KOTA KINABALU: A virtual counselling platform, heat-reducing paint, a crop monitoring application, an artificial intelligence-powered patient monitoring system and an app to help fishermen get better value for their catch are among the 15 finalists in Sabah Creative X 2026.
This ongoing innovation programme aimed at unearthing talents will see these inventions from five zones – Tawau, Kota Marudu, Sandakan, Keningau and Kota Kinabalu – vie for the top eight spots on Oct 27.
An initiative of the state Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry and powered by the Sabah Creative Economy and Innovation Centre (Scenic), Sabah Creative X 2026 drew 507 participants in 178 teams.
The winners will be announced on Oct 28 during the Sabah Innovation Showcase (SIS) which brings together representatives from government, industry, academia, research, technology and the wider innovation ecosystem.
Scenic chief executive officer Dr Mohd Lan Muslim said Sabah has the talent and ideas to solve challenges in new ways, but consistent support and platforms are needed to encourage creativity and innovation.
"Sabah Creative X is about giving these ideas a platform, connecting them to opportunities and creating a pathway for them to grow beyond Sabah," he said in revealing the finalists on Tuesday (Sept 29).
The goal is not just to find winners, but to help build solutions that create real impact for communities and Sabah's future economy, he added.
Sabah Creative X has three main components: the Scenic Innovation District Competition (SIDC), the SIS 2026, and the Future Economy Dialogue (FED) 2026.
Registration for SIS 2026 is now open to individuals, entrepreneurs, innovators, industry players, academia and other interested participants.
