FEGT marks a decade of innovation with medal wins at iCompEx’25

Only time will tell how today’s innovations will shape the future. While it is true that only the passage of time can reveal what lies ahead, the outstanding achievements of UTAR Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology (FEGT) students at the International Innovation and Invention Competition through Exhibition 2025 (iCompEx’25) have already stood the test of time. This year, FEGT brought home a total of 13 awards, comprising four Gold, four Silver and five Bronze medals.

The iCompEx’25 was organised from 12 to 14 August 2025 at Politeknik Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah (POLIMAS), Kedah. The competition also marked FEGT’s 10th consecutive year of participation and achievement since 2016.

A decade of innovation brilliance at iCompEx — FEGT medalists celebrating their victories at iCompEx’25

The winning projects are listed as follows:

No.	Student(s)	Programme	Project Title	Supervisor(s)	Award	SDG
1.	Boh Chuang Jyhe	Master of Engineering Science	Advanced solar photocatalysis for sustainable degradation of emerging organic pollutants and hydrogen evolution	Prof ChM Ts Dr Sin Jin Chung Assoc Prof ChM Ts Dr Lam Sze Mun	Gold	6 & 7
	Henry Tiong Yan Wen	Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Petrochemical Engineering
2.	Ooi Zong Zhi	Bachelor of Electronics Engineering with Honours	Smart Bin for automated waste classification by implementing artificial intelligence	Prof Ts Dr Humaira Nisar Ir Prof Dr Ng Choon Aun Dr Lo Po Kim	Gold	9 & 11
3.	Phuah Zi Song	Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Environmental) with Honours	Next-gen sunlight photocatalyst (G-C3N4/BINBO4) for enhanced degradation of PPCPS in water treatment	Assoc Prof Ir Ts Dr Leong Kah Hon Dr Sim Lan Ching	Gold	6, 9, 12 & 14
4.	Syamimi Afiqah binti Abdul Ghani	Master of Engineering Science	Innovative microalgae challenge: Nutrient recovery and carbon capture for sustainable biofuel	Assoc Prof Ir Ts Dr Toh Pey Yi Dr Chng Lee Muei Dr Leong Sim Siong	Gold	13
	Nitiyashree Nilakandan	Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Petrochemical Engineering
	Venize Teh Wei Sze	Bachelor of Chemical Engineering (Process) with Honours
	Cheang Zi Shan	Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Environmental) with Honours
5.	Pua Sze Yang	Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Petrochemical Engineering	Earthya™: Sustainable bioplastic film recycling initiative	Prof Dr Yamuna Munusamy Dr Mathialagan Muniyadi	Silver	9 & 12
	Koay Ting Sheng	Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Petrochemical Engineering
6.	Camelia Ng Choi Lam	Master of Engineering Science	Development of fertilizer from combined dry and wet agricultural wastes	Assoc Prof ChM Dr Wong Lai Peng Dr Clement Wong Kiing Fook Ts Dr Wong Ling Yong Assoc Prof Dr Guo Xinxin	Silver	12
	Wong Si Wei	Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Environmental) with Honours
	Lee Yee Jie
7.	Akram Fadhl Mohammed Ebrahim Al-Mahmodi	Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering)	BioPLAST: Green Plasticizer from palm oil	Prof Dr Yamuna Munusamy Dr Mathialagan Muniyadi	Silver	9 & 12
	Muhammad Alif Najmi bin Sharin	Master of Engineering Science
	Ugentiran Ganasan	Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Petrochemical Engineering
	Ng Xin Ni
8.	Low Kuan Chee	Master of Engineering Science	An innovative photocatalytic fuel cell-driven photoelectrochemical sensor for sensitive food chemical detection	Assoc Prof ChM Ts Dr Lam Sze Mun Prof ChM Ts Dr Sin Jin Chung	Silver	6 & 7
	Darien Lim Jing Xuan	Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Environmental) with Honours
	Ong Zhoa Fook
9.	Chee Kar Yong	Bachelor of Science (Honours) Environmental, Occupational Safety and Health	AI-Powered real-time fire detection system	Ts Chin Yik Heng	Bronze	9 & 11
10.	Joyce Yap Chun Chee	Bachelor of Science (Honours) Environmental, Occupational Safety and Health	Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) symptoms and their associated risk factors among e-hailing drivers in Selangor: A cross-sectional study	Dr Lim Fang Lee	Bronze	3 & 8
	Chee Kar Yong
11.	Nicholas Chung Kun Qi	Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Environmental) with Honours	Fabrication of eco-friendly construction material from mining industry wastewater treatment sludge	Assoc Prof Ir Ts Dr Leong Kah Hon Prof Dr Chaomeng Dai	Bronze	9 & 13
12.	Tan Wei Feng	Bachelor of Electronics Engineering with Honours	Solar power prediction using artificial intelligence	Prof Ts Dr Humaira Nisar Dr Lee Yu Jen Assoc Prof Ir Dr Yeap Kim Ho	Bronze	7, 9 & 11
13.	Ng Yee Shui	Master of Science	Ecodye challenge: Sustainable cellulose innovations from waste for dye removal	Ts Dr Teoh Yi Peng @ Teng Yi Peng Prof Dr Yamuna Munusamy Dr Ooi Zhong Xian Dr Chan Yen San	Bronze	6
	Tay Yee Voen	Bachelor of Chemical Engineering (Process) with Honours
	Ng Ying Ting

