Curtin Engineering Students Win Multiple International Awards, Showcasing Innovation on the Global Stage

(Miri, 29th) A youth innovation team from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University Malaysia, has made a name for themselves overseas by winning multiple international innovation awards thanks to their outstanding creativity and technical prowess.

This team delivered stellar performances in various international competitions, clinching two gold medals at the "2nd AI-IoT International Innovation Expo 2025" and the "3rd International Invention, Innovation and Design Expo 2025" (InnoDex 2025), as well as securing second place with a prize of RM1,500 at the "2025 Youth Innovative Challenge (YIC)".

In addition, they stood out at the "MyIS Perintis Competition", winning a RM40,000 entrepreneurship fund awarded by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) to help commercialize their innovative prototype into a market-ready product with real business potential.

The 2nd AI-IoT International Innovation Expo 2025 was held online from August 18th to September 9th this year, gathering innovators from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and the UAE to showcase the latest applications in artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT). Out of 109 innovative products that entered, 80 made it to the finals. International judges from Malaysia, Japan, Nigeria, Indonesia, Turkey, and Canada evaluated entries based on innovation, uniqueness, and industry impact.

Meanwhile, the "3rd International Invention, Innovation and Design Expo (InnoDex 2025)", held in Penang in conjunction with the "4th International Conference on Semiconductor Materials and Technology (ICoSeMT)", attracted researchers, professionals, and students from around the world, showcasing creative inventions and design solutions across various fields. The event aims to promote international cooperation and knowledge exchange on innovation.

At the national-level "Youth Innovative Challenge (YIC 2025)", the Curtin team also excelled. This program encourages the younger generation to identify real-world issues and propose innovative solutions. While the focus is mainly on secondary school students, it has in recent years become an important platform for nurturing youth design thinking and entrepreneurial skills. The 2025 competition was held entirely online, with 202 teams qualifying for the finals. Participants presented their proposals and innovation concepts, along with their social impact, via reports and videos.

Professor Tuong-Thuy Vu, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Science at Curtin Malaysia, said these awards fully demonstrated the students’ technical capabilities, creativity, and determination, and also reflected Curtin Malaysia’s commitment to cultivating graduates with global competitiveness and innovative abilities.

Associate Professor Ir. Dr. Lim Chye Ing, Associate Dean of Industry Engagement, added that participating in such competitions not only sharpens students’ professional skills but also enhances their employability and expands their networking, laying a foundation for nurturing the nation’s future technology leaders.

The innovative team members include Darren Tan Thong En, Haziq Fathurrahman, Wong Kah Hong, and Chung Zhing Hao. They were mentored by Curtin’s IoT mentor team, led by Associate Professor Ir. Dr. Wong Wei Kitt and Dr. Chew Ing Ming. Their research areas cover the integration of artificial intelligence, IoT, and automation systems to enhance industrial efficiency and sustainable development.

This series of achievements fully demonstrates the core concept of "innovation-driven learning" in Curtin Malaysia’s education model. The Faculty of Engineering and Science continues to promote creativity, collaboration, and technological integration, striving to nurture young talents with the innovative mindset to shape a smart future.