Kuala terengganu: The implementation of the 2025 Eastern Zone Jejak Inovasi Sosial (JIS) programme has successfully fostered close collaboration between Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia (YIM), local communities, state governments, and academic researchers, said YIM chief executive officer Dr. Sharmila Mohamed Salleh. She noted that the programme had achieved its goal of strengthening collaboration and gathering crucial input for planning more effective and targeted social innovation interventions in the future.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the four main programmes under JIS, namely the Malaysia Social Innovation Initiative, MyIS Komuniti and MyIS Akar Umbi, Innovation Catalyst Volunteers (iCATS), and the Youth Innovative Challenge (YIC), enabled YIM to gain in-depth insights and conduct a comprehensive assessment of various social, economic, and environmental issues through the mapping of innovative products and social innovation talent in the eastern zone, particularly around Kuala Terengganu.
The Eastern Zone JIS specifically focused on addressing issues and challenges faced by the fishing community in Terengganu. Several key issues were identified during engagement sessions, which will be analysed before being presented to the Subject Matter Expert Committee for assessment and proposed solutions. These solutions are intended to help identify potential innovations or technologies that can be replicated within the community. Feedback from all stakeholders and relevant parties is essential for social innovation, which relies on a deep understanding of the issues and challenges faced by communities.
Also present at the JIS programme held around Kuala Terengganu was Kuala Terengganu Member of Parliament Datuk Ahmad Amzad Mohamed @ Hashim, who officiated at the highlight of the event, the flag-off ceremony for the YIM delegation vehicles for the Eastern Zone 2025 JIS.
Dr. Sharmila also highlighted the success of the YIC, held at the Terengganu Science and Creativity Centre, where three winners emerged from among students of institutions of higher learning in Terengganu. These winners will advance to the inter-zone competition to compete for the MyIS Perintis grant, offering a total of RM400,000 to 10 winners. A student with the best innovative product will be selected to gain exposure and experience in technology and innovation at a university in Switzerland.
The YIC is an innovation competition that showcases final-year student projects at the Diploma, Degree, and Master’s levels, with the potential to deliver meaningful social impact to communities. Additionally, Dr. Sharmila visited four selected innovation projects, including the Ezy Cube at the Terengganu State Public Library, modular batik craft production in Kampung Banggol Donas, essential oil extraction from gelam trees along Jalan Kuala Berang, and the Mercope grass-cutting machine innovation at the Kuala Terengganu Science Centre. These visits aimed to identify challenges and issues encountered throughout the development process of the respective products.
Dr. Sharmila emphasized that social innovation encompasses not only the end product but also the processes involved. For instance, in the case of the modular batik craft, issues related to cost and the durability of materials were discovered, highlighting the need for support from researchers or innovators within the YIM ecosystem.