Our Faculty of Integrated Life Sciences again proved its ability to produce original thinkers and tinkerers when three QIU Biotechnology students, mentored by Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr Kamariah Hasan, excelled at the recently concluded Virtual Innovation Competition (VIC) 2026, securing a coveted gold medal and a Top 5 Special Award in the 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) category.
Competing in a field of young innovators from across the country, our students Chong Chee Xuan, Ivan Ching, and Saraf Aniqa Rafia wowed the contest judges with their research presentation titled ‘From Waste to Wheels: A Sustainable Fuel for Malaysia’.
On their path to victory, they outshone fellow contestants from Universiti Teknologi MARA, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, and the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation, among others, to win laurels for QIU.
Their award-winning invention is a hybrid biofuel that mixes conventional petrol with fuel made from recycled plastic and bioethanol distilled from food and agricultural waste. This biofuel is a sustainable option for standard petrol engines that use RON95/RON97 and are currently ignored by Malaysia’s diesel-focused biofuel programmes.
Chee Xuan, Ivan, and Saraf’s innovation will be a boon for sustainable waste management practices by converting massive amounts of plastic, food, and agricultural waste into high-value energy, thereby reducing the landfill footprint around the country. Moreover, this solution brings the significant advantage of cost savings through compatibility with existing infrastructure: As a ‘drop-in’ fuel, it can be used immediately in cars and at petrol stations without requiring expensive modifications.
For context, VIC 2026 is a premier digital innovation arena co-organised by DIGIT360, a Universiti Teknologi MARA start-up. It aims to nurture a culture of innovation and design in teaching and learning and provide a prestigious platform for educators, students, and the public to showcase their ideas. Specifically, the 3MT category challenges researchers to condense complex project findings and commercialisation potential into a concise, precise, high-impact presentation.
Many congratulations to Chee Xuan, Ivan, and Saraf for their stellar showing at VIC 2026! Their success is yet more proof that QIU’s brand of industry-aligned education that prioritises creative problem-solving and experiential learning is the surest blueprint for producing graduates who can ideate game-changing green ideas that better our lives and help preserve the planet.
Watch the ‘From Waste to Wheels: A Sustainable Fuel for Malaysia’ video here.
