MIRI: The annual IEEE Innovation Nation Malaysia 2022 Techno-preneurship Bootcamp was successfully hosted by Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) from August 1 to 17 December this year.
The bootcamp was divided into two tracks – Sarawak Track and Malaysia Track – providing an advanced upskilling platform for aspiring techno-entrepreneurs to equip themselves with advanced technical knowledge and business skills.
Its key objective was to motivate more Malaysian entrepreneurs to be driven by technology-based invention, create innovative technological solutions to tackle local issues, and equip themselves with adequate knowledge of the start-up ecosystem.
A total of 13 teams were shortlisted for the Sarawak Track and 17 teams for the Malaysia Track.
Towards the end of the bootcamp, the teams developed prototypes to demonstrate their conceptual ideas. Their proposed solutions had to address one of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #3: Good Health and Well-Being or #9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.
They then had to pitch the merits of their solutions before a panel of judges. There were separate judges for the Sarawak Track and Malaysia Track.
The judges for the Sarawak Track comprised Abdul Hakim Bin Mohd Noor from FixCoLab, Ir. Allen Liew from Sarawak Information Systems Sdn. Bhd. (SAINS) and Tan Pei Seng from Vitrox Technologies Sdn. Bhd. Judges for the Malaysia Track, meanwhile, were Dr Wendy Chin Siew Wen and Yeap Wei Seng from Intel Penang and Brandon Tan Tian Shyong from PETRONAS.
Emerging winners in the Sarawak Track were team ‘Biolign’ for their ‘customised, zero-cytotoxicity biodegradable clear aligner for mild malocclusion adolescents in Malaysia’, team ‘Neural Works’ for their ‘AI-driven analytic tool for archery precision sport and self-supervision sport monitoring system’, and team ‘Fast Harvest’ for their ‘computer vision guidance system for fast and accurate oil palm harvesting’.
In the Malaysia Track, team ‘ecluck’ placed first for their ‘halal-certified green recycled chicken feedstock for better growth of chickens’, followed by team ‘Neural Works’ for their ‘AI-driven analytic tool for archery precision sport and self-supervision sport monitoring system’. Placing third was team ‘What the Health’ for their ‘wearable vein projection with AI to improve accuracy of vein injections’.
The bootcamp’s event collaborators included the TEGAS Digital Village & Digital Innovation Hub, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), FutureLab.my, FixColab, Farbeat Technologies, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Curtin Malaysia Student Branch, IEEE Young Professionals, IEEE R10 Young Professional, IEEE Young Professional Malaysia Section, IEEE Students (SPAx), IEEE R10, IEEE Industry Engagement, and IEEE Entrepreneurship.
President of the IEEE Curtin Malaysia Student Branch, Andrea Wong Saen Er said it was an honour for Curtin Malaysia to host this bootcamp to motivate more young professionals and students to pursue their technopreneurship dreams.
‘I personally was greatly inspired by the mentors and industrial experts who contributed to the bootcamp. The eco-system and support provided by TEGAS Digital Innovation Hub and MDEC were top-notch and a great encouragement to the student leaders involved to continue promoting technopreneurship among students,” she said.
Meanwhile, advisor to the IEEE Curtin Malaysia Student Branch, Associate Professor Garenth Lim King Hann, said, “We need more platforms to develop the skillsets of entrepreneurship among university students. IEEE Innovation Nation Malaysia is a good programme with mentoring sessions and workshops to prepare students for the field of commercialisation. They learn to use their creativity and innovation to tackle society’s problems and subsequently help expand the business ecosystem.”
Information on Curtin Malaysia can be found on its website at www.curtin.edu.my, or look for Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, or LinkedIn.
