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🚀 THE SWISS INNOVATION CHALLENGE
The Swiss Innovation Challenge (SIC) is a prestige programme with an integrated competition for the support and advancement of innovation in Switzerland and the ASEAN countries. The support offered, comprises specific training and personal coaching and access to the Swiss Innovation Challenge Network in ASEAN and Switzerland.💡 About SIC
The Challenge addresses companies, start-ups and individuals who wish to introduce and implement an innovation or who have undertaken an innovative step with-in the last few years. This could be a new business idea, product innovation, service innovation, organisational innovation, management innovation or business model innovation.🌏 International Expansion
Owns by University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW). SIC has been extended to Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. In Malaysia, it was organised since 2017.🏆 Competition Journey
Divided into three stages. Each stage is followed by a selection round (pitch). Winning company will represent the country to pitch in Switzerland and enjoy a trip to understand the entrepreneurship and start-up ecosystem in Switzerland.🎯 THE AIMS
🚀
Foster a culture of innovation, creativity, and continuous improvement within ASEAN+.
🌍
Promote innovation potential from ASEAN+ countries internationally.
💡
Provide opportunities to pitch innovative business ideas and solutions.
🤝
Establish strong international networking among innovators and industries.
📈
Enhance sustainable startup ecosystems through research and innovation evidence.
📌 TARGETS
💭
Encourage and increase innovative ideas.
🏢
Increase the number of startup companies.
🗂️
Strengthen innovation databases and ecosystems.
🔥
Promote entrepreneurship and innovation culture.
🏛️ HISTORY
🇨🇭 Switzerland
📈 Growth in innovations and startups since 2010.
🔬 Research impact strengthening entrepreneurship sustainability.
📚 Publications related to ESG, innovation, and startups.
🇲🇾 Malaysia
🌱 Cultivating innovation culture nationwide.
📅 2017 – 47 applicants
📅 2022 – 110 applicants
📅 2024 – 438 applicants
📅 2025 – 250 applicants
🇮🇩 Indonesia
🚀 More than 650 participants.
🇻🇳 Vietnam
🌟 Since 2025 – more than 1000 participants.
🏆 OUTCOMES
🚀
Increase number of innovations and startups.
💰
Pitch for local and international funding opportunities.
🌱
Accelerate sustainable entrepreneurship and economic growth.
🌐
Expand innovation and startup networking opportunities.
📖
Increase research and publications on innovation ecosystems.
🛡️ SUPPORTIVE MEASURES
🧠
Personal coaching by industry experts.
🎓
Free international seminars on business-related topics.
🎤
Pitching opportunities to improve presentation competencies.
📝
Feedback on business plans and implementation strategies.
🤝
Networking opportunities before and after SIC.
🎥 WATCH SIC VIDEO
APPLICATION FOR SIC (MALAYSIA)
🧾
Open to all start-ups, spin-off or established companies of not more than 3-years of operation from any countries.
💡
Identify one (1) novelty invention i.e. products, services, technologies etc. that has a ready prototype, POC, and has completed its market test.
🚀
The innovation has not been commercialised and must have a strong potential for commercialisation.
📌
Possess an IP is preferable.
🌱
The innovation must address ESG and SDGs.
👥
Must be a group of minimum 3 pax and they must be the core team for the invention development.
📄
All members must adhere to all SIC requirements
GENERAL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
📝
Application
Apply as a team, a start-up/spin-off companies. The application fee: RM150.00/group💡
Innovation Type
The innovation you propose should include emerging technology potential for commercialisation, or at prototype or at pre- comm stage which has not been commercialised yet.⚙️
Development Process
The innovation can also be more matured in nature that you have already worked on it before but feel that it can be developed further.📄
Documentation
Documentation, and materials of the innovation and presentation must be done in English language.PROCEDURE OF THE COMPETITION
1
Description of the innovation and highlights what and how problems to be solved.
2
Transposition of the innovation into a business plan.
3
Implementation plan (business plan, GTM strategy, funding and cash flow).

🏆 AWARDS
🌍
Three (3) best groups will represent 🇲🇾 Malaysia at the SIC Asia 2026 in 🇻🇳 Vietnam.
💰 Monetary & Award Worth Up To
USD 10,000
SIC ASIA 2026 MAIN HOST & PARTNERS
MAIN HOST
🇨🇭
University of Applied Sciences
and Arts Northwestern
Switzerland
and Arts Northwestern
Switzerland
🇲🇾
Universiti Malaya-Wales
Malaysia
Malaysia
PARTNERS
🇮🇩
Indonesia
🇻🇳
Vietnam
🇯🇵
Japan
🇹🇭
Thailand
COMMITMENT OF CO-HOST
✔ Assist in promotion and drive participations.
