Curtin Malaysia students turn ideas into award-winning innovations in healthcare, road safety and accessibility

Miri, Sarawak – 12 October 2026 – From smarter healthcare services to safer roads and more inclusive communities, students at Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) are turning classroom knowledge into innovative solutions for real-world challenges, and earning national and international recognition along the way.

Two student teams, the DigiDial Team and Curtin_Innovator Team, have distinguished themselves in a series of innovation competitions in 2026, showcasing the potential of artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics and digital technologies to address pressing challenges faced by society.

The achievements reflect Curtin Malaysia’s strong emphasis on experiential learning, interdisciplinary collaboration and industry-relevant innovation, supported by initiatives such as the Curtin IoT Research Hub, which provide students with opportunities to develop and test technology-based solutions beyond the classroom.

The DigiDial Team, comprising Fam Zhi Jun, Andy Lau Yii Fong, Darryl Lai Weng Oon and Victor Wong Kai Chuen, has earned multiple accolades for its Smart Patient Intake and Doctor Allocation System, an innovation designed to make patient registration and doctor allocation more efficient.

The team secured a Gold Award, Top 5 Innovator Award and SDG Award at the 2026 Borneo International Innovation and Invention Competition (BIICC), placed fifth in the Tech4Good Competition, and won another Gold Award at the 3rd AI & IoT International Innovation Expo 2026.

The system combines AI-based facial recognition with a web-based patient management platform and AI-enabled camera technology to identify patients and streamline registration and doctor allocation.

By digitising patient registration and consultation workflows, the solution is designed to reduce waiting times, minimise paperwork and ease administrative processes in healthcare facilities. It also supports more sustainable, paperless operations while creating a smoother and more user-friendly experience for patients and healthcare staff.

Meanwhile, the Curtin_Innovator Team, comprising Ling Chong Yee, Liew Hong Jie, Lyon Pee and Louisa Lau Ying Zi, is applying smart technology to two important areas: road safety and accessibility.
Its Smart Visual Recognition System is designed to detect jaywalkers crossing an intersection while the traffic signal is red, potentially supporting safer road environments through intelligent visual monitoring.

The team has also developed an Intelligent Traffic System for Visually Impaired Persons, which aims to make traffic environments more accessible and user-friendly for people with visual impairments.

Their work earned a Silver Award at the 3rd AI & IoT International Innovation Expo 2026, followed by the title of Champion at the 2026 IEEE Tech Master Challenge.

Together, the projects demonstrate how student innovation can go beyond competition success to explore practical applications in healthcare, transportation, road safety and inclusive technology.

Professor Raymond Chiong Choo Wee, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Science, congratulated both teams on their achievements, noting that their projects demonstrate the value of combining academic knowledge with creativity, mentorship and hands-on experience.

“We are extremely proud of our students for transforming their classroom knowledge into practical innovations that address real-world challenges. We hope these successes will inspire more students to pursue innovation, entrepreneurship and industry collaboration,” he said.

Associate Professor Fidella Tiew, Dean of the School of Pre-U and Continuing Education (SPACE), highlighted that Foundation students at Curtin Malaysia are also encouraged to participate in innovation competitions as part of their learning journey.

“We are proud that they are performing equally well alongside their undergraduate peers,” she said, adding that such opportunities enable students to strengthen their technology skills while gaining valuable experience beyond the classroom.

Associate Professor Wong Wei Kitt said the students’ achievements reflect Curtin Malaysia’s commitment to nurturing graduates who are not only technically competent but also equipped to develop solutions with meaningful societal impact.

Meanwhile, Dr Chew Ing Ming emphasised the importance of mentorship and practical learning in developing the students’ capabilities.

“The students learned AI and IoT technologies from the ground up in a supportive learning environment. The close supervision and guidance provided by our mentors and lecturers have enabled them to gain valuable hands-on experience and develop the practical skills needed to create solutions that address real-world challenges using emerging technologies,” he said.

The achievements of the DigiDial and Curtin_Innovator teams underscore Curtin Malaysia’s continued efforts to foster a culture of innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration. By giving students opportunities to experiment, compete and solve real-world problems, the university is helping equip the next generation with the technical expertise, creativity and problem-solving skills needed to contribute to Malaysia’s digital transformation and sustainable development.

For more information on Curtin Malaysia, visit curtin.edu.my or follow Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn or TikTok.

(Standing from right) Dr Wong and Dr Chew with the award-winning innovation teams.