KUALA LUMPUR, 29 November 2025 – The Great Innovation Challenge (GIC) 2025, a two-year national programme on “Reengineering Plastic for Profit”, concluded its Year 1 phase with a vibrant Closing & Award Ceremony at Menara Great Eastern, Kuala Lumpur.
Jointly organised by Great Eastern Takaful Berhad (GETB), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) through the Centre for Artificial Intelligence & Robotics (CAIRO), and the IEEE Kuala Lumpur Subsection, the Challenge empowers Malaysian students to redesign an existing small-scale plastic recycling machine into a smarter, portable and semi-automated system for upcycling HDPE (Type 2) and PP (Type 5) plastics into higher-value products.
This first-year cycle successfully attracted 32 student teams from 10 universities, colleges, and institutions across Malaysia, reflecting strong national interest in sustainability-driven engineering and innovation.
Distinguished Guests and Partners
The ceremony was graced by:
- Yang Berusaha Prof. Dr. Shamsul bin Sahibuddin – Performing the Function of Head of UTM Campus (Kuala Lumpur Branch)
- Yang Berusaha Encik Shahrul Azlan bin Shahriman – Chief Executive Officer, Great Eastern Takaful Berhad
- Yang Berusaha Puan Rashida Mior Ahmad Darwish – Head of Marketing, Great Eastern Takaful Berhad
- Yang Berusaha Prof. Dr. Norliza binti Mohd Noor – Chair, IEEE Kuala Lumpur Subsection
- Yang Berusaha Associate Professor Technologist Dr. Mohd Ibrahim Shapiai – Director, Centre for Artificial Intelligence & Robotics (CAIRO), UTM
Also in attendance were academic advisors, panel judges, student innovators, and industry guests, underscoring the strong collaboration between industry, academia, and professional bodies in nurturing future-ready talent.
Reengineering Plastic for Profit
The Great Innovation Challenge is designed as a two-year journey from concept to prototype, with a total prize and funding pool of RM77,000. Year 1 focuses on concept design and digital prototyping, while Year 2 advances selected teams to full-prototype development and demonstration.
Participants are challenged to enhance an existing recycling machine by:
- Improving automation of shredding, melting, and moulding processes
- Increasing portability for deployment in schools, communities, and rural areas
- Embedding sustainability principles such as energy efficiency, material optimisation, and waste reduction
- Exploring lightweight AI features for process monitoring, temperature control, and predictive maintenance
The programme is strongly aligned with ESG principles and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
From Training to Showcase
Since its launch in September 2025, teams registered via CAIRO’s Great Innovation Challenge portal and later attended a two-day technical training and kick-off workshop, where they were introduced to sustainable machine design, digital prototyping tools, and basic automation and AI concepts.
Over the following weeks, the 32 teams developed concept designs and digital models of enhanced recycling machines, guided by mentors from UTM and partner organisations. They then submitted design documents, 3D models, and sustainability/feasibility statements, which were evaluated by a panel of academic and industry judges.
The Closing & Award Ceremony at Menara Great Eastern served as the culmination of this Year 1 process, combining a concept showcase, judging, networking with industry representatives, and the formal prize presentation.
Celebrating Winners and Consolation Prize Teams
After a competitive evaluation round, three teams emerged as the top winners for Year 1:
1. First Place – Vanta
2. Second Place – CodeSpark
3. Third Place – Green AI Innovator
These teams stood out for their strong integration of compact mechanical design, safety, maintainability, and a clear pathway for automation and AI-driven optimisation in the next phase.
In addition, five teams received consolation prizes in recognition of their promising ideas and effort throughout the programme:
- Mono Global
- Replast: Smarter, Cleaner, Green Recycling
- Luma
- Replast
- PVD
The consolation awards aim to encourage these teams to further refine their concepts and remain engaged with sustainability-focused innovation.
Top 5 Teams Advancing with Prototype Funding
Looking ahead to the next phase, five teams were selected to receive Prototype Fund support to advance their concepts into working machines in Year 2. Each team will receive RM8,000 to support materials, fabrication, and testing: Vanta, CodeSpark, Green AI Innovator. Mono Global and PVD.
These Top 5 Prototype Fund teams will embark on Year 2: Prototype Development (January–May 2026), during which they will build functional prototypes, integrate automation and optional AI features, conduct structured testing, develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and user manuals, and demonstrate their machines at the Final Demo & Award Ceremony at UTM Kuala Lumpur.
Impact on Students and Sustainability
Beyond the competition results, the Great Innovation Challenge functions as a hands-on learning platform. Students gain experience in mechanical and digital design, electronics and automation, sustainability assessment, ESG awareness, and teamwork, communication, and project management.
The focus on HDPE and PP plastics—commonly used in bottle caps, food containers, and household packaging—helps students connect theory to real environmental challenges and explore how engineering solutions can directly reduce plastic pollution while supporting local circular economies.
For Great Eastern Takaful, the Challenge reflects its commitment to community development and environmental stewardship. For CAIRO UTM and IEEE Kuala Lumpur Subsection, the programme strengthens the ecosystem for applied research, student innovation, and industry-relevant skills development.
Looking Ahead to Year 2
As GIC transitions into Year 2, the selected teams will refine their designs into fully functional prototypes that will be evaluated on sustainability, automation, portability, feasibility, durability, and long-term usability.
The Final Demo & Award Ceremony, scheduled for May 2026 at UTM Kuala Lumpur, will gather industry partners, policymakers, and the wider community to witness how student-led innovation can transform plastic waste into meaningful economic and social value.
With strong support from Great Eastern Takaful, CAIRO UTM, IEEE Kuala Lumpur Subsection, and IKIM, the Great Innovation Challenge is poised to continue inspiring a new generation of engineers and innovators committed to designing technologies that serve both people and the planet.
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