SERIAN: Talent in science and technology is not confined to the state’s major cities, with many promising young innovators emerging from rural Sarawak.
Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister, Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, said competitions such as the RoboClash Challenge 2026 provide a platform to nurture and discover these talents.
He said talent can be found in every village, longhouse and rural school, provided students are given the opportunity and encouragement to succeed.
“You are the generation that will design Sarawak’s smart cities. You will build our clean energy systems. You will invent technologies that, today, your teachers and I cannot even imagine.
“Learn from your opponents. Help each other when something breaks down. Shake hands and smile when the round ends.
“Remember – every great engineer, every great scientist and every great innovator the world has ever known started exactly where you are standing today,” he said.
He said this after officiating at the Final Leg of the RoboClash Challenge 2026 at Serian Community Hall here today (June 13).
The three-leg competition attracted about 350 students from across Sarawak this year, with about 160 finalists competing in Serian after earlier rounds in Bintulu and Sri Aman.
The finalists competed in four categories, namely the Sumo Robot Challenge, Mini Drone Obstacle Race, RoboMaster Challenge and Drone Soccer Competition.
Meanwhile, outstanding participants from this year’s RoboClash Challenge could earn the opportunity to compete internationally.
Strategic partner, U Best Youbisheng Sdn Bhd’s representative, Felix Lee said the organisers would identify promising talents from the winners list for future overseas competitions.
“This year we also will do the same. We will choose from the winner list and see whether there is potential talent,” he said.
Lee said the initiative had already seen success, with Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Batu Bungan in Mulu representing Sarawak at a drone competition in Hong Kong earlier this year.
The rural school received the Most Promising Talent Award, proving that talented young innovators can emerge from any part of the state.
He said the organisers hope to continue providing young Sarawakian talents with exposure at the international level.
