By UOW Malaysia 

UOW Malaysia’s student engineering team achieved Second Place at the Second Innovation Challenge (2nd SIC) 2026, organised by the Sustainable Energy Development Authority Malaysia (SEDA) on 11–12 August at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. The competition drew 151 teams from 45 institutions nationwide, comprising 92 teams in Category A (Ideation) and 59 teams in Category B (Prototype). Against this strong field, the students impressed judges with their project KINETICORE – Wind‑Excited Combined Energy Harvester, which integrates piezoelectric vibration harvesting with a Savonius turbine to convert wind into electricity. This innovative dual system demonstrates how wind‑induced mechanical motion can be transformed into electrical energy through complementary mechanisms, offering a compact, scalable, and sustainable solution for small‑scale energy generation that aligns with global efforts towards Affordable and Clean Energy, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, and Climate Action.

The multidisciplinary team of students – Samuel Ray Naden, William Tan Chong Hee, Chloe Lam Ying Shuet, and Charlotte Adoria de Rozario – was mentored by Senior Lecturer Ts. Nur Hasalli binti Ibrahim and guided by Dr Salina binti Mohmad, Programme Leader for the Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering. Together, they navigated the full cycle of innovation, from conceptualisation and prototype development to testing, presentation, and professional evaluation.

Their efforts culminated in an outstanding achievement: Second Place in Category B – Build the Future (Prototype), accompanied by a cash prize of RM5,000. This recognition not only celebrates the students’ technical ingenuity but also enhances the university’s visibility in the fields of renewable energy, sustainable technology, and engineering innovation.

Beyond the award, the competition provided invaluable experience for the students, strengthening their skills in teamwork, technical communication, project management, and problem-solving. For the university, this success underscores the importance of fostering student participation in national innovation platforms, while contributing to institutional research and innovation reporting.