The Advanced Innovation & Manufacturing (AIM) Asia Summit 2026, held on 1 April 2026 in Johor, delivered a powerful convergence of industry, policy, and innovation at a critical moment for global manufacturing. Over the course of the summit, more than 180 senior delegates from across Asia’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem gathered to shape the next phase of industrial transformation under the theme “Driving Sustainable Transformation in the New Industrial Era: AI, Innovation & Cross-Border Value Chain Resilience.”
Bringing together manufacturing leaders, innovators, government, and investors, the summit sparked high-impact conversations on how AI, automation, and cross-border collaboration are redefining competitiveness, accelerating sustainability, and strengthening resilient value chains across the region. The summit was led by Renee Tan, Chairperson of Advanced Innovation & Manufacturing (AIM) Asia, and featured Guest-of-Honour YB Dato’ Ir. Hasni Mohammad, Economic & Investment Advisor, Johor State Government.
Hosted in Johor, a rapidly emerging hub under the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), the summit underscored the region’s growing importance as a gateway for cross-border investment, talent mobility, and industrial transformation. With increasing global competition and supply chain realignment, Johor is positioning itself as a high-performance industrial node, enabling seamless connectivity between Malaysia, Singapore, and the broader ASEAN region.
The event was supported by Johor Economic Tourism and Cultural Office Singapore (JETCO), Johor Tourism, Johor Skills Development Center (JSkills), Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) , Cerebrum by JCorp alongside ecosystem partners including Singapore Malaysia Chamber of Commerce, IEEE, IEEE Electronics Packaging Society, Global Fintech Institute, Entrepreneur Growth Hub, CBASS Circular Business Association, Zhejiang Saichuang Weilai Venture Capital Investment Management Co., Ltd., Tusstar Malaysia, HASH Innovation Asia, CXO4Good, HER Entrepreneur, ESG Malaysia, MICCI Southern, AIII, Plug and Play.
Exhibitors such as Meister Asia Pacific, Zealcorp, Solana Tec, Intercorp Yespay, Aivoniks, Matrade showcased innovative solutions driving industrial transformation, while media partners including Industry Events and i4.0 Today amplified the reach of the summit.
The AIM Asia Summit 2026 serves as a strategic platform where senior decision-makers, industry leaders, and policymakers convene to discuss forward-looking strategies in AI, innovation, and sustainable manufacturing. The summit brings together manufacturers, government representatives, and solution providers to exchange insights, showcase innovations, and explore policies shaping the future of cross-border industrial ecosystems.
What was shared and exchanged at AIM Asia Summit 2026 will continue to influence conversations, strategies, and collaborations across Asia, as industries accelerate towards a more resilient, intelligent, and sustainable future.
The summit commenced with opening remarks by Renee Tan, Chairperson of Advanced Innovation & Manufacturing (AIM) Asia, who welcomed speakers, partners, exhibitors, and delegates from across the region. She expressed appreciation to the ecosystem of supporters who made the summit possible, before reflecting on Hashtaqs’ mission of driving Innovation, Investment, and Impact (the 3Is).
Renee underscored the importance of uniting industry leaders, innovators, governments, and investors to build resilient, intelligent, and sustainable Industry 5.0 ecosystems, as industries undergo rapid transformation through AI, automation, and digital innovation. She emphasised that while technology is a powerful enabler, people, skills, and collaboration remain at the core of meaningful and sustainable transformation. She described AIM Asia as “a catalyst for transformation, where ideas translate into action, partnerships, and long-term impact.”
She then invited Guest-of-Honour YB Dato’ Ir. Hasni Mohammad, Economic & Investment Advisor to the Johor State Government, to deliver his address. In his remarks, he address reinforced Johor’s strategic direction, highlighting how the JS-SEZ serves as a blueprint to attract high-value investments, enable cross-border workforce integration, and strengthen regional competitiveness. He underscored Johor’s strong investment momentum and its ambition to become both an investment destination and a talent hub for the region.
The opening segment concluded with a commemorative session featuring Renee, YB Dato’ Hasni, and key partners, marking the official launch of the AIM Asia Summit 2026.
Catalysing Regional Competitiveness: The JS-SEZ Blueprint for Cross-Border Innovation and Sustainable Industrial Growth
Moderated by Renee Tan, Chairperson of AIM Asia, this opening plenary explored how the JS-SEZ is redefining regional industrial competitiveness. The discussion focused on a strategic “ecosystem approach,” where key agencies, such as, MIDA, J-Corp, and MDEC, align to streamline investment, talent, and digital transformation. Panelists emphasised that success will be measured by the quality of high-value investments rather than volume, citing the new AI Development Zone as a primary driver for productivity and high-end jobs. By evolving the government’s role from regulator to active partner, the session underscored the JS-SEZ’s potential as a premier investment destination powered by robust public-private synergy.
Panelists:
– Vinothan Tulisinathzan, Director, High Commission of Malaysia, Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA)
– Najmie Noordin, Chief Talent Officer, Johor Corporation (J-Corp)
– Raja Segaran, Director, Regional Digital Economy Office, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC)
Moderator: Renee Tan, Chairperson, Advanced Innovation & Manufacturing Asia
Cross-Border Collaboration for Sustainable Workforce Development: Building Regional Talent Resilience by Accelerating Industry-Ready Capabilities for Future-Ready Industries
The second discussion explored how cross-border collaboration within the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) is shaping a more resilient and future-ready workforce. Discussions focused on the shift from talent availability to talent readiness, highlighting the need for practical skills, continuous upskilling, and stronger alignment between industry and training. Panelists emphasised that building talent resilience is critical for sustaining growth and staying competitive in an increasingly digital and interconnected manufacturing landscape.
Panelists:
– Dr. Mohamad Anas Mohamad Annuar, Chief Executive Officer, Johor Skills Development Centre
– Mohamad Nazib Bin Suliman, Head Southern Region & Data Centre Sector, TalentCorp Malaysia
– Hafiz Zulkepli, Head, Factory Plant Operation, J.K. Wire Harness
– Daniel Lang, Senior Director Manufacturing, Insulet
– Teck Chong Lai, Global IT Director, Matmarket LLC
Moderator: Ang Yuit, President, ASME
Leveraging AI for Sustainable Impact on Operational Excellence and Talent Development
This session explored how AI is not replacing human roles in manufacturing, but elevating human potential through purposeful productivity. Drawing from Micron’s experience at the forefront of the AI revolution, Lee Chian highlighted how AI-driven systems are transforming operations by improving reliability, safety, and efficiency on the factory floor. She emphasised that true Industry 5.0 is about designing AI to support people, offloading repetitive cognitive tasks so engineers and operators can focus on higher-value judgement and problem-solving. Ultimately, the session reinforced that sustainable operational excellence lies in the synergy between human capability and intelligent systems, not automation alone.
Speaker: Lee Chian Ng, Director, Planning, Industrial Engineering, Operational Excellence, Micron Technology Malaysia
From Green Field to Brown Field: Lessons, Challenges, and Strategies for Modernizing Existing Factories
This session explored the key considerations between building new facilities and modernising existing ones in the journey toward Industry 4.0 and 5.0. Drawing from HP’s manufacturing experience, Jamie Neo highlighted the importance of aligning digitalisation with real business needs, not just technology adoption. She emphasised a structured approach through People, Process, and Technology, alongside starting small, proving ROI, and scaling effectively. Ultimately, the session reinforced that successful factory modernisation depends on clear strategy, strong governance, and the ability to integrate technology with operational realities.
Speaker: Jamie Neo, Senior Director, Product Engineering & Quality, HP
Human-AI Synergy: Empowering Purposeful Productivity through Agentic Intelligence in Industry 5.0
This panel explored how human-AI synergy is redefining productivity in the era of Industry 5.0. Panelists discussed how AI-driven design and predictive intelligence are accelerating product innovation and enabling more intelligent manufacturing ecosystems. They highlighted the role of human-AI co-creation on the factory floor, where technology augments workforce capabilities to enhance precision, improve problem-solving, and unlock higher-value outcomes. The discussion also touched on how real-time operational data can evolve into self-learning systems that anticipate disruptions, optimise processes, and drive continuous innovation across manufacturing operations.
