02 · Innovate

SPARK 2026

International Innovation and Commercialisation Challenge. Turn an idea, prototype or product into something market-ready.

Enter an innovation

Deadline 15 October 2026 · Registration

Deadline: 15 October 2026; Registration
Fee: FREE – RM100; FREE – USD30

Big Ideas, Brighter Tomorrows

“From Ideas to Impact, From Innovation to Market”

Turn an idea, prototype or product into something market-ready. Open to everyone from school students to industry across nine focus areas, with a special focus on solutions that carry measurable impact and market potential. Entries are judged on both innovation quality and market readiness.

Dates: 27 – 28 October 2026
Venue: UMK City Campus
Mode: Hybrid (physical + online via Zoom)

ICERI × GERIC, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan · Organised by Global Entrepreneurship Research and Innovation Centre (GERIC) · Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) · ANGKASA – UMK Research Academy (AURA).

Join the Participant WhatsApp Group →

Prizes

Awards & prizes

SPARK Grand Champion
Category Champions
Commercialisation Award
Industry Impact Award
Most Market-Ready Innovation
Gold / Silver / Bronze + e-certificates + badge

Recognition

PAJSK point for school participants (JPN).
Goodies and certificates for jury and committee.
Awards recognise both innovation quality and market readiness.

Subthemes

9 focus areas

Innovate within one of our key focus areas.

Special focus: solutions with measurable impact and market potential.

Industry tracks

AI Innovation Challenge themes

Two industry partners set their own challenge briefs. Pick the matching category when you register, then answer one of its seven challenges.

McDonald

Choose category: McDonald when you register.

01
How can AI improve customer experience?

Personalisation, recommendation, engagement & loyalty
02
How can AI improve restaurant productivity?

Operations, queue management, demand forecasting
03
How can we reduce food waste?

Smart prediction, inventory, redistribution & sustainability
04
How can we improve employee engagement?

AI for training, well-being, recognition & communication
05
How can we improve digital marketing?

Targeting, campaign optimisation, social listening
06
How can we improve community engagement?

Social impact tracking, community programmes, volunteering
07
How can technology support franchise entrepreneurs?

Business insights, support tools, learning & digital solutions

Cooperative

Choose category: Cooperative when you register.

01
How can AI improve customer experience?

Personalisation, recommendation, engagement & loyalty
02
How can AI improve cooperative productivity?

Operations, queue management, demand forecasting
03
How can we reduce resource waste?

Smart prediction, inventory, redistribution & sustainability
04
How can we improve employee engagement?

AI for training, well-being, recognition & communication
05
How can we improve digital marketing?

Targeting, campaign optimisation, social listening
06
How can we improve community engagement?

Social impact tracking, community programmes, volunteering
07
How can technology support cooperative entrepreneurs?

Business insights, support tools, learning & digital solutions

Who can enter

Open to innovators from all walks of life

A
School Student

Primary & secondary
B
Student

IPT / Polytechnic / TVET
C
Academia

Lecturers / Researchers / Postgraduates
D
Industry

SME / Startup / Corporate
E
Community

Community innovators / social entrepreneurs

Maximum 5 participants per group.

Submission

What to submit

Your entry is a presentation video, plus a poster on the official A1 template.

Video length: Six minutes and thirty seconds maximum.
Orientation: Landscape.
Where to upload: Your own YouTube channel, with permission set to Unlisted or Public.
Opening: Every team member introduces themselves on camera — name and organisation or university — to confirm originality and consent.
What to cover: Introduction, problem statement, solution, impacts, commercialisation potential, and publication or copyright if available.
Originality: Entries must be original. Using third-party software to boost views or likes leads to disqualification.

Prepare your entry using the official templates below, then submit through the registration form.

Poster Template (A1, editable) PPTX Download
Video Format & Submission Requirements DOCX Download

Schedule

Key dates & fees

1 – 30 September 2026 Early Bird· Passed
15 October 2026 Registration Deadline
31 October 2026 Submission Deadline / Camera Ready
1 – 4 November 2026 Evaluation by Judges
12 November 2026 Final Pitching

Registration closes 15 October 2026.

Early Bird: 20% less on registration fees before 30 September 2026.

Category	Local	International
School Student Primary & secondary	FREE	FREE
Student & Community IPT / polytechnic / TVET students, community innovators & social entrepreneurs	RM50	USD15
Academia (UMK / Non-UMK) & Industry Lecturers, researchers, postgraduates, SME / startup / corporate	RM100	USD30
Cooperative Cooperative industry track	RM100	USD30
McDonald McDonald industry track	RM100	USD30

Posters

Challenge posters

Other ways to take part

01 · Present I-CERI Conference 2026 International research conference 03 · Compete Global Bizwar & Coopfest Challenge 2026 Battle of Minds, Not Just Business

Deadline
15 October 2026

Enter an innovation