THE Government today launched the Junior Innovathon 2025, a first-of-its-kind televised reality competition designed to nurture innovation, creativity, and interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) among schoolchildren across the nation.
The initiative, led by the Ministry of Economy in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development, and national broadcaster RTM, received more than 2,000 entries from primary and secondary school pupils — four times the original target of 500.
Speaking at the launch at Angkasapuri, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Economy, Datuk Nor Azmie Diron (pic), said the programme aims to inspire the next generation of thinkers and problem-solvers through exposure to creative competition.
“To build an innovative nation, we need to spark curiosity and creativity among our school children and empower their creativity to grow into lasting value for the country,” he said.
The Junior Innovathon is a spin-off from the Ministry’s successful Innovathon programme, which has entered its third season. However, unlike its predecessor which is open to all ages and backgrounds, the junior edition is exclusive to schoolchildren, allowing for fairer competition among peers.
The programme centres on three key objectives: to discover and develop creative talent in line with Malaysia MADANI aspirations; to foster innovative thinking with an emphasis on STEM; and to showcase student-led innovations to the public through RTM’s accessible broadcast platforms.
A total of 50 teams representing various school types — including national schools, MARA Junior Science Colleges, religious schools, vocational colleges and private institutions — have been shortlisted for the first season. Judging panels are made up of educators from teacher training institutes, officials from the Ministry of Education, and representatives from MARA.
The competition will air on RTM’s TV1 channel from 12 October to 16 November 2025.
Uniquely, the programme awards prizes not only to participating students, but also to their schools, with winnings presented in the form of National Education Savings Scheme (SSPN) contributions.
This, Nor Azmie said, is intended to instil a culture of financial literacy and forward planning among Malaysia’s youth.
He also called on continued support from government agencies, higher learning institutions, and private firms to help scale up promising student innovations beyond the competition.
“Our hope is that their ideas do not stop here,” he said. “Teachers, especially those involved in STEM coordination, must be more proactive and creative in cultivating innovation by connecting students with experts from the public, private and non-profit sectors.”
Nor Azmie expressed his gratitude to all collaborating ministries and agencies, adding, “With programmes like Junior Innovathon, we are not only celebrating young minds — we are investing in the nation's future.” - October 2, 2025
