Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), through its Office of Vice-Chancellor Industry Engagement and Enterprise Development (OAVC IEED), proudly hosted INCUFEST 2024—a four-day Incubation Festival celebrating innovation, entrepreneurship, and the dynamic ideas emerging from UBD’s academic community. With the theme, “A Celebration of Ideas and Innovation,” INCUFEST 2024 brought together students, researchers, and industry leaders, positioning UBD as a leading incubator of future-focused solutions for Brunei and beyond.
The festival showcased 45 pioneering projects developed by UBD’s incubation program participants, final-year students from the School of Digital Science, and UBD researchers. Key innovations highlighted at the event included the Go Travel App, Hyper Chain, and Smart Fresh—each aimed at addressing essential areas such as tourism, supply chain management, cybersecurity, and environmental sustainability, all contributing to Brunei’s economic diversification initiatives.
The opening ceremony featured welcome remarks from distinguished guests Yang Mulia Mr. Allen On, Director of the Business Ecosystem and Industry Division at the Ministry of Finance and Economy, and Dr. Masairol Haji Masri, Assistant Vice-Chancellor (IEED), UBD. In his address, Dr. Masairol emphasized the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship in shaping Brunei’s future, stating, “At UBD, we are committed to nurturing an entrepreneurial spirit that aligns with our national goals. This festival not only highlights the creativity of our students but also fosters critical partnerships with industry stakeholders.”
Throughout the festival, participants explored promising entrepreneurial pathways as they showcased groundbreaking projects designed to tackle local and regional challenges. Among the 45 projects exhibited, six were selected as finalists for the Reach Pitch Day Competition, spotlighting the real-world impact and potential of UBD’s incubation initiatives.
A representative from IEED expressed their pride in the success of the event, stating, “INCUFEST 2024 is a testament to the innovative potential within UBD’s community. It exemplifies our commitment to nurturing future innovators and enhancing collaboration between academia and industry, which is vital to our mission of supporting Brunei’s development.”
As a member of the Babson Collaborative for Entrepreneurship Education, UBD has strengthened its standing as a premier institution for entrepreneurship in the ASEAN region, aligning with international standards and promoting best practices. INCUFEST 2024 has set a new benchmark for future innovation festivals, and the IEED team looks forward to building upon this success in years to come.