Tech 4 Good Challenge 2026 Grand Finale Celebrates Malaysia's Next Generation of STEM Innovators
BATU KAWAN, July 25 – The Grand Finale of the Tech 4 Good Challenge 2026, co-organised by ViTrox Corporation Berhad and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), was successfully held today at the ViTrox Campus 2.0 in Batu Kawan, Penang. This competition brought together Malaysia's brightest young innovators to showcase technology-driven solutions for real-world challenges.
Team “Goatvengers” from Kolej Matrikulasi Kejuruteraan Kedah was the biggest winner among all finalists of the day. The trio won Best Poster Design, Most Favorable Project, and Second Runner-Up of Category 2.
Reflecting on their journey, Team Goatvengers from Kolej Matrikulasi Kedah, the competition's standout team, shared that the Tech 4 Good Challenge was more than just a platform to showcase innovation. Through the development of CapriGuard, an AI- and IoT-powered smart livestock management system, the team learned that successful innovation goes beyond technical excellence. They credited the valuable feedback from ViTrox engineers, judges, and visitors for helping them improve both their solution and presentation, while strengthening their technical skills, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities. The team also encouraged more students to join future editions of the Tech 4 Good Challenge, describing it as a unique platform that nurtures innovation, industry exposure, and purpose-driven STEM talent.
Team ‘TERRAGRO’ from Chung Ling Private High School Penang was crowned Category 1 Champion and Most Favourable Project Award, making the trio the top-performing team under Category 1 of the day.
Developed by Rossaine Wong, Ryan Lee, and Tan Zhen Yue under the guidance of Mr Eslam Tarek and Ms Sumathi, the project titled ‘TERRAGRO’ redefines urban farming by transforming unused vertical space into productive growing areas. This compact, automated hydroponic system enables smart, efficient, and sustainable indoor farming, making the cultivation of fresh produce more accessible in urban communities.
Reflecting on their experience, Rossaine Wong shared the team's immense excitement about participating in the competition and expressed deep gratitude for their strong support system. The team credited their mentors and guardians for their unwavering dedication, noting how their parents patiently stayed up late to support them through demanding, late-night troubleshooting and prototyping sessions.
Winners across various award categories represented schools and universities from across Malaysia, including Foon Yew High School (Kulai) Johor, SM Chung Hwa Port Dickson, Chung Ling Private High School Penang, Pay Fong High School, Tsun Jin High School, Kolej Matrikulasi Kejuruteraan Kedah, Universiti Teknologi Johor, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management in Technology (Penang Branch), Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation, IMU University, Monash University, Curtin University Malaysia, ViTrox College, Multimedia University (MMU), and University of Malaya (UM).
Building on the success of the last three years, the 2026 edition attracted a record-breaking 189 teams comprising 567 students from both East and West Malaysia. From these entries, only 41 finalist teams advanced to the Grand Finale after a rigorous proposal evaluation.
Dato’ Chu Jenn Weng, President and Group CEO of ViTrox Corporation Berhad, echoed this sentiment in his address, emphasising the importance of perseverance and compassionate innovation to solve real-world problems.
“We believe that behind every great innovation is someone who simply refused to stop trying. Dare to try, even when it fails the first time, and the second. Dare to dream bigger than the problem in front of you,” he said.
In his opening speech, Ir. Professor Dato' Dr. Ewe Hong Tat, President and CEO of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), drew upon his experiences at the MIT Research Laboratory for Electronics to inspire the young innovators, highlighting the global potential of Malaysian talent in advancing technology for good.
“Having interviewed and guided many students during my time at MIT, I always emphasise that daring to take that crucial first step is everything,” he shared. “Seeing Malaysians recently win a major STEM competition in the USA proves that nothing is impossible. Malaysians can absolutely make it on the global stage, using their skills to create technology for good.”
The Grand Finale was judged by a panel of 12 industry professionals, academic experts, and education practitioners from ViTrox Technologies, ViTrox Agritech, Intel Electronics Malaysia, Exabytes Group, B. Braun Medical Supplies, Netizen Testing and Robotics, Cytron Technologies, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR).
Jointly organised by ViTrox Corporation Berhad and UTAR (Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman), Tech 4 Good Challenge serves as a national platform for budding young inventors to showcase their prowess in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). It encourages secondary and tertiary students to solve real-world problems by using engineering design.
Through Tech 4 Good Challenge, ViTrox and UTAR remain committed to nurturing the next generation of innovators who will harness STEM to solve real-world challenges and contribute to a better future.
More information, including the complete list of winners and project descriptions, view at Tech 4 Good Section.