Press release submitted on behalf of IUVA.
During the Disinfection and Disinfection By-products Conference 2026 (IWA DDBPs 2026), held in Shanghai from July 7 to 10, 2026, the Asia Pacific UV Technology Innovation Symposium was successfully convened. The symposium was organized jointly by the International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA), the Chinese Ultraviolet Association (CUVA) and the National University of Singapore (Suzhou) Research Institute (NUSRI).
The symposium was co-chaired by Professor Jiangyong Hu from the National University of Singapore and Professor Wenjun Sun from Tsinghua University, who delivered opening remarks and officially inaugurated the event. The symposium brought together experts and scholars from academia, industry and government agencies worldwide to explore cutting-edge advances and innovative applications of UV technology in water treatment and environmental protection.
During the keynote session, distinguished speakers delivered insightful presentations, sharing their latest research and technical expertise in the field of UV water treatment and disinfection. The session featured Professor Kumiko Oguma from the University of Tokyo, Professor Jiangyong Hu from the National University of Singapore, Dr. Siva Rajan Sarathy, Principal Scientist at Trojan Technologies, Professor Madjid Mohseni from the University of British Columbia, Professor Ran Yin from Nanjing University, and Academician Ted Mao of the Canadian Academy of Engineering. During the conference, multiple oral presentation sessions were held, with a primary focus on key breakthroughs and development trends in UV disinfection technology. The presentations covered emerging technologies including Far-UV-C and UV light-emitting diodes (UV LED). The presentations delved into the advantages and challenges of these technologies regarding disinfection efficacy, energy efficiency and disinfection byproduct control. These discussions underscored the significant role of UV technology in enhancing public health and ensuring water quality. A number of research reports showcased the latest advances in free radical generation mechanisms, pollutant degradation pathways and system optimization, further expanding the practical application boundaries of UV technology.
During the panel discussion, moderated by Professor Wenjun Sun, the session brought together a number of renowned experts and scholars from across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. Participants included Dr. Yuefeng Xie, Professor at Pennsylvania State University and Distinguished Visiting Professor at Tsinghua University, Dr. Manuela Antonelli, Professor at the Polytechnic University of Milan, and Dr. Elena Sezenna, Assistant Professor at the Polytechnic University of Milan. The panelists engaged in in-depth exchanges and discussions on cutting-edge topics including the development of novel UV materials, core technological breakthroughs in UV LED and regional collaborative development. Drawing on the latest scientific research progress and industrial practices in their respective countries, the experts shared diverse academic perspectives and offered profound insights into the key challenges, technical constraints and future development trajectories currently facing the industry.
The symposium also featured a poster presentation session, showcasing a number of application-oriented innovative research outcomes. The research topics covered the application of Far-UV-C technology in disinfection and micropollutant removal, the potential of combined UV and UV LED control systems for eliminating antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and photoelectrocatalytic technologies for the treatment of emerging contaminants.
For more information, visit https://www.iuva.org/2026-asian-pacific-symposium.