- 5 victors of Digital Economy Awards 2024 were presented with US$ 2, 300 each
- signed MoUs with Macro Tech Ventures and Yayasan Hasanah to help local Enterprises
The Sarawak Government, together with the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation, Sarawak Multimedia Authority, and Sarawak Information Systems, hosted the 7th International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak ( IDECS) 2024, gathering over 2, 500 participants to explore the impact of artificial intelligence ( AI ) in driving sustainable development.
Under the style” AI for Sustainable Development: Navigating the Green and Circular Future”, the occasion concluded after two weeks of debate and meetings. The conference, which took place between October 16 and October 2017, focused on the impact of AI on green technologies and circular economies, as well as learning from experts in the field of artificial intelligence ( AI ) for sustainability.
Haji Julaihi Haji Narawi, the minister for energy and telecommunications in Sarawak, acknowledged the importance IDECS plays in establishing organizations that are crucial to Sarawak’s financial growth. He continued,” In the past, IDECS has played a significant role in the development of significant organizations like the Sarawak Multimedia Authority and the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation. These organizations have played a significant role in the development of initiatives and policies to advance Sarawak’s online business method.
At the closing gala dinner, the Digital Economy Awards ( DEA ) 2024, organised for the third time by Sarawak Multimedia Authority, were presented to recipients across five categories, each receiving a prize of US$ 2, 300 ( RM10, 000 ). The finalists include:
- Research &, Development Award: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak for developing a smartphone-based diabetes vision screening technique using profound understanding, with fantastic potential for remote care.
- Evolving Brilliance Technologies Sdn Bhd for POMAS, a approach optimum control system used in the agriculture and coal credit industries, received a Technology Startup Award that coincides with Sarawak’s electric push.
- MyContent Distribution Sdn Bhd, which promotes the local movie business and helps Sarawak videos get worldwide exposure through platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime, is awarded the Micro Small Medium Enterprises Award.
- Digital Government Award: Sarawak Civil Service Digitalisation Unit for its SCS Mobile initiative, enhancing government services ‘ digital transformation for greater transparency and efficiency.
- Sustainability Award: Sarawak Forest Department for its Greening Sarawak Campaign, which incorporates AI and satellite systems for forest landscape restoration and aims to grow 35 million branches by 2025.
Additionally, the Premier’s Digital Economy Award, worth US$ 4, 600 ( RM20, 000 ), was awarded to a winner selected from the recipients of these categories. The award was established to recognize electronic initiatives that use AI to change Sarawak into a leading online society. Participants from various industries, including public and private industries, GLCs, Institutes of Higher Learning, NGOs, and individuals, were assessed based on factors such as online strategy development, project implementation, technology, and multi-stakeholder engagement.
Memorandums of Understanding ( MOUs ) with partners Yayasan Hasanah and Macro Tech Ventures were also included at IDECS 2024 to support local MSMEs and advance digital transformation. Another significant events included the Huawei-sponsored Digital Art Festival and video lessons for the Founder’s Forge and Capture the Flag programs, which emphasized youth involvement in innovation and security.
The prizes are” not only about honoring accomplishments but also about inspiring potential technology.” Sarawak’s online future lies in the hands of thinkers, inventors, and entrepreneurs – those who dare to think differently, work, and push the envelope in way that will bring about lasting change”, said Haji Julaihi.
” Through categories such as the Micro Small Medium Enterprise ( MSMEs ) Award, the Research &, Development Award, the Technology Start-Up Award, the Digital Government Award, and the Sustainability Award, we are shining a spotlight on those leading the charge in these critical areas”, he added.
Earlier in the day, witnessed by Roland Sagah, Minister for Education, Innovation, and Talent Development Sarawak, more Accords were signed, aimed at empowering regional MSMEs and driving online change. Yayasan Hasanah, Macro Tech Ventures Sdn Bhd, and Dynamik Technologies Sdn Bhd, among others, were the partners in the partnerships.
The immersive Huawei-sponsored Digital Art Festival was also available to school students and the general public. For the Founder’s Forge and Capture the Flag programs, there were demo and pitching sessions, among other notable activities. Founder’s Forge is a six-month pre-accelerator initiative aimed at early-stage entrepreneurs in Sarawak, emphasising innovation and business development, with pitches highlighting their progress. Meanwhile, Capture the Flag, a cybersecurity hackathon organised by Curtin University Malaysia and SDEC, provided insights into ethical hacking through real-time problem-solving.
Both programmes focused on fostering youth engagement in ethical, human-centred technological innovation and advancement.
In Haji Julaihi Narawi’s keynote speech, he underscored the vital role of innovation and digital transformation in Sarawak’s future, highlighting the Government’s ongoing efforts to harness AI and big data to drive economic growth, social inclusivity, and environmental sustainability under the Sarawak Post Covid-19 Development Strategy and Sarawak Digital Economy Blueprint 2030.