USM HYDROLINK TEAM SECURES SPOT IN ASIA PACIFIC GEO FINALE

PETALING JAYA, 29 October 2025 - The Hydrolink Team from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Engineering Campus achieved a remarkable success by earning a place in the Asia Pacific Geo Finale of the AAKRUTI Innovation Competition 2025.

Out of the five best teams at the national level, three teams from USM made it into Malaysia’s Top 5, highlighting the university’s excellence and diversity in engineering talent.

Organised by SolidWorks 3DEXPERIENCE at IME Technology Sdn. Bhd., the Hydrolink Team emerged as one of the top two teams in Malaysia and will represent the country at the Asia Pacific level in November 2025.

Comprising Kang Zhen Lin, Alif Danial Zulkipli, Siew Wei Hong, and Darren Tong Kai Xuan, the Hydrolink Team impressed the judges with their innovation titled “AQUASHIELD”, an innovative and practical flood mitigation system.

Representing the team, Kang Zhen Lin said that the product was designed to be modular and reusable, featuring a foldable stainless-steel frame, a quick-lock mechanism, and a rubber gasket to ensure easy installation and watertight sealing.

“The uniqueness of this design allows the AQUASHIELD system to be assembled by only two to three people in less than five minutes without any additional tools, which is a major advantage during flood emergencies,” he said.

He also expressed appreciation to Associate Professor Dr. Mohd Salman Abu Mansor from the School of Mechanical Engineering, USM, for his guidance and mentorship throughout the product development and prototype testing process.

“He has greatly assisted us in overcoming various technical challenges, leading to this success,” he added.

According to the Hydrolink Team, this achievement reflects their strong commitment and determination in developing an engineering solution capable of making a positive impact on society.

Kang Zhen Lin further stated that this victory was the result of the team’s hard work and dedication throughout the development of AQUASHIELD.

“We hope this innovation can be widely adopted and make a positive contribution to future flood disaster management,” he added.

With this success, the Hydrolink Team is now preparing to face the challenge at the Asia Pacific Geo Finale, scheduled for early November 2025. If successful, they will advance to the Grand Finale in the United States in February 2026.

In addition to the Hydrolink Team, two other teams from USM, the Mechdonalds Team and the Rekasari Apex Team, were also listed among the national Top 5 finalists.

The Mechdonalds Team presented “BelSar”, a hybrid-electric airship for sustainable medium-range cargo transport, while the Rekasari Apex Team introduced “Highway Wind-Powered Streetlight (HWPS) System”, a road lighting system that generates green energy by harnessing wind from passing vehicles.

Text: Alif Danial Zulkipli

Photos: Courtesy of the Hydrolink Team

Edited by: Associate Professor Dr. Mohd Salman Abu Mansor & Siti Faizah Abd Halim