BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – An artificial intelligence-powered agricultural solution has taken the top spot at the fourth edition of the DST Innovation Awards, capping off a six-week intensive entrepreneurship incubator for Brunei’s next generation of tech leaders.
Team BumiTrust emerged as the champion of the Catalyst Programme Cycle 4 with its AI platform designed to monitor soil conditions and certify produce safety for local farmers and stakeholders.
The flagship initiative, organised by Datastream Digital (DST) via the DST InnoLab, is aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among Bruneian youth, particularly university students.
The winner’s circle
Out of eight competing teams pitching ideas across agriculture, healthcare, tourism, and sustainability, three standout concepts claimed the top spots:
• Second runner-up: Team Venyu for its real-time booking platform featuring verified listings and transparent pricing.
Other notable participants pitching to the judges included Nawaitu (SEEK), BruDeTour, Rehijau, Seroja (T*AP), and Halal4N, each tackling pressing community and industry challenges.
Bridging academia and industry
Held at Mutiara Exchange, the closing ceremony brought together key leaders from Brunei’s higher education and digital sectors. Attendees included Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) Vice-Chancellor, Datin Professor Dr Hjh Zohrah Hj Sulaiman, and DST Chief Executive Officer, Radin Sufri Radin Basiuni.
Speaking at the event, Radin Sufri emphasised that the Catalyst Programme is designed to give students and graduates practical, hands-on exposure to the startup ecosystem.
“We are all here to support creativity and continue fostering resilience, ensuring that the next generation of innovators continues to shape Brunei Darussalam’s future,” Radin Sufri said.
The CEO also highlighted DST’s strategic partnership with UTB, which contributed more than half of this cycle’s cohort. He praised the diverse cross-institutional collaboration, noting participation from Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali, Cosmopolitan College of Commerce and Technology, and Politeknik Brunei.
The Catalyst Programme is led by DST InnoLab as a core pillar of the telco’s corporate social responsibility initiatives, investing directly in the sultanate’s future digital economy.
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