Panelists:
– Ng Lee Chian, Director, Planning, Industrial Engineering, Operational Excellence, Micron Technology Malaysia
– Jamie Neo, Senior Director, Product Engineering & Quality, HP
– Dr. Eu Poh Leng, Senior Director, External Package Innovation (EPI), Package Innovation, Chief Technology Office (CTO), NXP Semiconductors
Moderator: Dr James Ong, Founder & Managing Director, AI International Institute (AIII)
Unlocking Sustainable Growth in the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ): Driving Green Manufacturing Innovation for Competitiveness and Profitability
This panel explored how green manufacturing and ESG strategies are driving sustainable growth within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ). The discussion highlighted how cross-border collaboration is accelerating innovation, investment, and industrial competitiveness.
Panelists emphasised that sustainability is no longer optional, with ESG becoming a key requirement for global business and financing. They also noted that adopting energy-efficient technologies and digitalisation can reduce costs while improving performance. Ultimately, the session underscored the need to align policy, industry, and sustainability efforts to strengthen resilience and attract high-value investments.
Panelists:
– Rudyanto Azhar, Director of Economics and Investment Division, Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA)
– Ts. Saravanan Krishan, Director, General Engineering, Alcon
– Steven Lee, Chairman, ESG Malaysia
Moderator: Germain Thomas, Executive Committee Member, MICCI Southern Branch
Unlocking Investment, Funding & Capital Raising Opportunities for Deep Tech Innovators & Manufacturing Scale-ups to Fuel Growth, Competitiveness & Global Expansion
This panel examined the “ground truth” of scaling deep tech and manufacturing startups in the ASEAN ecosystem. Moving beyond high-level policy, investors and experts identified the critical talent gap, specifically the shortage of leaders capable of building supply chains from scratch, as a primary hurdle. The discussion exposed the friction between startups and corporations, warning against “innovation theatre” where pilots fail to reach commercial adoption. Panelists provided a roadmap for founders to secure equity by pitching quantifiable ROI over product architecture, emphasizing that the JS-SEZ’s success depends on bridging the gap between academic research and genuine, demand-driven industrial synergy.
Panelists:
– Zong Xi Sia, Partner, Cocoon Capital
– Andy Othman, Country General Manager, Malaysia, Plug and Play Tech Center
– Jing Jie Huang, Venture Architect, ATUM Ventures
Moderator: Shoko Suzuki, Senior Advisor, University Tokyo IPC
Exhibition Highlights
Throughout the summit, the exhibition floor became a dynamic space for engagement, where exhibitors connected with industry leaders, shared their offerings, and explored potential collaborations across the region. These moments captured on the ground reflect not just products and solutions, but conversations, collaborations, and opportunities in motion.
Speed Networking Session
The speed networking session brought a dynamic energy to the summit, offering participants a structured yet fast-paced environment to connect, exchange ideas, and explore potential collaborations. It created meaningful touchpoints across industries, enabling conversations that could translate into partnerships, opportunities, and future business engagements.
Conclusion
The Advanced Innovation & Manufacturing (AIM) Asia Summit 2026 concluded with a day of impactful discussions, strategic insights, and meaningful connections across industries and borders. The summit underscored the importance of collaboration, innovation, and cross-border partnerships in driving sustainable industrial transformation in the new era.
The journey continues as we look ahead to AIM Asia Summit Johor on 1 April 2027, where industry leaders, innovators, governments, and investors will once again come together to shape the future of manufacturing.
At HASHTAQS, we remain committed to supporting businesses in scaling, internationalising, and building strong market presence through strategic ecosystems and omni-channel growth. If you are looking to explore opportunities in business transformation, thought leadership, partnerships, or market expansion, connect with us at [email protected] or WhatsApp/Call +65 8868 1418.
Together, let’s shape a future where AI meets innovation, collaboration drives resilience, and sustainability defines success in manufacturing.