ITEX 2020 Goes Online

The International Invention, Innovation & Technology Exhibition (ITEX) will mark its 31st year with the new platform – ITEX Online that will be going ‘live’ this 20 November.

Since its inception in 1989, ITEX is organised annually in Kuala Lumpur and has grown to become the region’s leading exhibition to showcase new inventions, technologies and products, targeted at aspiring inventors from all walks of life to get recognised and to present their creations.

This year, amidst the global pandemic, ITEX Online was introduced to take centrestage with a convenient borderless invention platform to feature a community of inventors and a virtual sourcing marketplace for commercialisation.

YBhg Academician Emeritus Professor Tan Sri Datuk Dr Augustine S. H. Ong

YBhg Academician Emeritus Professor Tan Sri Datuk Dr Augustine S. H. Ong, the founding President of MINDS and Joint Organiser of ITEX said: “As the world races to find new solutions and take quantum leaps in the realm of technology, I continue to hold inventions close to my heart, and I take this opportunity to strengthen my conviction that the sky is the limit when it comes to creativity and ingenuity of the human mind.”

The digital age is well and truly upon us and reinvention continues to remain relevant as inventors and investors alike chart their new visionary path regardless of situation and space”, he continues.

The Online edition of ITEX this year became a new option in view of the worldwide travel restrictions due to the pandemic. As of today, inventors and innovations from 15 countries such as Australia, Canada, Croatia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Vietnam and Malaysia have gathered online to showcase close to 500 inventions on this platform, that will be made easily accessible within the finger tips, 24/7.

During which, the online judging of the ITEX Competition will take place from 12 – 16 November by a selected panel of judges and the winners will be announced in a virtual awards ceremony that will be held on 21 November on this platform.

Across the 2-day online experience, other activities will also highlight the virtual event, where visitors and audiences who are potential venture capitalists or investors can get in touch with the inventors for potential joint ventures or collaborate on the projects towards the road to commercialisation and vice versa, inventors can in the near future, could also participate in pitching sessions that will be organised in collaboration with relevant organisations.

Another highlight to ITEX Online this year is the concurrent World Young Inventors Exhibition (WYIE). WYIE aims to raise the awareness of budding inventors through new innovative approaches and to complement the enhanced STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) curriculum introduced in schools. More than 150 inventions from local schools across Malaysia are being featured in WYIE this year, along with schools from 9 other countries.

Most of all, as ITEX strongly advocates innovation with the passion to see the industry grow, participants, inventors, students and investors can also take this opportunity to keep up-to-date with the invention industry through a comprehensive programme line-up covering an opening ceremony, webinars, tech talks, awards ceremony and etc.

C.I.S President Dato’ Vincent Lim said: “We are pleased that our partnership with MINDS for ITEX has seen the exhibition growing from strength to strength, as a platform to nurture new inventions and innovations —towards securing investments, manufacturing, commercialisation prospects and partners.

“We hope this Online edition will reach out to an even a wider audience across the globe and be the digital sourcing marketplace for inventions and commercialisations”, he further added.

ITEX is jointly organised by the Malaysian Invention and Design Society (MINDS) and C.I.S Network Sdn Bhd (C.I.S). Highlights on ITEX 2020 Online Platform will take place virtually on:-

20 November 2020 (Friday)

10.00am - Virtual Opening Ceremony of ITEX Online by Guest of Honour, YB Datuk Seri Dr. Noraini Ahmad, Minister of Higher Education, Malaysia

2.30pm - Webinar: VC2E (Venture Capital to Entrepreneurs Talk) by MVCA

21 November (Saturday)

9.30am - Webinar: Tech Talk by AIPO (Association of IP Owners)

11.00am - Webinar: Tech Talk by IET (Institution of Engineering & Technology)

3.00pm - Virtual Ceremony for Local and International Winner Announcement