Malaysia’s youngest innovators just got a front-row seat to the future. Through RTM’s Junior Innovathon 2026, CelcomDigi is giving primary and secondary school students practical exposure to artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies as they develop their own innovation ideas.
As the programme’s official telco partner, CelcomDigi hosted 200 participants from schools nationwide for a customised AI workshop, followed by an immersive tour of the CelcomDigi AI Experience Centre (AiX) to see real-world AI solutions first-hand.
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What Is RTM’s Junior Innovathon 2026?
RTM Junior Innovathon 2026 brings together primary and secondary school students from across Malaysia to develop ideas and compete in STEM-based innovation challenges. Organised by Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), the competition encourages young minds to think creatively and turn their ideas into practical solutions.
CelcomDigi’s collaboration extends that learning journey with hands-on AI and technology exposure, connecting what students are developing through the competition with how emerging technologies are being applied in the real world.
Here is a quick look at CelcomDigi’s involvement:
- 200 primary and secondary school participants from across Malaysia
- A customised AI workshop to build foundational knowledge
- An immersive tour of the CelcomDigi AI Experience Centre (AiX)
- A new Tech for Impact Award for one primary and one secondary school
- A seat on the final judging panel on 1 November 2026
From AI Basics to Real-World Experiences
The visit began with a customised AI workshop designed to build foundational knowledge, giving students a clear introduction to what AI is and what it can do. From there, the group headed into AiX, where the technology came to life.
Inside the centre, students came face to face with a humanoid robot and explored a dedicated healthcare zone featuring AI-assisted surgery and AR and VR immersive training. For many, it was a first chance to see these innovations up close rather than on a screen.
Seeing AI at work in a field like healthcare helps students understand that technology is a tool for solving real problems. It is exactly the kind of thinking the competition hopes they will bring to their own projects.
Nurturing Malaysia’s Digital Natives
For CelcomDigi, the goal is to help young Malaysians move beyond simply using technology to understanding and creating with it.
Young Malaysians are growing up as digital natives. Our role is to create more opportunities for them to explore technology beyond everyday use, understand its possibilities and develop the confidence to create with it. The earlier we can spark that interest, the more opportunities we create to nurture the future-ready AI talent Malaysia will need.
Kugan Thirunavakarasu, Acting Chief Innovation Officer, CelcomDigi
Tech for Impact Award at Junior Innovathon 2026
To encourage students to put this thinking into practice, CelcomDigi is introducing the Tech for Impact Award as part of Junior Innovathon 2026. The award encourages participants to consider how technology can strengthen their ideas, solve a problem or create meaningful impact.
- Winners: One primary school and one secondary school
- Prize: CelcomDigi Essential 5G Home WiFi (100Mbps) for two years for each winning school
- Judging: CelcomDigi will sit on the final judging panel on 1 November 2026
The connectivity prize is designed to support continued digital learning and exploration long after the competition ends.
Building a Future-Ready AI Talent Pipeline
The initiative builds on CelcomDigi’s broader commitment through CD:NXT to develop Malaysia’s next generation of digital talent. By expanding access to knowledge, skills and real-world technology experiences, the telco aims to contribute towards a future-ready AI talent pipeline for the nation.
As Malaysia’s largest mobile network operator, with more than 20.3 million users on its network, CelcomDigi is well placed to bring these opportunities to young people across the country.
Sparking Curiosity Early
Programmes like Junior Innovathon 2026 show that the right exposure at the right age can turn curiosity into confidence. Today’s young participants could well be the ones building Malaysia’s AI solutions tomorrow. Curious about how AI is reshaping the classroom? Read our take on why the best AI policy is better teaching.
For parents and teachers, it is also a reminder that early, hands-on exposure matters. A single workshop or visit can open a child’s eyes to careers and possibilities they may never have considered.
