UTM’s FKA and FKM unite to ignite innovation at i-FiRE 2025

Dr. Mohd Khairul Afzan

JOHOR BAHRU, Jan 14 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) proudly hosted the International Fusion Invention Research Exhibition (i-FIRE) 2025, an inspiring event showcasing groundbreaking innovations, creativity, and research excellence. i-FIRE 2025 was a collaboration between the Faculty of Civil Engineering (FKA) and the Faculty of Management (FM), uniting talents from diverse disciplines. Held at the Dewan Konvensyen, Faculty of Management, this year’s event celebrated the theme Emerging Technologies: Shaping the Next Era of Discovery and brought together students and academicians to explore innovative solutions for today’s pressing challenges. This year’s exhibition was also a collaborative effort between the Pavement and Transportation Research Group (PTRG) and Strategi Society, further amplifying its reach and impact.

WhatsApp Image at dd — The opening ceremony was graced by Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Ahmad Safuan A. Rashid (second from right), Deputy Dean of FKA, and Prof. Dr. Ahmad Jusoh (second from left), Dean of FM.

This year’s i-FIRE 2025 was particularly special, featuring an exciting integration of the Rail Tech Expo 2025 as one of its core chapters. Building on the immense success of the Rail Tech Expo 2024, this evolution expanded the exhibition’s scope to encompass a diverse range of projects beyond transportation technology, creating a collaborative platform for innovation across disciplines. This year’s was especially significant as it featured a special International Seminar, conducted via a live online platform. Renowned speakers included Dr. Yusra Aulia Sari from Universitas International Batam, Indonesia, and Aliyu Mani Umar from Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria. Their insightful presentations provided a global perspective on emerging technologies and their applications, enriching the academic experience for both participants and attendees.

DSC — One of the teams that joined the competition for the exhibition

Over 30 interactive booths allowed visitors to engage with innovative projects blending theoretical research with practical applications. The diverse projects, reflecting the creativity and technical prowess of UTM students, received enthusiastic feedback from attendees. Adding to the event’s prestige was the presence of esteemed jury members from various universities. Experts from institutions such as Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn (UTHM), City University Malaysia and from UTM itself evaluated the student projects, providing invaluable feedback and selecting the winners for various categories. Their participation highlighted the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of i-FIRE 2025.

DSC — The evaluation session conducted by the juries

The highlight of the event was the Award Ceremony, celebrating outstanding contributions in several categories such as, Gold Awards, Silver Awards, Bronze Awards, Best of the Best Award, Best Poster Award, Best Booth Award, Best Group Award and Best Prototype Award.

WhatsApp Image at dc — Part of the team that received the Gold Award during the Award Ceremony.

The Best of the Best Award was awarded to a team that developed a pioneering project on Abandoned Railway Tracks Innovation (ARTI), earning accolades for its innovation and potential real-world impact.

DSC — “ARTI” team that won the Gold Award, Best Group Award, and Best of the Best Award.

The Chairman of i-FIRE 2025, Ts. Dr. Mohd Khairul Afzan Mohd Lazi, expressed his pride in the event’s success, stating, “i-FIRE 2025 is a testament to UTM’s commitment to fostering innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration. The creativity and dedication displayed by our students, along with the support of our partners and the invaluable insights from the juries, have made this event a resounding success.”

DSC — One of the prototypes being developed by the students was displayed during the exhibition.

Co-chairmen, Dr. Mohd Zulfabli Hasan, Dr. Hanini Ilyana Che Hashim, and Dr. Teh Zaharah Yaacob, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the event not only showcased academic excellence but also fostered connections between faculties, industry partners, and the broader academic community. The organiser also extends its heartfelt gratitude to the sponsors whose generous support made i-FIRE 2025 a reality: VRG Dinamik Sdn. Bhd., Nasrom (M) Sdn. Bhd., Refurbished Furniture Kemaman and Orked Maju Bridalhouse. Their contributions were instrumental in ensuring the success of the event.

A group gathering with all the participants and the juries involved.

As the inaugural edition of i-FiRE, this event has set a new benchmark for collaborative innovation at UTM. The university aims to build on this momentum, further expanding i-FIRE’s reach and impact in the coming years. Organizer extends its heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of i-FIRE 2025, from the organizers and participants to the international speakers, jury members, and sponsors. The university looks forward to continuing its mission of shaping the next generation of innovators and leaders through platforms like i-FIRE.