JOHOR BAHRU, June 26 — The Faculty of Computing, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) concluded its annual flagship event, the Faculty of Computing Research & Innovation Day 2025 (FCRI Day 2025), with resounding success. Held at Dewan Seminar Kejora and officiated by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), the event showcased UTM’s continued commitment to digital transformation and fostering meaningful collaboration between academia and industry.
With the theme “Empowering Communities through Digital Innovation,” this year’s FCRI Day reflected the transformative potential of technology in driving societal progress. A key highlight was the official launch of the Faculty of Computing Showcase Hub, a dedicated platform for innovation, partnership, and product display.
Industry-Backed Innovation – The event was made possible through strong industry support, with Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) as the main sponsor, Huawei as the gold sponsor, TG Human Resource Management as the bronze sponsor, and additional backing from UTM Centre for Student Innovation & Technology Entrepreneurship (XCITE), KFC Malaysia, US Pizza, and RunCloud.
A Letter of Intent (LoI) was signed between UTM and TG Human Resource Management during the opening ceremony, symbolizing the university’s strategic commitment to strengthening industry ties.
Diverse and Impactful Engagements – Throughout the day, seven parallel events were conducted simultaneously, offering rich opportunities for knowledge exchange, innovation showcasing, and career engagement:
Technopreneurship Seminar – Fully organized by students, this seminar featured dynamic sharing sessions by representatives from Huawei, TG Human Resource Management, and DF Automation. Speakers offered deep insights into startup journeys, innovation ecosystems, and strategies for navigating Malaysia’s digital economy as technopreneurs.
Industry Talk – Experts from Embedded LLM and FAVORIOT led engaging discussions on embedded AI solutions and IoT applications, highlighting the future of intelligent systems in commercial and industrial contexts. Another key engagement was the Double Tax Deduction (DTD) sharing session, jointly conducted by UTM International and the Research Management Centre (RMC), aimed at raising awareness among industry partners on leveraging tax incentives for research collaborations.
UTM AI IDEATHON 2025 – Divided into Research-Based and Project-Based tracks, the Ideathon spotlighted Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven solutions addressing healthcare, agriculture, and education, all aligned with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) impact areas, creatively and innovatively presented by our Undergraduate Students.
- First Prize (Research): T-Titans – “Age and Gender Classification Based on Thoracic Bone 3D Images Using Deep Learning.”
- First Prize (Project): AGROTHINK – Smart farming automation platform. (Winners received cash prizes up to RM1,000 and exclusive hampers.)
Research Pitching Competition – A platform for both Research Groups (RG) and Knowledge Transfer Projects (KTP) to showcase their impact-driven innovations.
- Gold Medal (RG): Dr. Ahmad Najmi Amerhaider Nuar – “AI Matching for Academic Excellence.”
- Gold Medal (KTP): Dr. Ahmad Najmi Amerhaider Nuar – “Digitalization Transfer for Masjid Al Jawahir Foundation.”
Postgraduate Annual Research Seminar (PARS) & Blockchain Certification Ceremony – PARS2025 recognized excellence in academic research presented by our Postgraduates with awards for Best Paper, Best Presenter, and Best Poster. Notable recipients included Su Qichen, Keshiniy Mogan, and Muhammad Yusuf Idris. In conjunction, a Professional Certification in Blockchain Industry Proficiency was awarded to 15 ICT officers from Johor, symbolizing UTM’s leadership in providing industry-aligned upskilling opportunities.
Industry Exhibition – A dedicated exhibition space gathered industry partners to showcase real-world digital solutions while engaging with students through early career recruitment opportunities, internship programs, and product demonstrations — bridging academic expertise with market needs.
A Vision for Sustainable Innovation
In his closing remarks, Dr. Seah Choon Sen, Programme Director of FCRI Day 2025, conveyed his sincere gratitude to all sponsors, industry partners, student committees, and academic staff for their dedication and collaboration. “Let us celebrate excellence, ignite new ideas, and elevate innovation through this transformative journey,” he stated.
FCRI Day continues to serve not only as a showcase of innovation but also as a platform for cultivating talent, strengthening university-industry relationships, and accelerating community impact through technology. With over 500 participants, multiple award recipients, and strategic engagements initiated, FCRI Day 2025 firmly positioned UTM as a leader in advancing Malaysia’s digital innovation ecosystem.
