As a researcher, my daily life revolves around solving complex problems, analyzing data, and finding innovative solutions that can impact society. However, the foundation of this mindset isn't built overnight—it requires a culture that nurtures critical thinking, creativity, and resilience early on.
That is why I am incredibly excited to highlight the Young Brainer Competition (YBC) 2026.
Organized by the Faculty of Information Science, UiTM Puncak Perdana, this year’s theme is "Digital Frontiers: Advancing People, Knowledge & Society." It is a fantastic national-level platform dedicated to challenging the brightest minds among Higher Institution students in Malaysia.
What is the Young Brainer Competition 2026?
YBC 2026 is an entirely virtual competition that moves beyond traditional academic boundaries. It challenges students to showcase products, prototypes, and ideas across three main categories: Innovation, Design, and Research.
Participants are tasked with submitting a 4-to-5-minute pitching video and an academic poster. Rather than just sharing an idea, students must defend their project's problem statement, methodology, commercial potential, and novelty.
Why It Matters
In the era of rapid technological advancement, the leaders of tomorrow won't just be those who know the most facts, they will be the ones who know how to think differently and commercialize their ideas. Competitions like YBC provide university students with a safe, competitive environment to:
- Put their research and inventions in the national spotlight.
- Foster a genuine culture of research and commercial creation.
- Build the confidence required to pitch ideas to expert panels.
Key Dates to Remember
If you are a university student (or if you are an educator supervising a talented team), mark your calendars:
- Submission Deadline: 1 March 2026
- Evaluation Period: 2 - 9 March 2026
- Grand Finale & Results: 11 March 2026
Teams can consist of up to 5 members and 1 leader, and top innovators stand a chance to win the Diamond, Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards, alongside special recognitions for Best Presentation and Best Poster.
Whether you are a student looking to challenge yourself, or an educator wanting to inspire your mentees, I highly encourage you to explore what this program has to offer. Let’s help shape the researchers and innovators of tomorrow!
👉 Click here to visit the official YBC 2026 website and register your team today!