The BUILDX GLOBAL INNOVATION CHALLENGE 2026 (BUILDX GIC 2026) is an international innovation competition organized by Student and Alumni Affairs (HEPA) Faculty of Civil Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM). The competition serves as a global platform for undergraduate and postgraduate students worldwide to showcase innovative ideas, research findings, and sustainable solutions that address contemporary challenges in the built environment, engineering, technology, and interdisciplinary fields.

BUILDX GIC 2026 is designed to encourage creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving through impactful innovations that contribute to sustainable development and global well-being. The program welcomes participants from various academic disciplines to present novel ideas, products, prototypes, systems, or research innovations with the potential to generate meaningful societal, environmental, and economic impacts.

Conducted as a 100% virtual international competition, BUILDX GIC 2026 provides participants with an opportunity to gain international exposure, receive professional evaluation from experienced juries, and engage in knowledge exchange across borders. The competition also aims to cultivate innovation-driven mindsets among students while strengthening global collaboration in shaping sustainable and resilient communities aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Program Objectives

The objectives of the BUILDX GLOBAL INNOVATION CHALLENGE 2026 (BUILDX GIC 2026) are:

1. To provide an international platform for undergraduate and postgraduate students to showcase innovative ideas, research, and technological solutions.

2. To promote creativity, innovation, and critical thinking in addressing global challenges related to sustainability, infrastructure, technology, environment, and community development.

3. To encourage interdisciplinary collaboration among students from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds through innovation-based participation.

4. To enhance participants’ communication and presentation skills in effectively delivering innovative ideas to professional evaluators and international audiences.

5. To foster awareness and contribution toward sustainable development, particularly in supporting the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through impactful innovations.

6. To expose participants to international standards of innovation assessment, enabling them to strengthen the quality, feasibility, and impact of their proposed solutions.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the BUILDX GLOBAL INNOVATION CHALLENGE 2026 (BUILDX GIC 2026), participants will be able to:

1. Demonstrate innovative thinking and problem-solving abilities in developing practical solutions for real-world challenges.

2. Present and communicate ideas effectively through professional and structured innovation presentations.

3. Apply research, technical, and interdisciplinary knowledge to design impactful and sustainable innovations.

4. Evaluate the feasibility and potential impact of innovation ideas in addressing social, environmental, and engineering-related issues.

5. Strengthen global networking and collaborative competencies through engagement with international participants and experts.

6. Develop greater awareness of sustainability principles and SDGs, integrating them into innovative approaches for future development.