Congratulations: Prof Leong (seated, centre) posing for a photo with the 215-member delegation of teachers and students to commemorate their achievements.
SOME 215 young inventors from the Malaysian Invention and Design Society (Minds) made the country proud when they took home 10 gold, 16 silver and 40 bronze medals, as well as more than 10 Special Awards at an exhibition in Thailand recently.
Known as the Bangkok International Intellectual Property, Invention, Innovation and Technology Exposition (IPITEx) 2023, it spotlighted over 1,000 inventions from more than 24 countries, as well as over 500 presentations, in conjunction with Thailand Inventors’ Day 2023.
The youngest winning team from Malaysia were from SJK(C) Ying Wah in Selangor.
Comprising seven-year-olds, the team, who presented their “Flexi Mira Spray” (FMS) innovation at the event, won the Gold Prize Award from the National Research Council (NRC) of Thailand.
“We are happy that the FMS could attract the audience’s attention and our booth was visited by more than 500 people.
“The team gained a great experience through IPITEx 2023. We are grateful and thankful for such a good chance to go to Thailand,“ said teacher Teow Chiau Yien in a press release.
The event also saw a team from SMK Ulu Tiram in Johor emerging the winner of the International I-New Gen Award for their “Soil Texture Analyser” innovation. It was their fourth time participating in the event.
“We are grateful that IPITEx and Minds provided us with a platform to showcase our innovation to the world.
“IPITEx is an excellent avenue for nurturing young innovators from all corners of the globe.
“We were thrilled to have the opportunity to demonstrate our innovative ideas and were honoured to receive the award, one of the highest honours at the event,” said SMK Ulu Tiram teacher Vijaya Kumar Rahman, adding that the team hoped that their innovation would make a positive impact on people’s lives and the environment.
Among the Malaysian contingent, SM Sains Bagan Datoh, Perak, made up the largest group, with 77 of its students participating.
“This was the first time our students had taken part in the competition. It provided the participants with valuable experience and exposure,” said teacher Siti Norhayati Hussin.
Minds delegation head Prof Dr Leong Wai Yie, who received the Innovation Excellence Special Recognition Award from the United Kingdom’s International British Innovation, Invention, Technology Exhibition (IBIX), said Malaysia’s inventions were well received by international judges, visitors, and Hairuddin Maslan from Malaysia’s embassy in Bangkok.
Held from Feb 2 to 7, IPITEx 2023 was hosted by Thailand’s NRC and its Higher Education Ministry with the aim of promoting and supporting the use of inventions and innovations of international inventors and researchers.
It was also hoped that the event would lead to the development of inventions and serve as motivation for nurturing new generations of inventors.
The exhibits this year centred on medicine and public health, medical technology, health products, modern agriculture, environment/water/power and electricity/green technology, building/construction, education, household items, robotics, information and communications and technology (ICT), and manufacturing processes.
The other winning inventors from Malaysia were from Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Politeknik Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, Kolej Vokasional Sungai Petani 1, Kolej Vokasional Kulim, SBP Integrasi Temerloh, SJK(T) Ladang Mount Austin, SM Imtiaz Yayasan Terengganu, SMK Sultan Badlishah, SK Seksyen 19, SMK Seksyen 7, SK Jalan U3, SMK Seri Panching, and Maahad Integrasi Tahfiz Selangor Alam Impian.
Minds president Tan Sri Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr Augustine S.H. Ong said the society is the largest body in Malaysia representing individuals, universities and companies who pursue excellence in invention, creativity, innovation, research and development, and industrial design.
