The MJIIT iKohza Innovation Competition 2024 took place at the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT) on 28th May 2024. This event was held in conjunction with the Malaysia-Japan Industrial and Innovation Expo (MJIIX) 2024. The competition aimed to showcase the creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial skills of the iKohza members in MJIIT. It was open to all 20 iKohzas and 2 research centers at MJIIT, encouraging them to develop and present unique, marketable products. This year, 13 entries/teams from 12 iKohzas participated, demonstrating the vibrant and innovative spirit among the faculty members.

The competition’s main goal was to encourage creativity and innovation among iKohza members, inspiring them to create products with real market potential. Through developing and presenting their inventions, participants improved their entrepreneurial skills and showcased their ability to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world situations. The competition’s evaluation criteria were designed to assess various aspects of the projects, including creativity (20%), uniqueness (15%), feasibility and scalability (20%), impact (20%), commercialization (10%), collaboration with industry (5%), and presentation style (10%).

To ensure a balanced variation in project scopes, all the participating teams were divided into two major groups: Group A and Group B. Group A consisted of six teams, while Group B comprised seven teams. During the 1st round pitching session, each team was allotted 10 minutes to pitch their ideas and explain their inventions, followed by a 10-minute Q&A session. The panels of evaluators included both academic and industry professionals, ensuring a well-rounded assessment of each project. Group A was evaluated by Dr. Wan Nurul Mardiah Wan Mohd Rani, Deputy Director II of Institut Sultan Iskandar, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), and Dr. Razam Abdul Latip, Head Technical, Advisory & Technology Deployment (O&F) of Sime Darby Plantation Technology Centre Sdn. Bhd. Group B was evaluated by AP Ir. Dr. Shamsul Sarip from the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence (FAI), UTM Kuala Lumpur, and Dr. Aziz Hassan, SEStrider Technology Advisor of SEStrider Sdn. Bhd.

The top two teams from each group moved on to the final pitching session, which featured a higher level of competition and scrutiny. The finalists from Group A were Shizen Conversion and Separation Technology (SHIZEN / CLEAR) and Malaysia-Japan Advanced Research Centre (MJARC). From Group B, the finalists were Communication Systems & Networks (CSN) and Tribology and Precision Machining (Tri Prem). During the final pitching session, each team once again had 10 minutes to present their ideas, followed by a 10-minute Q&A session. The final evaluation panel included AP Ir. Ts. Dr. Mohd Khairi Abu Husain, Deputy Director of Innovation and Commercialisation (ICC), UTM; Ts. Raja Shazrin Shah Raja Ehsan Shah, Director of Galaxy Tech Solutions (KL) Sdn. Bhd.; and Ir. Ts. Jonas Anthony, Executive Director of Corporate Management, Panasonic Group Malaysia.

After a thorough evaluation, the winners of the MJIIT iKohza Innovation Competition 2024 were announced. The champion was the MJARC with their project titled Waste to Feed: Conversion of Banana Peels to Ruminant Feed Using Subcritical Water Technology, earning them a RM1,500 cash prize and a certificate of achievement. The first runner-up was Shizen Conversion and Separation Technology (SHIZEN / CLEAR) for their project Precise Thermophysical Properties and Phase Equilibrium (VLE, LLE, and SLE) Data for Design of Unit Operations in Chemical Engineering, receiving a RM1,000 cash prize and a certificate of achievement. The second runner-up was Tribology and Precision Machining (Tri Prem) with their project Gliding Our Waste into a Sustainable Future, which garnered a RM500 cash prize and a certificate of achievement.

In addition to the top prizes, all participating teams were recognized for their efforts with awards inclusive of gold, silver, and bronze medals based on their achievements. These medals acknowledged the high level of creativity, innovation, and practical applicability demonstrated by the teams. This comprehensive recognition ensured that every participating iKohza received acknowledgment for their hard work and innovative contributions. The details of the awards are as follows:

The MJIIT iKohza Innovation Competition 2024 successfully showcased the innovative abilities of the participants and provided a platform for future entrepreneurial ventures. By fostering creativity and collaboration, the competition bolstered the connection between academia and industry, paving the way for significant technological advancements and sustainable solutions.

Prepared by;

Ir. Dr. Kiew Peck Loo