Malaysia’s next generation of tech talent took centre stage at the AI Muda@NADI Hackathon 2026, where 26 finalist teams of secondary school students built artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to tackle real-world challenges in the nation’s plantations and commodities sector.
The national finals capped a learning journey that began with more than 9,000 students across the country, proving that young Malaysians are ready to do far more than just use AI. They are already building with it.
Table of Contents
What Is the AI Muda@NADI Hackathon?
The AI Muda@NADI Hackathon is the grand finale of AI Muda@NADI, an initiative under the AI@NADI Training Programme 2026. Launched in August, the programme is implemented by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in collaboration with CelcomDigi through the National Information Dissemination Centres (NADI).
This year’s competition ran under the theme “AI Innovation for the Future of Plantations and Commodities”. Students from Form 1 to Form 6 presented AI-powered ideas across five focus areas:
- Sustainability
- Plantation productivity
- Smart farming
- Environmental conservation
- Commodity innovation
TerraScan Wins the AI Muda@NADI Hackathon 2026
After two intense days, team INNOVIQ from Kolej Vokasional Perdagangan Johor Bahru emerged as champions with TerraScan, an AI-powered smart agriculture app designed to help farmers make smarter decisions. TerraScan brings several tools together in one place:
- Intelligent soil analysis
- Crop recommendations
- Weather forecasting
- Farm simulation
- Financial management
The solution aims to improve crop yields, cut operational costs, strengthen food security and promote sustainable farming practices. INNOVIQ took home RM5,000, while the second- and third-place teams received RM2,000 and RM1,000 respectively.
From 9,000 Learners to 26 National Finalists
Before the finals, more than 9,000 secondary school students completed six online learning modules covering prompt engineering, responsible AI use, creative content development, and AI applications in learning and productivity. They then submitted their work through a dedicated online assessment system built for the programme.
Finalists were selected based on four components:
- AI Apps developed using vibe coding
- AI Videos
- AI Prompt Trails
- AI Project Cards
Entries were judged on the problem addressed, the proposed AI solution, relevance to Malaysian challenges and alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Each team comprised four students and one supervising teacher from the same school, with finalists representing every state in Malaysia.
A Powerful Partnership for Real-World Learning
AI Muda@NADI is run in partnership with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s (UKM) Faculty of Education and Google for Education, with support from the Ministry of Education and Maktab Rendah Sains MARA (MRSM).
Through AI@NADI, CelcomDigi brings together public-sector leadership, academic expertise, technology capabilities and communities to translate AI ambitions into practical learning opportunities. By connecting these strengths, we can help more young Malaysians develop relevant skills and explore how AI can address real-world challenges, preparing them for opportunities ahead in a digital nation.
T. Kugan, Chief Enterprise Business Officer and Acting Chief Innovation Officer, CelcomDigi
What’s Next for AI@NADI?
Building on the success of the AI Muda@NADI Hackathon, MCMC and CelcomDigi plan to expand the AI@NADI Training Programme to tertiary education students and working professionals soon. This will give more Malaysians the chance to develop practical AI skills for learning, employment and professional growth.
Why the AI Muda@NADI Hackathon Matters
Plantations and commodities have long been a pillar of Malaysia’s economy. Seeing teenagers apply AI to soil health, crop planning and farm finances shows how technology can help modernise a traditional sector, and how early exposure can turn curiosity into real capability.
The AI Muda@NADI Hackathon is a reminder that brilliant ideas can come from any classroom, in any state. Want more stories of young Malaysians embracing AI? Read how Junior Innovathon 2026 gave 200 students an AI head start, or our take on why the best AI policy is better teaching.
