ABOUT
The Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials (I-FIM) at the National University of Singapore and the renowned Acceleration Consortium at the University of Toronto are proud to announce a joint conference — AI4X – Accelerate Conference 2026 — to be held in Singapore, 15 – 19 June 2026.
Following the successful inaugural AI4X 2025 Conference organised by I-FIM and the 4th Accelerate Conference organised by the Acceleration Consortium, the two powerhouses are combining efforts to jointly present the 2026 meeting with a more ambitious scientific programme — showcasing the very latest global ideas and research findings, and reaching students, researchers, industry, government, and thought leaders worldwide.
In recent years, the field of AI, machine learning, and self-driving labs has advanced at a breathtaking pace. The power of AI greatly enhances the efficiency and speed of research. The ability of scientists to merge human creativity and rigour with the computational power and tools of AI has led to an unprecedented acceleration of discovery.
The four-day conference will bring together over 800 participants and an exceptional panel of invited speakers from diverse disciplines who will share their perspectives on Science with AI and their visions for the future. A one-day tutorial track will feature hands-on workshops on practical, state-of-the-art methods. Industry leaders and companies that use or develop AI for Science and R&D will also participate and share their knowledge, products, and services.
About the Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials (I-FIM)
Established in 2021 at the National University of Singapore, I-FIM is funded by the National Research Foundation Singapore (NRF) and NUS. The Institute brings together 18 resident academic investigators and their teams, all working toward building a library of designer materials and developing systematic mathematical descriptions as building blocks for Functional Intelligent Materials (FIMs).
Using machine learning and robotics, these materials are designed and synthesised for smart applications — from neuromorphic computers, machine vision, and smart membranes to catalysts, artificial tissues, and beyond.
About the Acceleration Consortium (AC)
The Acceleration Consortium was formed in 2021 and received a CA $200 million investment from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF). The Consortium has built world-class capacity to accelerate materials discovery, establishing a centre for materials research and innovation at the University of Toronto — spanning six new self-driving labs and a scale-up lab at the University of British Columbia — led by over 35 research scientists and more than 40 faculty.
Singapore–Canada Alliance
AI4X – Accelerate Conference 2026 is organised in partnership with the National Research Foundation Singapore (NRF) and the DSO National Laboratories. The Singapore-Canada alliance reflects the growing importance of AI and materials design in global research and sets the stage for a continuing series of annual conferences dedicated to this theme.
