CelcomDigi Berhad (CelcomDigi) is expanding AI and technology capacity building among young Malaysians through its collaboration with RTM’s Junior Innovathon 2026. The initiative gives participating students practical exposure to AI and emerging technologies as they develop their own innovation ideas.
Building AI Knowledge Through Hands-On Experiences
As the programme’s official telco partner, CelcomDigi hosted 200 primary and secondary school participants from across the country for a customised AI workshop to build foundational knowledge. This was followed by an immersive tour of the CelcomDigi AI Experience Centre (AiX), where students experienced real-world AI solutions first-hand.
CelcomDigi’s Acting Chief Innovation Officer, Kugan Thirunavakarasu, said,
“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.”
Introducing the Tech for Impact Award
To encourage students to put their learning 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.
One primary school and one secondary school will receive the award. Each winning school will receive CelcomDigi Essential 5G Home WiFi (100Mbps) for two years to support continued digital learning and exploration.
CelcomDigi will also participate in the final judging panel on 1 November 2026.
Nurturing Malaysia’s Future Digital Talent
RTM’s Junior Innovathon 2026 brings together primary and secondary school students nationwide to develop ideas and compete in STEM-based innovation challenges.
CelcomDigi’s collaboration with RTM extends the learning journey by providing practical AI and technology exposure, connecting students’ competition projects with the real-world applications of emerging technologies.
The initiative builds on CelcomDigi’s broader commitment through CD to develop Malaysia’s next generation of digital talent by expanding access to knowledge, skills and real-world technology experiences, while contributing towards a future-ready AI talent pipeline for Malaysia.