PENANG, 22 October 2025 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has been appointed as the Lead Coordinator of the Festival of Ideas (FOI) for Penang state level, which would be held on 24 and 25 October 2025 at the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC).

What’s more interesting is that, FOI 2025 is making its first-ever appearance in Penang, with a variety of exciting programmes lined up for all levels of society, from the children up to the adults.

Among the main attractions of FOI @ Pulau Pinang would be a series of forums and scholarly talks that would highlight the applications of knowledge, technology, and innovation for the masses.

Aside from that, USM will be organising the SDG Innozilla innovation competition, which is expected to attract more than 140 participants from public and private universities, polytechnics, colleges, and schools across Penang.

The festival would be further enlivened with an exhibition on STEM and international cultures, free health checks, and interactive sessions with the industries that would offer opportunities for strategic networking and partnerships as well as career prospects for students and graduates.

A new addition to this Penang edition would be a special Friday sermon on 24 October 2025 at all state mosques in Penang, which would touch on the importance of knowledge and innovation in turning Malaysia into a hub for global strategic thought.

According to USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed, by combining various disciplines and the voice of the community, the FOI @ Pulau Pinang platform is expected to become a catalyst that would connect the academia, the industry, the communities and the government in advancing the process of nation-building utilising knowledge and innovation.

“The organisation of this programme is part of the initiative by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE/KPT) to strengthen the position of Malaysia as a hub for global strategic thought and innovation.

“Bringing the theme “MADANI: Sparking Ideas, Shaping the Future”, FOI @ Pulau Pinang would bring to light several high-impact programmes that would be focusing on aspects of innovation, sustainability, health intelligence, semiconductors as well as community empowerment,” he said further.

The implementation of this programme is a collaborative effort between the University and the Penang State Government, aligning with Penang Vision 2030’s goals of fostering a knowledge-based economy, enhancing the wellbeing of its people, and establishing a green and intelligent state.

The Festival of Ideas, a continuation of the nationally launched programme introduced last year, is scheduled to conclude in Putrajaya in November 2025.

Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin