Innovation challenge win a major boost for Sarawakian tech firm

KUCHING (Feb 13): A Sarawak-based climate-technology and land intelligence company has brought pride to the nation after being announced a winner of the Malaysia-Japan Fast Track Pitch 2025 Innovation Challenge, under ‘IHI Corporation Challenge #2: Forest Natural Capital Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV)’.

Evolving Brilliance Technologies Sdn Bhd (EB Tech) was the only Sarawakian company to secure a winning position at the prestigious innovation platform, implemented by Japan’s Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, and the Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro).

EB Tech was represented by Dr Ashweein Narayanan at the final pitch and awards ceremony in Kuala Lumpur last week, where the company presented its proprietary digital MRV (dMRV) and carbon intelligence platform.

“Our winning solution positions the company as the MRV and carbon monetisation layer for IHI’s ‘NeXT FOREST’ initiative – an advanced forest value maximisation platform integrating satellite and geospatial technologies.

“The collaboration concept combines IHI’s satellite-based forest monitoring capabilities with EB Tech’s ‘CarbonGuard dMRV’ engine to enable high-integrity carbon credit generation under international standards such as Verra and Gold Standard.

“IHI’s NeXT FOREST initiative is designed to generate reliable carbon credits using advanced biomass estimation methods and satellite data, including hyperspectral capabilities from its newly-launched satellite, IHI-SAT2, supporting high-accuracy forest carbon monitoring,” said EB Tech in a statement.

It added that following the award, it would be setting sights towards exploring a proof of concept (PoC) in Sarawak, leveraging the state’s unique land and forest resources to strengthen land asset governance, accelerate carbon project development, and improve transparency and monitoring for large-scale natural capital initiatives.

“The proposed PoC would enable Sarawak stakeholders to digitally map and manage land assets through artificial intelligence (AI)-powered monitoring and geospatial intelligence; establish reliable baseline carbon stock and biomass estimation; strengthen forest protection and restoration planning through continuous monitoring, and; build a credible pathway to high-integrity carbon projects and nature-positive outcomes,” it elaborated.

EB Tech also credited the achievement to the innovation ecosystem in Sarawak and Malaysia, acknowledging long-term support from key enablers including Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Sarawak (Tegas), Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), MRANTI Corporation, Cradle Fund, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Bioeconomy Corporation and national start-up development platforms.

The Malaysia-Japan Fast Track Pitch marked the inaugural Malaysian edition of the initiative, which was launched to mark the 50th anniversary of the Japan-Asean friendship and cooperation in 2023.

Proposals were received from 111 start-ups, primarily from Japan and Malaysia, from which 14 were selected to present their proposals at the main pitching event in Kuala Lumpur.