MIRI: A group of engineering students from Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) has clinched multiple international awards and a RM40,000 start-up grant for their breakthrough smart technology projects.
The team from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering bagged two gold medals — one at the 2nd AI-IoT International Innovation Expo 2025 and another at the 3rd International Invention, Innovation and Design (InnoDex) 2025 — before taking second place at the Youth Innovative Challenge (YIC) 2025.
Their biggest win came at the MyIS Perintis Competition, where they secured a RM40,000 grant from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) to transform their award-winning prototypes into market-ready products addressing real-world challenges.
Led by Darren Tan Thong En, Haziq Fathurrahman, Wong Kah Hong, and Chung Zhing Hao, the team impressed international judges with their creative integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and automation technologies.
“These outstanding awards are a testament to our students’ technical excellence, creativity and perseverance,” said Professor Tuong-Thuy Vu, Dean of Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Engineering and Science.
“Their achievements reflect Curtin Malaysia’s strong commitment to nurturing future-ready graduates who can lead innovation and technological progress globally.”
The team’s mentors, Associate Professor Ir. Dr. Wong Wei Kitt and Dr. Chew Ing Ming, from the Curtin_IoT mentorship team, guided the students in developing smart, sustainable systems with applications across multiple industries.
The AI-IoT International Innovation Expo 2025, held virtually between Aug 18 and Sept 9, drew 109 product submissions and 80 finalists from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and the UAE.
Entries were judged by experts from Japan, Canada, Nigeria, Indonesia, Turkey, and Malaysia, assessing originality, creativity, and potential industry impact.
At InnoDex 2025, held in Penang alongside the 4th International Conference on Semiconductor Materials and Technology (ICoSeMT), global innovators showcased breakthrough inventions and designs that push technological and social boundaries.
Their strong finish at the Youth Innovative Challenge (YIC) 2025 further underlined their versatility. Despite the event being primarily targeted at secondary school students, the Curtin Malaysia team excelled, presenting high-quality project reports and pitch videos that demonstrated both social and commercial value.
Associate Professor Ir. Dr. Lim Chye Ing, Associate Dean of Industrial Engagement, said the students’ success reinforces the importance of industry-linked learning.
“Competitions like these sharpen our students’ problem-solving skills, boost their employability, and connect them with potential industry partners,” she said.
