A locally developed seedball machine gives Sarawak another tool for restoring forests in hard-to-reach areas, with a stated capacity of up to 3,000 seedballs a day. The machine was developed through a collaboration between the Sarawak Forest Department and the University of Technology Sarawak, according to DayakDaily’s Oct 21 report of Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah’s legislative assembly winding-up speech. The capacity figure describes how many seedballs the machine can produce. It is not a count of trees planted or surviving, and the report does not give a germination rate, restored area or deployment schedule. For forest rehabilitation, those outcomes remain separate from the speed at which material can be prepared. Awang Tengah presented the machine as an additional practical option for restoration programmes, particularly where access is difficult. The update concerns work by the department and university; it does not announce distribution of machines or seedballs to the public. The local significance lies in applying university and forestry expertise to an operational problem. The next useful measure is how the equipment contributes to restoration on the ground, rather than treating its maximum daily output as a finished forest.

A school-cleaning task became the basis of SMK Long Bedian's winning national STEM project: a camera identifies waste, then opens the bin for the appropriate category. The Baram school took first place at the Petrosains Tech4All 2026 National Level Competition in Kuala Lumpur on October 12, DayakDaily reported from the organiser's release. The competition was held at Petrosains, The Discovery Centre—not at the school in Sarawak. Called S.O.R.T., the project combines Arduino coding, a camera and AI tools including Teachable Machine to distinguish cans, plastic and paper. Its stated purpose is to make sorting easier for the school's cleaner while helping students practise waste separation. That is a practical school prototype, not evidence that an automated recycling system has been rolled out across Baram. The report gives no tested accuracy rate or wider deployment plan, so the award should not be read as a claim that the system can identify every type of rubbish. The national competition brought together 40 students and 20 teachers from ten schools across six states. For Sarawak's STEM learning, the distinctive result is the use of coding and image recognition on a familiar local task, rather than technology presented only as a classroom exercise.

Sarawak's planned Quantum Safe Centre is intended to help organisations prepare their existing encryption systems for post-quantum requirements, rather than provide a new quantum-computing service. IBM Malaysia and the Sarawak Artificial Intelligence Centre (SAIC) set out the collaboration in an October 6 announcement. They plan a centre supporting research, skills development and practical adoption of quantum-safe technologies, with potential programmes for SMEs, larger businesses and public-sector agencies. One proposed tool is IBM Guardium Cryptography Manager. The partners say it would help organisations identify and inventory the cryptography they already use, prioritise risks and prepare changes. That places the emphasis on understanding existing systems before a transition, not on a claim that Sarawak's networks have already been upgraded. For local businesses, the planned customer programmes and demonstrations are the part to watch. The announcement does not give a centre address, opening date, enrolment process or service prices. Its wording remains a plan to establish the facility and explore services; it does not establish that an organisation can book them now. The partnership also aims to develop technology talent across East Malaysia. No completed migration, tested security result or guarantee against cyberattacks was announced.

Imasa Dinasti Sdn Bhd and SDEC Karuna JV Sdn Bhd have reached a memorandum of understanding to explore smart mobility, EV infrastructure, intelligent urban systems and digital technology for Kenyalang Smart City in Miri, The Borneo Post reported on October 5. The report says the MoU documents were exchanged on October 4 during IDECS 2026 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), in Kuching. BCCK was the event venue; the Kenyalang Smart City project is in Miri. The areas for exploration include EV charging and energy management, intelligent building systems, smart street lighting, AI-enabled city management and environmental monitoring, as well as integrating devices with the development’s digital platforms. The report gives no rollout schedule, first-phase locations or customer prices, so the collaboration remains exploratory rather than a confirmed deployment.

The engineering question raised in Kuching reaches beyond one gadget: how can exams stay credible when AI can generate or display answers? For Sarawak's universities, schools and engineering students, that is the practical issue behind Thursday's fireside chat. Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Tun Openg said future engineers may need to develop technology capable of spotting AI-generated answers. He was referring to a report he had read about AI-enabled glasses that could provide answers, not to a proven incident in a Sarawak exam. The exchange took place during the 34th FEIAP General Assembly and World Engineering Congress at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching. Hosted by the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia, the regional gathering runs from Sept 2 to 4. The session announced no new Sarawak examination rule, detector purchase, trial, budget or implementation date; any classroom or examination change would require a separate decision from the relevant education authorities.

More US companies are looking at Sarawak for green energy, technology and high-impact industrial projects. [image: 1785233094122-us_green_energy_20260728.jpg] Photo: DayakDaily United States Embassy in Malaysia Chargé d’Affaires ad interim David Gamble said Sarawak's location in Asean, renewable energy strength, natural resources and skilled workforce are drawing investor interest. He said American companies are especially watching renewable energy projects, where US technology could support hydroelectric systems, power-grid monitoring and other high-tech solutions. Why it matters Sarawak wants to grow its green energy and industrial base. US firms are looking beyond capital investment, with training and technology transfer also part of the pitch. Sarawak's energy capacity could also support the wider Asean Power Grid plan. Gamble said the first visit is usually the hardest step for investors. Once companies have operated in Sarawak, many choose to keep expanding here. Location: Sarawak / Kuching Hot Score: 24/30 Source: DayakDaily What kind of investment should Sarawak focus on next?

Sarawak says it is moving closer to producing a new semiconductor chip that can split light without generating heat. [image: 1783850638039-sarawak-chip.jpg] Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the chip is part of Sarawak's push into the new economy and advanced semiconductor work. He said Sarawak is developing a gallium nitride-based chip, a material he described as better than silicon for this purpose. The design work, he added, is being handled by Sarawakian talent. Abang Johari also said Sarawak is working on the world's first storage disk using a glass substrate instead of silicon. Why it matters This is not just another factory announcement. If the plan moves as described, Sarawak wants to be known for designing high-value tech products, not only hosting industrial projects. Location: Kuching / Sarawak Details: Abang Johari spoke at the Tanjong Lobang College Alumni Association Charity Dinner in Kuching on July 11. Source: DayakDaily What do you think?