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ĐMST Quốc tế · International Innovation

i-CAPS 2026

25th International Students Multidisciplinary Design Camp

Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia · 1 – 7 February 2026

Theme: Tech Start-up for Small Businesses
General infoRound 1Attachments

General information

About the programme

The International Capstone Design Program (i-CAPS), also known as the International Students Multidisciplinary Design Camp (d-Camp), is an annual collaborative programme initiated by the Innovation Center for Engineering Education (i-CEE) of Jeonbuk National University, Korea.

2026 Theme

Tech Start-up for Small Businesses

Format

2 stages — Proposal (Feb) → Final (Aug)

Organizer

ICEE, Chungnam National University

i-CAPS is an engineering-based programme in which multidisciplinary student teams collaborate to develop a design proposal and ultimately invent or design a prototype that addresses real community concerns. For the 2026 edition, the theme “Tech Start-up for Small Businesses” focuses on empowering local entrepreneurs and micro-enterprises through creative technology applications and entrepreneurial innovation.

The programme runs in two stages. The first stage, held in February in a partnering country, centres on presenting the capstone design proposal. The second stage takes place in South Korea in August as the final competition and prototype demonstration. Between the two stages, each team completes its prototype over roughly six to eight months.

How the programme is structured

Current

Round 1 · Stage 1

February 2026 · Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

Design workshops and presentation of the capstone design proposal.

Interim

April – June 2026 · Home university

Teams build the prototype over roughly 6–8 months, with a 2nd interim presentation.

Round 2 · Final Camp

August 2026 · South Korea

i-CAPS final competition and demonstration of completed prototypes.

The 2026 challenge

Theme, scope & objectives

Small businesses are the backbone of local economies, yet often struggle to adopt digital tools, automation and online platforms. Teams blend creativity, business sense and technology to turn ideas into viable start-ups.

Project guidelines

  • Convergent technologies — IoT, sensors, Arduino, 3D printing, SNS, internet apps, drones and more.
  • Outcome — environment-friendly virtual and scaled prototype models.

Team assessment areas

CommunicationTask managementDecision-makingConflict resolutionStudent reflection

Project scope & focus areas

  • Digital Tools for SMEs

    Inventory management, e-commerce, POS or accounting solutions.

  • Mobile Apps

    Apps that connect small vendors with customers or suppliers.

  • Sustainable Business Tech

    Green packaging, eco-friendly production aids or energy tracking.

  • Low-Cost Automation

    Tools that simplify production, packaging or logistics.

  • AI & Data for Small Business

    Predicting trends, managing customers or optimizing sales.

Learning objectives

  • Apply design thinking and engineering principles to develop feasible solutions.
  • Experience cross-cultural teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration.
  • Transform ideas into prototype-level tech start-up concepts.
  • Strengthen pitching, presentation and entrepreneurial communication skills.

Impact

  • Foster creative, innovative thinking and competitiveness for Industry 4.0.
  • Build tolerance and effective communication across cultures and languages.
  • Produce innovative prototypes with commercial potential that benefit the community.

Consortium

Partner universities

Nine institutions across six countries collaborate on i-CAPS 2026.

South Korea

Lead consortium
  • Jeonbuk National University (lead)
  • Chungnam National University
  • Consortium of 9 Korean universities

Malaysia

Round 1 host
  • Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
  • Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS)

Indonesia

  • Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB)
  • Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS)
  • Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta

Singapore

  • Nanyang Technological University (NTU)

Taiwan

  • National Cheng Kung University (NCKU)

Vietnam

Home institution
  • Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST)

Logistics & support

For invited participants, Round 1 flight tickets (1 – 7 February), accommodation and meals are provided by CNU ICEE. The camp is based at a single venue for the full week.

  • Accommodation & venue

    Nexus Resort & Spa Karambunai, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

  • Travel window

    Arrival 1 February · Camp 2 – 6 February · Departure 7 February 2026

Organizer contact

Innovation Center for Engineering Education (ICEE)

Chungnam National University

Prof. Young-A Son — Program Chair, 25th d-Camp & Director, ICEE

HUST-side coordination is handled by the Student Innovation & Startup Center — see ourcontact page.

Stage 1 · February 2026

Round 1 — Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

Round 1 brings the consortium together for a week of design workshops, community outreach and the presentation of each team's capstone design proposal.

1 – 7 February 2026

Sunday to Saturday

Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Malaysia

Nexus Resort & Spa

Karambunai

Programme

Tentative day-by-day agenda — see the attached programme for full timings.

Sun · 1 Feb

Arrival & Transfer

  • Arrive at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (from 10:30)
  • UMS bus transfer to Nexus Resort & Spa Karambunai

Mon · 2 Feb

Opening Ceremony

  • Opening ceremony, ice-breaking and special lecture (13:30 – 17:00)
  • Dinner, followed by the i-CAPS team meeting (18:30 – 20:00)

Tue · 3 Feb

Community Outreach — Kundasang & Kampung Mesilou

  • Field trip to Desa Cattle Farm, Kundasang
  • Outreach activity at Kampung Mesilou Vegetable Farm
  • Community closing ceremony with traditional performance
  • Evening i-CAPS team meeting

Wed · 4 Feb

Design Team & Faculty Meetings

  • i-CAPS team meeting / faculty meeting (morning and afternoon)
  • Teams refine their capstone design proposals

Thu · 5 Feb

Final Presentation & Closing

  • i-CAPS 2026 presentation and evaluation (13:30 – 17:00)
  • Closing ceremony and banquet dinner (17:00 – 20:00)

Fri · 6 Feb

Cultural & Campus Tours

  • UMS campus tour — mosque, aquarium and museum
  • Monsopiad Heritage Village cultural tour
  • Kota Kinabalu city tour and dinner

Sat · 7 Feb

Departure

  • Check-out and transfer to Kota Kinabalu International Airport
  • Return flights home

Round 1 highlights

Capstone Proposal Presentation

Each multidisciplinary team presents its design proposal to professors and jurors, with formal evaluation on 5 February.

Design Workshops & Team Meetings

Guided collaboration to shape a feasible, technology-driven solution for the 2026 theme.

Community Outreach

Hands-on engagement at Kampung Mesilou, linking engineering ideas to real community needs.

Cross-Cultural Exchange

Live and work alongside student teams from six countries across Asia.

Next up — Round 2 (Final Camp)

The winning trajectory continues in August 2026 in South Korea, where teams present their completed prototypes at the i-CAPS final competition and demonstration. Details will be announced closer to the date.

Downloads

Attachments

Official i-CAPS 2026 Round 1 documents.

PDF · 17 slides

i-CAPS 2026 — Round 1 Brief

Overview slide deck covering the introduction, 2026 theme, project scope, learning objectives and assessment.

Open PDF
PDF · 4 pages

Round 1 — Tentative Programme

Day-by-day agenda for the camp in Kota Kinabalu, 1 – 7 February 2026, including venues and timings.

Open PDF