Kuala Lumpur, 23 October 2025 – The Great Innovation Challenge (GIC) 2025: Reengineering Plastic for Impact officially began with an inspiring opening session hosted by the Centre for Artificial Intelligence & Robotics (CAIRO), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), in collaboration with the IEEE Kuala Lumpur Subsection.
This year’s challenge is proudly sponsored by Great Eastern Takaful Berhad (GETB), with a total of RM 37,000 in prizes and prototype development funding to be awarded to Malaysia’s most innovative student teams.
The morning workshop, held virtually via Zoom, marked the official kick-off and technical training for participating teams from universities and colleges across the country. The session introduced the competition’s objectives, rules, and judging criteria, while building participants’ technical knowledge in sustainable design and digital prototyping.
💬 Opening Ceremony
The session began with a warm welcome and programme briefing by Dr. Muhammad Hisyam Rosle from CAIRO UTM.
Opening remarks were then delivered by:
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Ibrahim Shapiai, Director, CAIRO UTM
- Mr. Shahrul Azlan Syahriman, Chief Executive Officer, Great Eastern Takaful Berhad
Both speakers emphasized the importance of industry–academia collaboration and sustainability-driven innovation, inspiring students to take on the challenge of reengineering plastic waste into meaningful, community-based solutions.
⚙️ Technical Training: Sustainable Machine Design & Digital Prototyping
The first technical module, titled Sustainable Machine Design & Digital Prototyping, was led by Dr. Fadhilah binti Abdul Razak from CAIRO UTM.
Participants learned the fundamentals of sustainable design, energy-efficient material selection, and the use of Fusion 360 and SolidWorks to create digital prototypes of improved plastic-recycling machines.
Through live demonstrations and group exercises, students explored how to make small-scale recycling systems more portable, automated, and environmentally responsible — key goals of the Great Innovation Challenge.
👥 Active Participation and Collaboration
Moderated by Mr. Zaenal Abidin, the session saw enthusiastic engagement from students representing both IPTA and IPTS.
Participants actively shared ideas and posed questions on automation, sustainability, and AI integration in recycling systems.
Presentation slides and session recordings were shared via the official GIC Facebook Group to support continued learning and collaboration.
🎯 A Platform for Future Innovators
The Great Innovation Challenge 2025 runs from September 2025 to May 2026, featuring two phases —
(1) Concept Design & Digital Prototyping and
(2) Prototype Development & Final Demonstration.
Through this programme, participants will gain hands-on exposure to sustainable engineering, automation, and basic AI technologies, while contributing to Malaysia’s green innovation ecosystem.
🌟 A Promising Start
Day 1 Session 1 concluded successfully at 11:45 AM, marking a strong beginning for the two-year innovation journey.
Participants left inspired and better equipped to begin their concept development phase, setting the stage for impactful solutions that turn plastic waste into opportunity.
🔗 Stay Connected
Follow our updates and photos on the official Facebook page:
📍 facebook.com/cairoutm
and learn more at
🌐 research.utm.my/cairo/greatinnovationchallenge
Let’s Innovate. Compete. Impact. together for a cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable future! 🌱
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