BINTULU – The third edition of the Borneo Innovation and Invention Competition (BIIC 3.0) concluded on Saturday with organisers and officials emphasising the event’s role in cultivating an innovation mindset among Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students.
Sarawak’s Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development, Datuk Majang Renggi, who officiated the closing ceremony at The Spring Mall in Bintulu, said innovation is essential for jurisdictions seeking to remain competitive as technological change accelerates.
He warned that adaptation to new technologies is no longer optional but a core requirement for future progress, and urged young people to move beyond consumption to become creators and technology leaders.
The competition, organised by Kolej Vokasional Bintulu and attracting entrants from primary schools through to higher education institutions, provided a practical arena for students to convert classroom theory into tangible solutions.
The event’s wide participation across age groups, organisers said, indicates a growing culture of inventive thinking among Sarawak’s youth.
Jamali Muhamad, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Principal of the Sarawak Zone Technical Secondary School (SMT) Vocational College (KV), described BIIC as an opportunity for students to gain confidence and sharpen critical thinking, particularly as the state charts a course into the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the emerging Industry 5.0 landscape.
He noted that competitions which emphasise hands-on problem solving help develop the creative and innovative mindsets needed in modern industry.
Speakers at the event linked BIIC’s objectives with broader state development plans that prioritise digitalisation, sustainability and innovation.
The competition is consistent with the targets set out under Sarawak’s Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS 2030), a long-term plan that highlights innovation, digital transformation and a greener economy as pillars for the state’s economic recovery and future growth.
State officials have recently signalled an intensified focus on strengthening the TVET ecosystem through closer industry ties and expanded training centres, reinforcing the value of initiatives such as BIIC in producing a workforce equipped for energy, engineering, digital technology and modern agriculture sectors.
Organisers said the event’s final presentations and exhibition allowed judges and industry representatives to assess projects that ranged from applied engineering prototypes to digital solutions that address community needs.
The hands-on format gave students a platform to demonstrate technical competency as well as the ability to frame problems and iterate solutions.
The official closing of BIIC 3.0 by Datuk Majang marked the end of this year’s competition, which organisers described as successfully raising awareness and interest in innovation among learners at multiple education levels.
They urged continued investment in TVET programmes and opportunities that link students to industry mentors and resources, ensuring that the state’s younger talent can seize the expanding opportunities in a technology-driven economy.
