Seven organisations and individuals were recognised at the Sarawak Digital Economy Awards (DEA) 2026, with the Sarawak Civil Service Digitalisation Unit (SCSDU) receiving the Premier’s Digital Economy Award for its SarawakPass initiative.
The awards were presented during the gala dinner of the International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak 2026 (IDECS26) at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, bringing together delegates, industry partners, researchers and technology leaders.
SCSDU, under the Department of the Premier of Sarawak, received the highest honour for SarawakPass: Powering Proactive, Citizen-Centric Government Services, which focuses on improving the delivery of government services through digitalisation.
This year’s awards attracted 128 submissions, up from 116 in the previous edition, reflecting participation across government, industry, research and community-focused digital initiatives.
Held on the first evening of the two-day IDECS26 conference, the awards recognised projects applying digital technologies to practical challenges across seven categories: Digital Technology, Research and Development, AI Innovations, Digital Government, Digital Creative Industry, Environmental Sustainability and Smart Solution.
Yang Berhormat Dato Sri Haji Julaihi Haji Narawi, Sarawak Minister for Utility and Telecommunication, said the state’s digital agenda was moving beyond technology adoption towards generating economic value and tangible benefits for its people.
“We are no longer talking simply about adopting technology. We are looking at how technology can create greater economic value, solve real problems and improve opportunities for our people,” he said.
He added that digital transformation required closer collaboration between government, industry and academia to strengthen innovation and develop new opportunities.
“The government creates the conditions for growth, industry brings expertise and enterprise, and our universities nurture talent and new ideas. When these efforts come together, Sarawak gains the confidence and capability to go further,” he said.
The seven award categories highlighted the growing application of digital solutions across public service delivery, artificial intelligence, research, environmental sustainability and the creative economy.
SCSDU and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) each secured two category awards, covering citizen-facing government services, student services and applied geo-AI research.
Other recipients included NEUON AI for work in sovereign artificial intelligence, One Medicare for sustainability-related initiatives, and OB Research for digital research storytelling.
The awards recognise efforts to translate technological capabilities and research into practical applications across Sarawak’s economy and communities.
Each category winner received RM10,000, while the recipient of the Premier’s Digital Economy Award received RM20,000.
Now in its ninth edition, IDECS has evolved alongside Sarawak’s digital economy, providing a platform for government agencies, businesses, researchers, investors, startups and technology partners to exchange ideas and explore collaboration.
IDECS26, themed “Scaling Innovation Ecosystems for a Borderless Economy: Earth, Orbit & Beyond,” covered areas including artificial intelligence, semiconductor innovation, the emerging space economy, future cities, digital talent and research commercialisation.
The conference placed emphasis on moving research and innovation towards deployment, investment and commercial application.
The gala dinner provided an opportunity for participants to engage beyond the main conference sessions, while the awards highlighted projects already being developed and implemented across the state.
As the conference entered its second and final day on 6 October 2026, attention turned to strengthening links between research and industry, connecting emerging businesses with markets and investment, and translating technology development into solutions for practical needs.
The Sarawak Digital Economy Awards form part of this broader effort by recognising organisations and individuals developing digital solutions with applications across the state.