2nd International Conference on Emerging Trends in Biomedical Engineering, Science and Technology (ICETBEST) 2026

The 2nd International Conference on Emerging Trends in Biomedical Engineering, Science and Technology (ICETBEST) 2026, organized by the Faculty of Engineering at Salim Habib University, in collaboration with renowned international institutions, including Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, University of Málaga, New Zealand College of Chiropractic, and City St George’s, University of London, was successfully held at our Fatima Business School, from May 19-20, 2026.

The inaugural day featured the Medical Device Manufacturing Summit: Vision 2030, jointly presented by Salim Habib University, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), and the Saman-e-Shifa Foundation (SSF). The summit convened leading voices from industry, academia, and regulatory bodies to advance Pakistan’s medical device manufacturing ecosystem with a focus on innovation, regulatory excellence, local production capacity, and international collaboration in alignment with national Vision 2030 objectives.

The summit was graced by a distinguished gathering of dignitaries and industry leaders, including Dr. Shahid Noor, Chairman, SSF, Saif-ur-Rehman Khattak, Additional Director, DRAP, Dr. Abdul Bari, CEO, Indus Hospital Health Network, Prof. Dr. Tahir Saghir, Executive Director, NICVD, Mr. Omer, Chairman, Healthcare Devices Association Pakistan (HDAP), and Mr. Akbar Allana, Director, Alsons Group.

Day 1 also featured prestigious keynote speaker sessions delivered by internationally renowned experts and academicians, namely Prof. Syed Ather Enam, S.I., Professor of Neurosurgery and Scientific Director, Aga Khan University, Prof. Stephanie Willerth, Full Professor in Biomedical Engineering, University of Victoria, Canada, Mr. Maurizio Magarini, Associate Professor, Politecnico di Milano, Italy, Prof. Norbert Noury, Full Professor, University of Lyon, France, Dr. Heidi Haavik, Vice President Research and Dean of Research, New Zealand College of Chiropractic, Prof. Dr. Sergiu-Dan Stan, Associate Professor, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Dr. Silvia Maria Zanoli, Associate Professor, Università Politecnica Marche, Ancona, Italy, Dr. Ghulam E Mustafa Abro, Postdoctoral Researcher, Aarhus University, Denmark, Dr. Sumsun Naher, Associate Professor in Materials Science and Engineering, City St George’s, University of London.

One key highlight of the summit was a thought-provoking Panel Discussion on Quality Medical Devices Manufacturing in Pakistan: Challenges & Opportunities, that brought together senior executives, regulators, and academic leaders to exchange perspectives on the opportunities, structural challenges, and strategic directions shaping healthcare innovation in the country, namely Mr. Syed Omer Ahmed, Chairman, HDAP, Mr. Jamshed Ahmed, CEO, PharmEvo, Mr. Abbas Ali, Director, Hakimi MedTech, Dr. Fouzia Sadiq, Group Director, Medical Alsons Technologies, Dr. Farhan Essa, CEO, Dr. Essa Laboratory and Diagnostic Center, and Prof. Dr. Irfan Hyder, Vice Chancellor, SHU. The session was moderated by Mr. Syed Arif Shah, CEO, Saman-e-Shifa Foundation.

The SHU’s Center for Medical Device Innovation and Research, which aims to serve as a pioneering platform for interdisciplinary research, product development, innovation, and industry-academia collaboration in healthcare technologies and medical device engineering.

Another key highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among SHU, Saman-e-Shifa Foundation, and the Institute of Pakistan Medical Device Manufacturing Industry, to promote collaboration in research, innovation, training, and industrial development in the medical device sector.

The two-day conference came to a conclusion with a Closing Ceremony, the Chief Guest for which was Mr. Ali Khurshidi, Member of Provincial Assembly of Sindh, who delivered empowering remarks to the audience. Prof. Dr. Syed Irfan Hyder, Vice Chancellor, and Dr. Muhammad Hussain Habib, Registrar, SHU, also addressed the gathering, formally marking the conclusion of the conference.

The ceremony was further distinguished by the presence of the Guest of Honour, Engr. Sohail Bashir, Chairman, Institute of Engineers Pakistan (IEP), and CEO, Saita Pakistan Pvt. Ltd., who addressed the audience in an inspiring talk Other notable attendees included Mr. Ali Rashid, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Sindh for IT, Mr. Najam Mirza, Member of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh, Mr. Salman Mujahid, Advocate, High Court of Sindh and Former Member of the National Assembly, and Mr. Hameed Kareem Awan, Secretary and Political Advisor.

Reflections on the conference and the Vote of Thanks were delivered by Dr. Irfan Ahmed Usmani, Chairperson, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Co-Convener, ICETBEST 2026, along with Mr. M. Wasim Munir, Conference Secretary, and Prof. Dr. Zeeshan-ul-Haque, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, SHU.

The second day of the conference was centered by a highly relevant theme of Integrating Robotics and Artificial Intelligence for Industrial Transformation, and featured thought-provoking keynote sessions grounded in cutting-edge research, delivered by distinguished industry experts and academics, including Mr. Muhammad Fahad Ahmed Khan, Head of Space Rovers System Development, SUPARCO, Prof. Dr. Riaz-ud-Din, Director ORIC, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Dr. Fawad Zaidi, Senior Academic Researcher, Torrens University, Australia.

An engaging panel discussion on Integrating Robotics & AI for Industrial Transformation: Challenges & Opportunities was also held, which brought together a diverse group of industry practitioners and academic leaders, including Mr. Muhammad Azam Mughal, CEO, SecureBeans, Mr. Jamshed Dasturi, CEO, Smartronix, Prof. Dr. Riaz-ud-Din, Director ORIC, NED University, Mr. Muhammad Fahad Ahmed Khan, SUPARCO, and Mr. M. Kashif Ayub, Site Director, GSK West Wharf. The thoughtful moderation of Mr. Hassan Ali, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Engineering, SHU, further added depth to the topic.

The second and final day of the conference also featured informative technical sessions, research paper presentations, and a project exhibition showcasing an impressive range of projects and research posters developed by undergraduate students of Biomedical Engineering and Robotics & Intelligent Systems.

A standout moment of the day was an industry demonstration by Bioniks, in which the company’s Community Manager presented the transformative potential of assistive robotics and 3D-printed prosthetic technology in rehabilitation, emphasizing technology’s role in improving the quality of life for individuals with disabilities.

In conclusion, ICETBEST 2026 was a remarkable success, bringing together brilliant minds across Biomedical Engineering, Robotics, AI, and Emerging Technologies and laying the groundwork for future collaborations.