Seven winners honoured at Sarawak Digital Economy Awards 2026

Seven organisations and individuals were recognised at the Sarawak Digital Economy Awards (DEA) 2026, highlighting digital projects aimed at addressing practical needs across government, research, artificial intelligence, sustainability and the creative economy.

The awards were presented during the International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak 2026 (IDECS26) Gala Dinner at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching on October 5, bringing together government representatives, industry partners, researchers and technology leaders.

Sarawak Civil Service Digitalisation Unit (SCSDU), Department of the Premier of Sarawak, received the Premier’s Digital Economy Award for SarawakPass: Powering Proactive, Citizen-Centric Government Service. The initiative also won the Digital Government Award.

Among 128 submissions this year, seven category winners were selected. Each category winner received RM10,000, while the Premier’s Digital Economy Award carried RM20,000.

Digital solutions address practical needs

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) secured two awards — Digital Technology for Digital HEPA: Towards a Smart, Connected and Student-Centric Ecosystem, and Research and Development for GeMAS, an integrated Geo-AI platform for landslide susceptibility monitoring.

NEUON AI Sdn Bhd won the AI Innovations Award for NEUON D2D, while OB Research Sdn Bhd received the Digital Creative Industry Award for Owl & Badger, which uses digital storytelling to make research more accessible.

One Medicare Sdn Bhd was recognised in the Environmental Sustainability category for its Sustainability Programme, while SCSDU also won the Smart Solution Award for SERVICE SARAWAK.

Yang Berhormat Dato Sri Haji Julaihi Haji Narawi, Minister for Utility and Telecommunication Sarawak, said Sarawak’s digital agenda was increasingly focused on economic value and practical outcomes.

“We are no longer talking simply about adopting technology. We are looking at how technology can create greater economic value, solve real problems and improve opportunities for our people,” he said.

IDECS26 links innovation with commercialisation

Held under the theme “Scaling Innovation Ecosystems for a Borderless Economy: Earth, Orbit & Beyond”, the ninth edition of IDECS focuses on areas including artificial intelligence, semiconductor innovation, the emerging space economy, future cities, digital talent and research commercialisation.

Julaihi said stronger collaboration between government, industry and universities would be important to advancing Sarawak’s digital ecosystem.

“Progress of this kind depends on partnerships. The government creates the conditions for growth, industry brings expertise and enterprise, and our universities nurture talent and new ideas,” he said.

First held in 2017, IDECS serves as a platform connecting government, businesses, academia, investors and innovators. The awards form part of the wider conference effort to highlight projects moving from research and ideas towards practical application and commercial opportunities.