Young Innovators from Southeast Asia Shine at International Conference in Malaysia
The 2025 Southeast Asia Division Contest of China International College Students' Innovation Competition (SEA-CICSIC) and the Malaysia-China Youth Innovation Competition (MCYIC) concluded with a grand final competition and award ceremony at Xiamen University Malaysia on July 20, 2025. These events brought together over 1,200 students from 10 Southeast Asian countries, showcasing a diverse range of cutting-edge projects in sustainable technology, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and social entrepreneurship.
Organised by the Ministry of Education of China, Xiamen University China, and Xiamen University Malaysia, the competitions aimed to foster cross-cultural collaboration and entrepreneurship among university students. SEA-CICSIC, acting as the Southeast Asian regional version of the China International College Students’ Innovation Competition, attracted over 7,000 innovations from students across ASEAN countries, reflecting the strong regional enthusiasm for innovation.
The awards ceremony saw 50 teams from 7 countries receive prizes. These included 10 First Prizes, 15 Second Prizes, and 25 Third Prizes. Winning teams represented universities such as Xiamen University Malaysia, University of Malaya, Sampoerna University, National University of Singapore, and Cambodia University of Technology and Science (CamTech).
One notable innovation was "Agrifloat," an automatic sensor- and GPS-based transportation device for efficient palm oil fresh fruit bunch transport using irrigation channels, which won Second Prize in the hands of an Indonesian team.
The successful conclusion of these competitions marks a significant step in promoting regional youth innovation and collaboration. Moreover, it provides pathways for outstanding teams to enter the global finals of the larger China International College Students' Innovation Competition.
Minister-Counsellor Chen Youliang from the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Malaysia attended the ceremony and presented the awards, underscoring the importance of these events in fostering bilateral cooperation between China and Malaysia in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Artificial intelligence and education and self-development were prominent themes among the cutting-edge projects showcased at the SEA-CICSIC and MCYIC, where winning teams implemented AI-driven learning solutions to address various educational challenges. Furthermore, these competitions served as a stepping stone for students, providing opportunities to showcase their AI-based innovations on a global scale at the China International College Students' Innovation Competition.