✔ Allocate minimum one (1) jury from each company to sit as jury panel.
✔ To adhere to the standard process and criteria established by FHNW.
✔ Allocate and sponsor a minimum of one (1) staff in the SICA committee.
📅 IMPORTANT DATES 2026
Application Submission
By 3 JULY 2026
Final deadline for application submission and registration fee payment.
1st Pitching
22 JULY 2026
Pitching session for innovation evaluation.
2nd Pitching
22 AUGUST 2026
Advanced pitching and business validation session.
Final Pitching
17 OCTOBER 2026
Physical final pitching event held in Vietnam 🇻🇳
📌 Note:
All pitching sessions 1 & 2 will be held physically in Malaysia.
All pitching sessions 1 & 2 will be held physically in Malaysia.
⏳ IMPORTANT DATES COUNTDOWN 2026
Application Deadline
3 JULY 2026
D
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1st Pitching
22 JULY 2026
D
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2nd Pitching
22 AUGUST 2026
D
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Final Pitching (VN)
17 OCTOBER 2026
D
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🚀 PROJECT MANAGEMENT TEAM
🎯 STEERING COMMITTEE
Prof. Dr. Roselina Ahmad Saufi, UM-Wales LEAD
Prof. Dr. Arie Hans Verkuil, FHNW
Prof. Dr. Mahmoud Al Khilani, FHNW
Prof. Dr. Andreas Hins, FHNW
Prof. Dr. Mokhtarrudin Ahmad, UM-Wales
Prof. Emeritus Dr. Ainin Sulaiman, UM-Wales
Dr. P. Yukthamarani Permarupan
, UMK
Ms. Siti Nur Arnee Ismail, BPMB
Mr. Mohd. Hafifi Othman, UM-Wales
Mr. Halimi Hashim, DHU
📋 SECRETARIAT
Prof. Dr. Mokhtarruddin LEAD
Mr. Mohd. Hafifi Othman
Ms. Azizah Saban
Dr. P. Yukthamarani Permarupan
Mr. Shahrul Anuar Halim
Mr. Wan Mohd Azfar Wan Mohd Zain
Ms. Nur Halisah Hair
Ms. Puteri Nurul Aina Mohd Effendi
Mr. Muhammad Harith Danial Mohd Ridzuan
Mr. Syed Ahmad Muizzuddin Syed Ahmad Idrus
UM-Wales Student Council
🌍POTENTIAL TRAINERS
🎓
TRAINERS FOR SEMINARS
University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW)
MRANTI
Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB)
📜 TERMS OF REFERENCE
🧠 COACHES
Provide guidance on innovation development, business development and presentation for participating groups.
Each coach will be assigned a minimum of 2 groups.
Each coach is accountable to mentor and coach participants regularly.
Each coach must complete and sign coaching session log forms.
Coaching schedules and venues are subject to agreement with mentees.
No subsistence allowance or pocket expenses will be provided.
⚖️ JURIES
Every pitching session will be judged by a minimum panel of 5 juries.
One jury will be appointed as the Head of Juries.
Juries must evaluate participants objectively and ethically.
Constructive comments may be provided to participants.
Evaluations must be submitted online using evaluation forms.
Head of Juries must lead deliberations and conclude winner lists.
Winner lists must be submitted immediately after the session.
The International Juries Committee will confirm winning teams.
🚀 KEY STRATEGIC PARTNERS
Promote SIC 2026 among startups and potential project owners.
Identify potential projects for acceleration.
Facilitate innovators for further development and acceleration funding for winning groups.
Assist in identifying other venture capitals.
Assist in follow-up and intervention programs for finalist groups.
💰 Registration Fee
RM150.00 per participant group🏦 Online Payment
Account Name:
INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA-WALES SDN. BHD.
INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA-WALES SDN. BHD.
Bank: CIMB BANK
Account Number: 8001297407
Branch:
CIMB KL Gateway Mall,
No. 2 Jalan Kerinchi,
Gerbang Kerinchi Lestari,
59200 Kuala Lumpur
CIMB KL Gateway Mall,
No. 2 Jalan Kerinchi,
Gerbang Kerinchi Lestari,
59200 Kuala Lumpur
Swift Code: CIBBMYKL
🌍 International Transfer (Flywire)
Accepted payment methods:
💳 Visa
💳 Mastercard
🅿️ PayPal
💴 UnionPay
and many more international payment options.
📌 Please state your Full Name and IC / Passport Number during payment.
✅ Applications will only be processed after payment has been successfully received.
✅ Applications will only be processed after payment has been successfully received.










































