SAMARAHAN: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) is set to host the Festival of Ideas Sarawak 2025 in conjunction with the Borneo Book Festival 2025 from Oct 22 to 26 at DeTAR Putra Unimas, bringing together innovation, creativity, and literacy under one roof.
The event, jointly organised with the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) and supported by various state and national partners, aims to bridge the gap between academia, innovation, and community impact.
It also represents the first state-level edition of the Festival of Ideas, following the successful national debut in Putrajaya last year.
According to vice-chancellor Professor Dr Ahmad Hata Rasit, the five-day festival will serve as a platform for universities and innovation agencies across Sarawak to showcase cutting-edge research, inventions, and creative works that contribute to society’s development.
“The Festival of Ideas Sarawak is about transforming ideas into action.
“We are inviting universities and innovation teams from across the state to exhibit their products, research, and innovations that can create real impact for our communities,” he said at a press conference on Tuesday (Oct 14).
He added that the state-level showcase will act as a precursor to the national Festival of Ideas, scheduled to take place in Putrajaya from Nov 4 to 8, where selected innovations from Sarawak will be presented on a larger platform.
“This is a continuation of last year’s Festival of Ideas at the national level, and now Unimas has been entrusted to organise the first state-level edition.
“The best products and innovations from this event will be brought forward to the national stage.”
The Festival of Ideas Sarawak 2025, held concurrently with the Sarawak Book Festival, is expected to attract over 20,000 visitors and feature participation from more than 50 exhibitors and 10 institutions of higher learning across Sarawak, including universities, polytechnics, and technical colleges.
“This is not just an academic exhibition, it’s a celebration of innovation and literacy.
“Through the Book Festival, we aim to enhance literacy, creativity, and community engagement through activities such as poetry recitals, book launches, and public lectures.”
Visitors can also look forward to a series of innovation showcases, community projects, and literacy events, including book readings, workshops, and a Premier Lecture and Book Review session, which will highlight the importance of reading culture and lifelong learning.
Prof Ahmad Hata noted that community involvement remains central to the festival’s vision, as Unimas continues to promote a culture of knowledge-sharing and inclusive innovation.
“Our goal is to ensure that university research and creativity have a tangible impact on society.
“When academia and the public come together, innovation becomes meaningful, and literacy becomes empowering.”
He expressed optimism that this inaugural state-level festival will strengthen collaboration among local innovators, encourage youth participation in STEM and the arts, and elevate Sarawak’s reputation as a centre of creativity and ideas.
“With strong participation and community support, we believe this festival will become an annual hallmark event for Sarawak, where innovation meets imagination.”
