200 DELEGATES FROM 19 COUNTRIES GATHER IN PENANG FOR ICNP2026
About 200 researchers, academics, and industry players from 19 countries gathered at Mercure Penang Beach, Tanjung Bungah recently for the opening of the International Conference on Natural Products 2026 (ICNP2026). Jointly organised by the School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), and the Malaysian Natural Products Society (MNPS), the three-day conference which began on 30 September, runs under the theme "Transforming Natural Product Discoveries into Sustainable Industrial Solutions."
The conference was officiated by Professor Dr. Habibah A Wahab, USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation and Advisor to ICNP2026. In her speech, she stressed that natural product research must move beyond the laboratory to deliver real-world impact through innovation, stronger ties between academia and industry, and a commitment to sustainable development.
“Today, our task is not only to make new discoveries, but also to turn those discoveries into practical solutions. We must bridge the gap between research and real-world impact, ensuring that scientific advances contribute to economic growth, improve lives, and help protect our planet for future generations,” she added.
She was joined at the Opening Ceremony by ICNP2026 Chairman Ts. ChM. Dr. Mohamad Shazeli Che Zain and Associate Professor Dr. Yusri Yusup, Dean of the School of Industrial Technology, USM.
The day began with the Jack Cannon Lecture, delivered by Professor ChM. Dr. Nor Hadiani Ismail, Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia and former MNPS President. This was followed by a keynote lecture from Habibah and a plenary lecture by Professor Dr. Toshio Morikawa of Kindai University, Japan.
Across the three days, delegates heard four plenary lectures and ten invited talks by speakers from Malaysia, Japan, Russia, Indonesia, Australia, Thailand and Kazakhstan, alongside five industry talks and more than 150 oral and poster presentations. The MNPS Annual Meeting and a meeting of the Phytochemical Society of Asia were also being held in conjunction with the conference.
ICNP2026 was made possible by the support of its sponsors and partners. Platinum Sponsors: JEOL (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, microLAMBDA Sdn Bhd, Elsevier, Waters Analytical Instruments Sdn. Bhd., and Bruker-DKSH. Exhibitor Sponsors: Everlife-Chemopharm, LECO Instruments (M) Sdn. Bhd., IT Tech Research (M) Sdn. Bhd., Thermo Fisher Scientific, Ara Gemilang Saintifik Sdn. Bhd., and Gaia Science (M) Sdn. Bhd. Advertising Sponsors: Shimadzu Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., and Orbiting Scientific & Technology Sdn. Bhd. Merchandise Sponsors: Exprojaya Sdn Bhd, Shimadzu Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., PCEB, The Habitat Group, Noor Arfa Batik, Pharmaniaga Bhd, HURIX'S, and Apical Scientific Sdn. Bhd.
The conference was further supported by its Publication and Strategic Partners, which included Deakin University, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), the Malaysian Young Chemists Network, the International Younger Chemists Network, Sains Malaysiana, the Malaysian Journal of Microbiology (MJM), Contemporary Research in Natural Products (CRNP), and the Journal of Tropical Resources and Sustainable Science (JTRSS).
