TAR UMT Secures Second Prize at Prestigious China-ASEAN AI and Smart City Innovation Competition

TAR UMT has achieved international acclaim by winning the Second Prize at the AI for All: China-ASEAN Super League 2026 Smart City Development and Innovation Competition. The final round of the competition was held on 29 March 2026. Competing under the name Team Trailblazer, the TAR UMT squad emerged as a top contender in a massive field of 1,382 entries. Notably, out of 745 submissions in the University Track, TAR UMT distinguished itself as the only all-Malaysian university team to be among the 30 shortlisted teams which advanced to the Grand Finale in the university track.

The success of Team Trailblazer, is a testament to the technical prowess and innovative spirit of its members. The team members are Khoo Wei Ern, who is pursuing his Bachelor of Electrical and Electronics Engineering with Honours, Koa Chong Chun, Lim Yong Han, Chow Zhi Xuan, and Lim Faung Zhen, who are pursuing their Bachelor of Electronics Engineering Technology with Honours. The team was guided by the expert mentorship of Assistant Professor Dr Beh Chong You, Programme Leader of the Department of Engineering and Built Environment, TAR UMT Penang Branch.

 

The competition served as a premier international platform, bringing together elite institutions from across China and ASEAN. Team Trailblazer competed alongside representatives from world-renowned universities, including:

 For the competition, the team of TARCians developed the TrailKIT project, which is an AI-enabled roadside emergency safety solution designed to improve driver protection and reduce secondary collision risks during vehicle breakdowns. Positioned at the intersection of smart mobility, public safety, and urban resilience, the project transforms conventional roadside warning practices into an intelligent, responsive safety ecosystem. By integrating real-time hazard awareness, proactive roadside alerting, emergency location support, and readiness monitoring into a compact platform, TrailKIT enhances situational safety in critical roadside scenarios. Developed with affordability and scalability in mind, the solution contributes to safer transport systems and reflects the role of human-centred AI in advancing more resilient and inclusive smart city infrastructure.

This victory underscores TAR UMT’s unwavering commitment to research, innovation, and international engagement. The achievement was made possible through the continuous support and guidance provided by the University, fostering an environment where students can excel in high-level fields such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Smart City Development.

Team Trailblazers from TAR UMT are alumni of secondary schools in Penang, Kelantan and Perak: