USM, PENANG, 17 August 2016 - The ever popular and prestigious Novel Research and Innovation Competition (NRIC) 2016 organised by the Students’ Representatives Council, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) for the 10^th year running has been boosted with 101 projects and 404 participants competing, including those from neighbouring countries and India.

The USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students’ Development Affairs and Alumni), Professor Dato’ Dr. Adnan Hussein said that the participation in NRIC each year has been increasing and for the first time this year, Annapoorana Medical College and Hospital from India has submitted its project for the competition.

“USM as the APEX University supports activities that empower students, through initiatives which develop creative and innovative thinking skills, and I feel truly excited to view all these ‘novel’ projects soon.

“I hoped that the working relationship between the students and staff of USM would be strengthened for NRIC to grow into a bigger programme and is able to attract more foreign participation beyond South-East Asia,” added Adnan in his officiating speech for NRIC 2016 earlier.

According to the Project Director of NRIC 2016, Tan Kar Yap, he said that this yearly programme plays an important role in giving assistance towards the development of more prestigious researches, as well as in providing opportunities to students in attracting the industries.

“I hoped that NRIC 2016 would be able to discover the young talents as well as in presenting the best ideas and innovations which could be highlighted further at the higher levels,” added Kar Yap.

NRIC 2016 with the theme ‘Transformorphosis: Outshining the Innovationalities’ highlights projects in 7 categories which are Biological Sciences, Health and Medical Sciences, Fundamental Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Information and Communications Technology, Social Transformation and Creative Arts.

Held alongside are the Community Research and Innovation Competition (CoRIC) and the Innovation Pitch Challenge (IPC), both serving as the platforms for young talents to present their ideas in initiating change, while emphasising on the aspect of sustainability.

NRIC 2016 is held from 17-18 August 2016 at the Dewan Utama Pelajar in front of the Padang Kawad, USM and is open to the public. 

Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin

Text: Nor Rafizah Md. Zain