Sime Darby Young Innovators Challenge
Nurturing a New Generation of STEM Innovators and Leaders to Solve Real-life Community Problems
Seeds need the right conditions to grow, just as young minds require support and opportunities to flourish. The Sime Darby Young Innovators Challenge (SDYIC) – YSD’s annual flagship programme in collaboration with technical partner and training provider Chumbaka — acts as fertile ground for secondary school students across the country to develop an innovative mindset while honing their technical and prototyping skills.
Each edition has seen students proposing unique ideas and solutions to benefit their community in areas such as food and agriculture, automotive and mobility, healthcare, and more. Out of the programme’s 18,771 participants, 39% of them are female students, in line with YSD’s goal of encouraging more girls participating in STEM education.
Recognising the need to improve access to quality education and innovation opportunities, YSD organised SDYIC’s first fully online edition in 2016. This meant that when the pandemic hit, SDYIC was already prepared to pivot – allowing the programme to continue reaching bright young minds from all corners of Malaysia, even in challenging times. More importantly, the online programme afforded students from rural areas who previously faced financial and logistical barriers when attending workshops and competitions in larger towns, equal opportunities as their urban counterparts to participate, learn, and showcase their talents. With SDYIC content also available on the Malaysian Ministry of Education’s digital learning platform DELIMa, the programme has the potential to reach all public schools in the country.
The 8th edition of SDYIC marked a triumphant return to a first physical national championship since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aside from being a national competition, the flagship event also includes the Train the Trainer (TTT) programme for undergraduate students and secondary school teachers. This initiative bridges educational gaps between rural and urban schools by creating a wholesome experience to exercise creativity and problem solving beyond the school syllabus. By equipping educators and aspiring mentors with the tools, wisdom, and expertise, the programme enhances the sustainability of educational impact. They not only become catalysts for change within their schools and communities but also sustain knowledge transfer even if they transition to new institutions, ensuring the continuity of learning irrespective of the presence of SDYIC.
YSD is all in on boosting STEM education across Malaysia, with a big push for making it accessible everywhere – from big cities to small towns. With the SDYIC alumni network, which encourages learning from secondary to tertiary levels, YSD is on a mission to keep the education cycle inclusive and ongoing. The next phase of funding will help spread SDYIC’s influence nationwide through a mix of in-person and digital platforms, widening access to STEM resources. This year’s TTT workshops have added new leadership modules, empowering teachers with the skills they need to effectively champion the STEM movement within their schools and beyond.
SDYIC finalist teams are evaluated and shortlisted based on their prototype feasibility, creativity, and potential community impact.
18,771 secondary school students
2,754 schoolteachers, 1,848 undergraduate students participated
163 rural schools signed up
48 innovation officers involved
24 winning prototypes selected
SDYIC empowers participants to develop solutions for local challenges, fostering shared responsibility through community-driven implementation.
SDYIC winners through the years
2016
Robin Food
- A food surplus app connecting businesses to charitable organisations and NGOs
- Over 218,000 kg of food surplus distributed to the needy via a collaboration with Food Aid Foundation and Tesco Malaysia
2017
Mykroscope – SAM Jeram
- A portable microscope project, and the first to be registered as open-source hardware in Malaysia
- Over 2,000 units produced and distributed to 200 selected schools nationwide
2018
D-Monitor – Lodge International School
- A solar-powered signal emitter to report water levels in drains via a mobile app
- Installed by Swinburne University, Sarawak Campus in 2020, helping to prevent flood incidents on campus, benefiting 4,000 students and staff
2019
Techno IV - Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar
- A sensor which seeks to help nurses prevent medical complications in wards.
- Successfully tested on 13 patients by three doctors at Jauhar Medical Clinic, Johor Bahru
2020
Acrotect – SMK Mulong, Kelantan
- Height measurement device
- 30 units distributed to 15 schools and 15 clinics
2021
River Trash Collector – SMK Taman Bukit Indah, Johor Bahru
- Remote-operated trash collector prototype for use in river cleanup
- 2 units produced and distributed to Kampung Orang Asli Bakar Batu to facilitate in rubbish collection
2022
Ecoverse – SMK Bintulu, Sarawak
- A compost bin that regulates humidity and temperature with mobile app connectivity
- 20 units distributed to selected schools
2023
Flash Guard System – SMK Tung Hua, Sarawak
- A community-based flood early warning system with water levels alerts
- 4 units distributed to 3 schools and a residential area, Lorong Merlin in Kota Samarahan, Sarawak
