Inspire Collab 2026 Recap

Addressing complex global challenges requires stepping beyond traditional academic boundaries. On Wednesday, 23 September 2026, Raffles University proudly hosted INSPIRE Collab 2026: From Connection to Co-Creation, a flagship virtual academic conference designed to spark meaningful, cross-institutional partnerships. Serving as the main host, Raffles University brought together academics, researchers, and institutional leaders from partner universities across the region. The virtual forum served as an active collaborative ecosystem aimed at strengthening research networks, promoting knowledge exchange, and forming interdisciplinary clusters for joint projects, grants, and academic publications.

The success of INSPIRE Collab 2026 was made possible through the close cooperation of our esteemed partner institutions, including Chung Hua University, Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna, MILA University, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK), UNIRAZAK, and Universitas Muhammadiyah Indonesia. This strong alliance reflects a shared commitment among regional higher education institutions to break down research silos and foster real-world impact through collaborative innovation.

To channel research strengths into targeted outcomes, the conference focused on seven pivotal sub-themes, covering Human-Centred Well-being & Inclusive Communities; Health Systems, Care & Medical Innovation; Sustainable Environments, Culture & Regenerative Futures; Creative Design Innovation & Digital Design Futures; Innovation in Education, Creativity & Learning Ecosystems; Future Business, Entrepreneurship & Social Transformation; and Sustainable Intelligent Systems & Engineering.

Participants were also treated to keynotes from prominent leaders across industry and academia, featuring Prof. Dr Mohd Shahir Shamsir bin Omar, Registered Technology Transfer Professional (RTTP) from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), and PMgr Dr Wong Kong San, Chief Executive Officer of Sunway Malls (Southern Region) and Adjunct Professor of Practice at Sunway Business School. Their addresses provided valuable perspectives on technology transfer, practical implementation, and bridging the gap between academic research and industry execution.

INSPIRE Collab 2026 was structured to go beyond passive discussion. By facilitating active dialogue across disciplines—spanning Arts & Design, Business, AI & Data Science, Psychology, Education, and Built Environment—the event successfully planted the seeds for future joint grant applications, interdisciplinary publications, and ongoing collaborative research projects. Raffles University extends its sincere gratitude to all co-organising universities, keynote speakers, session chairs, and participants for contributing to a vibrant and productive conference. We look forward to witnessing the impactful research clusters and joint initiatives that will emerge from this landmark gathering!