Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) concluded its four-day INCUFEST 2024 event yesterday, celebrating innovation, entrepreneurship and creativity at the university’s Inspiring Hub at the Student Centre.
The event, stemming from the DY and Capstone Innovation Project, provided a platform for young innovators to showcase their ideas and connect with industry leaders. Over four days, participants engaged in exhibitions, industry visits, activities and workshops, fostering a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.
A highlight of the event was the presentation of 45 innovative projects, including contributions from industry partners such as Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD), the Young Entrepreneurs Association of Brunei (YEAB) and the Brunei Innovation Lab (BIL).
UBD researchers and students from the Incubation Programme, Capstone Projects and Venture Lab also showcased their creative solutions.
The final day featured a talk on ‘Connecting Local Entrepreneurs, The Role of Marketplaces in Brunei’s Economy’.
UBD Vice-Chancellor Dr Hazri bin Haji Kifle commended the collaborative efforts of students from various faculties, particularly the School of Digital Science in developing innovative app prototypes. He emphasised the importance of aligning UBD’s innovation initiatives with industry needs to advance entrepreneurship education.
The vice-chancellor congratulated four incubation projects from INCUFEST 2024 which achieved success in the Reach Pitch Competition organised by Startup673 under the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB).
Acting Vice-Chancellor (Industry Engagement and Enterprise Development) Associate Professor Pengiran Dr Mohamad Iskandar bin Pengiran Haji Petra meanwhile acknowledged the support of industry partners and emphasised the importance of aligning UBD’s innovation initiatives with industry needs.
The closing ceremony recognised outstanding achievements, with the best exhibitor award going to ‘World Dementia Month at UBD-BSAI from the Perspective of Social Science: An Opportunity for Interdisciplinary Collaboration’ from Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences. Four projects – Smart Fresh, NetJaga, Hijrah and Hasil – were awarded as the best innovative projects. – Fadhil Yunus
