I-CERI 2026 · 27 – 28 October 2026
SPARK 2026 — International Innovation and Commercialisation Challenge
ICERI × GERIC, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan · Theme: "From Ideas to Impact, From Innovation to Market"
Dates
27 – 28 October 2026
Venue
UMK City Campus
Mode
Hybrid (physical + online via Zoom)
Big Ideas, Brighter Tomorrows
Register for SPARK 2026
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.
Prizes
Awards & Prizes
Awards
- 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.
Organised by Global Entrepreneurship Research and Innovation Centre (GERIC) · Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) · ANGKASA – UMK Research Academy (AURA).
Subthemes
Focus Areas
Innovate within one of our key focus areas.
- Technology, Digital & AI Innovation
- Sustainability & Green Innovation
- Health, Wellness & Quality of Life
- Agro, Food & Rural Innovation
- Language, Social & Education Innovation
- Entrepreneurship & Business
- Tourism & Hospitality
- Art, Heritage and Design
- Industry: Cooperative & McDonald
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.
How can AI improve customer experience?
Personalisation, recommendation, engagement & loyalty
How can AI improve restaurant productivity?
Operations, queue management, demand forecasting
How can we reduce food waste?
Smart prediction, inventory, redistribution & sustainability
How can we improve employee engagement?
AI for training, well-being, recognition & communication
How can we improve digital marketing?
Targeting, campaign optimisation, social listening
How can we improve community engagement?
Social impact tracking, community programmes, volunteering
How can technology support franchise entrepreneurs?
Business insights, support tools, learning & digital solutions
Cooperative
Choose category: Cooperative when you register.
How can AI improve customer experience?
Personalisation, recommendation, engagement & loyalty
How can AI improve cooperative productivity?
Operations, queue management, demand forecasting
How can we reduce resource waste?
Smart prediction, inventory, redistribution & sustainability
How can we improve employee engagement?
AI for training, well-being, recognition & communication
How can we improve digital marketing?
Targeting, campaign optimisation, social listening
How can we improve community engagement?
Social impact tracking, community programmes, volunteering
How can technology support cooperative entrepreneurs?
Business insights, support tools, learning & digital solutions
Who Can Participate
Who Can Participate
Open to innovators from all walks of life.
School Student
Primary & secondary
Student
IPT / Polytechnic / TVET
Academia
Lecturers / Researchers / Postgraduates
Industry
SME / Startup / Corporate
Community
Community innovators / social entrepreneurs
Maximum 5 participants per group.
Schedule
Important Dates
Registration closes 15 October 2026.
Early Bird: 20% less on registration fees before 30 September 2026.
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.
Posters
Challenge Posters
SPARK 2026
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McDonald Track
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Cooperative Track
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