursue impactful research, and
  • Transform ideas into meaningful contributions for society.

As the journey of innovation continues, IMU University remains committed to participating in future competitions and innovation platforms, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and discovery.

Together, greater milestones can be achieved in shaping a brighter and more impactful future.

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