TUANKU SYED SIRAJUDDIN ENGINEERING CAMPUS USM HYDROLINK TEAM LISTED AMONG WORLD’S TOP 12 AT AAKRUTI 2025

HOUSTON, TEXAS, 9 February 2026 - The USM Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Engineering Campus Hydrolink Team, representing Malaysia and the South Pacific Asia region, created history after being recognised as one of the top 12 teams in the world at the finals of the International AAKRUTI Innovation Competition 2025.

The achievement at the prestigious competition, held in conjunction with 3DEXPERIENCE World from 1 to 4 February 2026, demonstrated the capability of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) students to compete at the international level by producing high‑impact innovations.

The team from the School of Mechanical Engineering, USM Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Engineering Campus, received recognition for its innovation titled “AQUASHIELD”, a practical and effective flood mitigation system designed to address flood risks and impacts.

The USM Hydrolink Team comprises four students, namely Kang Zhen Lin, Alif Danial Zulkipli, Siew Wei Hong and Darren Tong Kai Xuan, along with their mentor, Associate Professor Dr. Mohd Salman Abu Mansor from the School of Mechanical Engineering.

The AAKRUTI Innovation Competition 2025 is a student innovation competition featuring sustainable solutions across four main categories, namely products for human well‑being, sustainable mobility, sustainable urban habitat or infrastructure, and green energy technologies.

A total of 12 top teams from nine countries, namely Malaysia, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Spain, South Africa, Türkiye, Singapore, and India, have qualified for the final round of the competition. All teams utilised the 3DEXPERIENCE platform and SOLIDWORKS applications to develop their respective innovations.

Text: Associate Professor Dr. Mohd Salman Abu Mansor / Photo: Courtesy of the Hydrolink Team/SOLIDWORKS Malaysia