[Written in partnership with MYStartup, but the editorial team had full control over the content.]
“MYHackathon is not just a platform to test capabilities but also a strategic arena to discover new talents and generate innovative solutions for challenges faced by the government and related agencies.”
These are the words of YB Tuan Chang Lih Kang, our Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation.
He’s referring to MYHackathon 2024, a national-level hackathon created by the Malaysian government to support the digitalisation of the Malaysian government’s service delivery to the public.
This programme is an initiative under MYStartup, organised by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI) and implemented by Cradle Fund (Cradle).
For MYHackathon 2024 Cohort 1, seven problem statements submitted by various ministries and government agencies were highlighted.
The programme successfully attracted over 500 entries from registered groups and companies across Malaysia, including Sabah and Sarawak.
All participants underwent a two-week boot camp and one-to-one mentoring sessions from world-class mentors before 23 finalists were selected for the final demo session.
This final demo was held on October 14 at the AICB Centre of Excellence in Kuala Lumpur, where seven winners were crowned.
Each will be receiving conditional grants of up to RM250,000 to develop their pilot projects, as well as one-to-one project implementation mentorship for the next 12 months. All winners will collaborate closely with respective problem statement owners to refine their solution implementation plans.
In his keynote address, YB Tuan Chang remarked, “I am very impressed with the quality of the solutions presented by the participants. These ideas are not only practical but also innovative, aligning with Malaysia’s commitment to becoming a leading economy in Asia and the MADANI economic vision.”
So, what are these solutions exactly?
Seven winners, seven problem statements
1. V-Cred
The first problem statement sought a digital solution to the problem of providing legal aid services to eligible citizens.
This prompt was submitted by Jabatan Bantuan Guaman, Jabatan Perdana Menteri (Legal Aid Department, Prime Minister’s Office).
The winner of this statement was V-Cred, a data analytics and software development company building AI solutions for experts working in enterprises.
According to their website, the startup started in November 2022 under the PETRONAS Innovation Garage (PING), an in-house startup incubator programme.
2. Prigo X
Looking for a digital solution for the problem of managing Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project proposals was Unit Kerjasama Awam Swasta, Jabatan Perdana Menteri U(KAS), which is the Public-Private Cooperation Unit.
The winning solution was from a team called Prigo X.
3. ParlimenAi
Submitted by the Malaysian parliament, the third problem statement sought a digital solution to the problem of recording and managing the proceedings of the Parliament session.
ParlimenAi is the team that stepped up to create an appropriate solution.
4. S1 ASIAPAC
One of the problem statements asked for a digital solution to the problem of managing and monitoring project and contract management work.
This was submitted by PR1MA, Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan.
The winner for this problem statement was S1 ASIAPAC. Established in 2017, they help companies achieve their business goals by bridging the gap between business vision and real-world technology implementation.
5. NGU Gen
The fifth problem statement was for a digital solution for the problem of receiving and managing people’s complaints.
The government agency that submitted this was Biro Pengaduan Awam, Jabatan Perdana Menteri.
The winning solution came from NGU Gen.
6. Team MVP
For Lembaga Tabung Haji, Jabatan Perdana Menteri, they were searching for a digital solution to the problem of managing and monitoring the implementation of CSR programmes more transparently, efficiently, and effectively.
The team with the answer to that was Team MVP.
7. TERRAAGRA
Kementerian Pertanian dan Keterjaminan Makanan submitted a problem statement looking for a digital solution to the problem of optimal rice planting and harvesting schedules.
TERRAAGRA’s solution was crowned the winner for this statement. TERRAAGRA is a digital agriculture platform that enables farmers and agriculture to obtain and use agronomic data.
A win-win situation
Since its launch in 2020, the MYHackathon programme has been held every two years. Over the years, it has successfully nurtured exceptional new talents among Malaysians, becoming a platform to foster cooperation, entrepreneurship, and critical thinking among participants.
Among the successful solutions developed under this programme is the ARTEMIS Robot from A2Tech, which develops robotic technology products with AI integration for early reconnaissance activities in Search and Rescue operations.
There’s also the Anti-Drone Detection System (DDS) from FlyBots Technology, which presents solutions to control drone intrusions intended for smuggling or unauthorised surveillance in areas with restricted access.
“The MYHackathon programme provides an opportunity for tech talents in Malaysia to seek solutions to various national challenges through creative and innovative approaches, aligning with the main goal of the programme to drive transformation and adapt digitisation in government services in Malaysia,” said Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, Group CEO of Cradle.
In essence, these initiatives not only elevate the national innovation development agenda; they also help elevate local tech talents, providing them a platform to spotlight their capabilities. It’s a win-win situation that will overall push Malaysia forward in a rapidly changing world.
Featured Image Credit: MYStartup
