FIMiEx2025 strengthens national innovation ecosystem, cross-generational platform produces future thinkers

KUANTAN, 30 November 2025 – Faculty of Industrial Management Innovation Exhibition 2025 (FIMiEx2025) organised by the Faculty of Industrial Management (FPI), Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) once again proved its position as a high-impact innovation platform for the fourth time since its organisation when it successfully brought together participation across generations and backgrounds, which took place at BCIC Lodge, Kuantan.

This year’s organisation witnessed the involvement of primary school students, secondary school students, undergraduates, government agencies, and industry players who collectively demonstrated the increasingly mature development of an innovation culture in the country and marked the first organisation outside the campus.

The closing ceremony of FIMiEx2025 was officiated by the Assistant Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), UMPSA, Professor Dr Mohd Hasbi Ab Rahim.

The ceremony was also attended by the Dean of FPI, Dr Mohd Hanafiah Ahmad, the Assistant Director of Student Talent Development for Co-curriculum (STEM), Pahang State Education Department, Tuan Jamil Hamzah Sazali, the Principal of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultanah Hajjah Kalsom, Tuan Haji Jonaidi Osman, and the Regional Business Manager (Deposit), East Coast Region, MBSB, Nurasyikin Muhd Akhir, in addition to industry representatives, panel judges, sponsors, and exhibitors.

In his speech, Professor Dr Mohd Hasbi emphasised that the impact of the organisation of FIMiEx2025 this year is increasingly evident as its participation involved a broad and diverse group of participants.

“FIMiEx is no longer an ordinary innovation platform; it is now a unifying space between schools, higher education institutions, and industry.

“When primary school students, secondary school students, undergraduates, and professionals gather in the same place, it sends the message that innovation belongs to everyone.

“In 2019, we only received 36 entries, but today, participation has surged with involvement from across the state as well as various sectors, and I see this development as proof that the national innovation ecosystem is becoming more fertile and increasingly accepted at the grassroots level,” he said.

Commenting on this year’s theme, ‘Smart Innovation for A Sustainable Future’, he said that every idea and prototype brought to FIMiEx2025 must reflect solutions to future challenges.

“The innovation that we need today is not merely new or unique.

“Innovation must be smart, environmentally friendly, sustainable, and capable of solving real problems.

“This is the approach that we emphasise in FIMiEx2025,” he explained.

He also acknowledged that the participation of school students in this programme is a major achievement, as it signifies the nurturing of talent from a young age.

“When I see primary school pupils producing their own ideas and prototypes, I am confident that the future of national innovation is in good hands, because although they are young in age, their ideas are not small.

“The relationship between the university and industry is no longer peripheral; they are now strategic partners who provide guidance, sponsorship, technological input, and collaboration opportunities.

“We greatly appreciate the continuous commitment of the industry in supporting the organisation of FIMiEx over the past few years,” he said.

Professor Dr Mohd Hasbi also paid tribute to FPI for its unwavering dedication to ensuring the smooth running of the programme.

He also conveyed appreciation to the panel judges who evaluated the three main subprogrammes, namely FIMiEx Innovation (FINO), Youth Entrepreneur Challenge (YEC), and Sumo Robot Competition (ROBO SUMO), which required high levels of expertise and time commitment.

He advised participants not to stop creating after FIMiEx2025.

“Do not regard today as the end of your journey.

“Make FIMiEx a stepping stone to participate in competitions such as CITREX, ITEX, and PECIPTA.

“The world of innovation has no boundaries, continue to step forward, continue to explore,” he said.

He added that he believes FIMiEx has the potential to become one of the most prestigious innovation programmes at UMPSA.

The closing ceremony also recognised all winners from all three subprogrammes.

For the FINO subprogramme, the Young Innovator Award recognition was given to the project ‘Smart AI Library Book Monitoring and Notification System with Paperless Innovation’ from Maahad Tahfiz Negeri Pahang and the project ‘SKILLPARK – AI Powered Platform for Skills Learning’ from Sekolah Kebangsaan Assunta Convent.

For the Emerging Researcher Award category, recognition was presented to the project ‘Leo-Pack: Lemongrass Essential Oil-Infused Starch Edible Film Packaging’ from UMPSA.

In the Emerging Innovator Award category, the project ‘MECHALIFT: An Ergonomic Platform Based on Hydraulic System for Vehicle Maintenance’ from Politeknik Merlimau Melaka received the recognition.

Next, the Outstanding Researcher Award category crowned the project ‘IoT-Enabled Smart Modular Greenhouse for Sustainable and Autonomous Farming’ from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Pahang Branch, Raub Campus, while the ‘Outstanding Innovator Award’ category was given to the project ‘TECHNOSPARK HELMET’ from Kolej Komuniti Kuantan.

Three special TRIZ awards were also announced, namely Most Inventive which was given to the project ‘Smart e-Space: Revolutionizing Outbound Logistics with AI Technology’ from Politeknik METrO Johor Bahru, Most Creative through the composite study based on coffee grounds and epoxy resin by Politeknik Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah (POLISAS), and Most Innovative for the project ‘AR Eco-label Fashion Tag’.

In the Youth Entrepreneur Challenge (YEC) subprogramme, the Best Sustainable Business Award category was given to the food innovation based on waste reduction through the product ‘ReFruit Noodles – Eat Smart Waste Less’ produced by Kolej Komuniti Jeli Kelantan.

The Most Innovative Idea Award category was dominated by ‘Codetronics IoT World’ from the company Codetronics, while the Best Commercialization Potential Award category was given to ‘SecureAir Co.’ from UMPSA.

For the ROBO SUMO subprogramme, the Radio Controlled category saw the team ‘Codetronic Alpha 1’ from Codetronic IoT World crowned as champion.

In the Autonomous category, victory also went to the team from the same organisation through the Codetronic Bravo 2 team, thereby proving their dominance in both competition categories.

By: Nur Hartini Mohd Hatta, Centre for Corporate Communications

Translation by: Ts. Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, UMPSA Press