Deadline Date: May 06, 2026
Entries are now open for the National Deep Tech Challenge to support students and student startups across Malaysia to develop and pitch innovative strategies for bringing university intellectual property to market.
The hackathon focuses on developing a strong commercialisation strategy for selected University Malaya intellectual property, including market validation, revenue model design, and a clear go-to-market approach that demonstrates the potential for real-world application and scalability.
The programme is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as student startups from any university or organisation within Malaysia, making it a national-level opportunity. Participants may apply individually, after which teams will be formed to ensure a balanced mix of skills, or they may participate in teams consisting of two to five members to encourage effective collaboration and diverse perspectives.
The hackathon culminates in competitive pitching rounds where top-performing teams are recognised and awarded cash prizes, along with direct access to further commercialisation opportunities that can help bring their ideas closer to market. While the exact funding amount is not specified, selected teams benefit from financial rewards and extended support pathways for innovation development.
Eligibility requires participants to be actively enrolled students or part of a student-led startup and to commit to all stages of the programme, including the mandatory briefing session and both preparatory workshops. Participants who meet the eligibility requirements and complete the initial stages will qualify for the two-day, one-night hackathon sprint, where they will further refine their commercialisation strategies with the support of mentors. During this phase, teams will enhance their ideas, receive expert feedback, and prepare for pitching during the semi-finals held on the second day of the sprint.
For more information, visit Growth Charger.
