UBD Hosts IHEEC on Enterpreneurship, Innovation and Commercialisation
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 12th November 2025 – Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) successfully held the inaugural International Higher Education Summit and Exhibition on Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Commercialisation (IHEEIC 2025) from 11th to 12th November 2025 at Chancellor Hall, UBD. Organised by the Office of the Assistant Vice-Chancellor for Industry Engagement and Enterprise Development (IEED) and supported by the Office of the Assistant Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Sustainability (RIS), the two-day summit represents a significant milestone for higher education innovation in Brunei Darussalam and the Southeast Asian region.
The summit convened leaders from academia, industry, government and the entrepreneurial ecosystem to advance innovation-driven development through higher education. Minister of Education Yang Berhormat Datin Seri Setia Dr Hajah Romaizah Haji Mohd Salleh officiated the event and emphasised the critical role of entrepreneurship and innovation in advancing national economic diversification and sustainable development.
A Regional Innovation Imperative
Dr Haji Masairol Haji Masri, Assistant Vice-Chancellor of IEED and Chairperson of the IHEEIC 2025 Committee, highlighted the region’s transformation: “Across Southeast Asia, the innovation landscape is transforming rapidly. The region’s digital economy has grown from US $12 billion in 2016 to over US $100 billion in 2023, an eight-fold increase within a decade. More than 70 million MSMEs employ about 85 percent of ASEAN’s workforce, supported by one of the world’s youngest and most entrepreneurial populations, over 700 million people, nearly half under the age of 30.”
He emphasised that universities must extend their mission beyond traditional education: “We must become key enablers of innovation, technology transfer, and research commercialisation that create tangible and lasting impact. Innovation flourishes when education and enterprise are seamlessly integrated.”
The summit was supported by the Ministry of Education, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the ASEAN University Network for University Innovation and Enterprise (AUN-UIE).
Programme Highlights
Under the theme “Higher Education at the Crossroads: Empowering the Triple Engine of Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Commercialisation,” the programme included two keynote addresses, four panel discussions, a roundtable discussion for Higher Education Leaders co-drafting a “Brunei Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative” framework, a Mentor Hot Seat, a UNDP Public Youth Dialogue, the Venture Pitch Award, and an Innovation Festival.
The summit attracted 403 participants from seven countries—Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia and India. The Innovation Festival received 81 project submissions across four categories, collectively addressing all United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Moving Forward
Dr Masairol affirmed that “This summit is more than a conference—it is a collective commitment to redefine the role of higher education in shaping our future.” UBD remains committed to building on the partnerships and momentum generated by this inaugural summit to advance regional collaboration in higher education innovation and entrepreneurship.
(Source: UBD Website)