Gold medalist Henry Tiong representing the team with the research
Advanced solar photocatalysis for sustainable degradation of emerging organic pollutants and hydrogen evolution

Gold medalist Ooi representing the team with the research
Smart Bin for automated waste classification by implementing artificial intelligence

Gold medalist Phuah representing the team with the research
Next-gen sunlight photocatalyst (G-C3N4/BINBO4) for enhanced degradation of PPCPS in water treatment

Gold medalist Nitiyashree representing the team with the research
Innovative microalgae challenge: Nutrient recovery and carbon capture for sustainable biofuel

Silver medalist Pua representing the team with the research Earthya™: Sustainable bioplastic film recycling initiative

Silver medalist Wong representing the team with the research Development of fertilizer from combined dry and wet agricultural wastes

Silver medalist Ugentiran representing the team with the research BioPLAST: Green Plasticizer from palm oil

Silver medalist Darien Lim representing the team with the research
An innovative photocatalytic fuel cell-driven photoelectrochemical sensor for sensitive food chemical detection

Bronze medalist Chee representing the team with the research AI-Powered real-time fire detection system

Bronze medalist Joyce Yap representing the team with the research
Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) symptoms and their associated risk factors among e-hailing drivers in Selangor: A cross-sectional study

Bronze medalist Nicholas Chung representing the team with the research
Fabrication of eco-friendly construction material from mining industry wastewater treatment sludge

Bronze medalist Tan representing the team with the research Solar power prediction using artificial intelligence

Bronze medalist Tay representing the team with the research
Ecodye challenge: Sustainable cellulose innovations from waste for dye removal

iCompEx serves as an insightful platform not only for UTAR students but also for researchers from other universities. Each year, FEGT students are given opportunities to strengthen teamwork, presentation, critical thinking, communication and technical skills. The event also contributes to national advancement through research and development in science and technology.

As FEGT students continued to shine at iCompEx, their innovative projects reflected not only technical brilliance but also strong alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From renewable energy solutions to smart technology applications, each project demonstrated the power of engineering to address real-world challenges.

Looking ahead, these 10 years of accomplishments will inspire future cohorts to push boundaries, embrace challenges and carry the torch of innovation even further—ensuring that young scientists and engineers, including UTAR students, continue to make a meaningful mark on society and the world.

The International Innovation and Invention Competition through Exhibition (iCompEx)

iCompEx is an annual competition and exhibition of innovation for young researchers, scientists and inventors since its first inauguration in 2013. The annual event serves as a platform for young minds to present their ideas and inventions, aiming to elevate Malaysia as a regional innovation hub.

Since 2023, iCompEx has expanded its focus beyond local talents to include international participants, through collaboration with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). As such, the celebration of innovation has grown into a global platform, attracting talents from diverse economies. This year, iCompEx’25 welcomed talents from North Korea, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Bangladesh and Malaysia.

In addition, iCompEx’25 featured innovation projects from a wide range of disciplines, including built environment design and interior design; construction and materials; machines, equipment and manufacturing processes; ICT and multimedia; electrical, electronic and telecommunication; transportation, automotive and aircraft; agriculture, environment and renewable energy; teaching and learning; as well as product and service marketing.

Previous achievements:
2024: Hauls of medals for FEGT at iCompEx’24
2023: FEGT wins two gold and one silver medals at iCompEx’23
2022: FEGT students bag gold, silver and bronze medals at iCompEx’22
2021: UTAR FEGT bags two golds and three bronzes in iCompEx’2021
2020: UTAR FEGT earns two silvers and one bronze in iCompEx’2020
2019: Big wins for FEGT at iCompEx’19
2018: Triple silver awards at iCompEx’18
2017: Double joy for FEGT researchers