USM, MPBPP STRENGTHEN STEM TALENT DEVELOPMENT THROUGH DRONE SOCCER & ROBOTIC COMPETITION 2026

NIBONG TEBAL, 30 September 2026 - Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), in collaboration with the Penang Bumiputera Development Council (MPBPP), successfully organised the Drone Soccer & Robotic Competition 2026, the Piala Pengerusi Majlis Pembangunan Bumiputera Pulau Pinang, today.

The competition was organized as a platform to strengthen talent development in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), while providing participants with opportunities to explore drone and robotic technologies through activities involving electronics, mechanics, control systems, programming and communication.

Chairman of MPBPP, Tan Sri Khalid Ramli, said the competition was not merely about determining winners, but also served as a platform to identify and nurture young talents with the potential to become engineers, technologists, researchers and technology entrepreneurs in the future.

According to him, Bumiputera human capital development must progress in tandem with an increasingly technology-driven economy, with emphasis on competency development, value creation and technology ownership.

“Young Bumiputera must be prepared not only as members of the workforce, but also as skilled professionals, innovators, technology creators and entrepreneurs,” he said.

He said collaboration among universities, schools, industry, government and relevant agencies was important in connecting expertise, talent and industry need to establish a more comprehensive technology development ecosystem.

Meanwhile, Campus Director of the Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Engineering Campus USM, Professor Ir. Dr. Mariatti Jaafar @ Mustapha, said the development of artificial intelligence, robotics, drones, automation and smart systems was having an increasingly significant impact on education, industry and everyday life.

According to her, exposure to technology through competitions such as this enables participants to go through the process of planning, testing, identifying weaknesses and making improvements, while developing teamwork, communication and decision-making skills.

“USM has always placed emphasis on STEM talent development and views such exposure as part of its efforts to bring engineering and technology closer to the younger generation,” she said.

She also hoped that participants would make full use of the opportunity to test their knowledge and skills, including learning from mistakes throughout the process of developing solutions.

Also present were Director of the Penang Bumiputera Participation Coordination Division, Implementation Coordination Unit, Prime Minister’s Department, Dr Haji Syaharudin Shah Mohd Nor; Dean of the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, USM, Professor Ir. Ts. Dr. Shahrel Azmin Sundi @ Suandi; and EdTech Programme Manager, Cytron Technologies, Adrian Teo.

Text: Nor Hidayati Zolkornain (Industrial Training Student, Office of the Director, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin) / Photo: Muhammad Taufik Abdul Rahman