The international event, the 2026 Maju Gemilang Jaya Innovation and Technology Awards, held at the Sabah International Convention Centre, Malaysia, on Saturday (11/7/2026), served as an important stage for strengthening cross-border innovation collaboration. The prestigious event was attended by several key Malaysian government figures, including Datin Seri Panglima Datuk Hajjah Juliah Salak, wife of the Chief Minister of Sabah, and Dato Hajjah Hanifah Hajjah Taib.
The success of this event caught the attention of Novanita Puspa Kencana, a doctoral student at Muhammadiyah University of Palangka Raya (UMPR), who highlighted the urgency of modernization in managing regional potential. According to her, reliance on conventional management methods is no longer relevant for sustaining economic growth in today's digital era.
Novanita emphasized that Central Kalimantan possesses abundant natural resources, but requires the integration of appropriate technology to deliver real added value. Innovation is believed to be capable of driving job creation while boosting the competitiveness of local products in a broader market.
She expressed high hopes for the younger generation to play a key role as the driving force behind technology-based economic transformation in Bumi Tambun Bungai. The synergy between natural wealth and technological mastery is expected to position Central Kalimantan as a resilient, independent, and sustainable economic pillar in the future.
