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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Bangladeshi student and young innovator Iftekhar Mahmud Safin has won the Champion title at the Students Biz Innov Challenge 2026, held as part of the University Research & Innovation Investment Summit (URIIS) 2026 in Malaysia.
The summit and competition were held at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) from September 21 to 23, bringing together participants and stakeholders from the higher education, research, business and investment sectors.
Safin applied independently from Bangladesh and progressed through multiple stages of the selection process before being selected as one of the Top 3 Asian finalists. Following this selection, he received fully funded participation to attend the Grand Finale in Kuala Lumpur.
At the live final held at WTCKL on September 23, Safin presented his project individually as the sole physical presenter representing Bangladesh and ultimately secured the Champion title.
His winning project, titled “SkillBridge ISA: Bridging Education, Skills and Employment through an Income Share Architecture,” proposes a research-based business and financial model aimed at addressing two interconnected challenges in education and workforce development — the gap between conventional academic education and the skills demanded by employers, and the financial barriers to acquiring industry-ready skills.
The SkillBridge ISA model is based on an Income Share Architecture (ISA), through which students can access industry-oriented training without paying course fees upfront.
Under the proposed model, corporate partners would finance training programmes based on their workforce and talent requirements. After completing the training and securing employment, participating students would repay the training costs through manageable instalments linked to their income.
The model is designed to create a closer connection between education, skills development and employment while reducing the financial barriers faced by students seeking industry-ready training.
Safin’s proposal is also designed to work alongside existing educational institutions rather than requiring the creation of an entirely separate education system. It emphasises relatively low-cost and scalable implementation without depending on expensive technological infrastructure.
The Students Biz Innov Challenge 2026 was held as part of URIIS 2026, a national initiative jointly organised by Malaysia’s Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) and Department of Higher Education (JPT), in collaboration with Malaysia’s public universities. URIIS serves as a platform connecting university research and innovation with industry, investors, government stakeholders and potential commercialisation opportunities.
According to Malaysia’s Ministry of Higher Education, URIIS 2026 brought together more than 1,000 participants from over 20 public and private universities, alongside industry leaders, investors, government agencies, researchers and innovators. The summit was officially opened by Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, on September 22.
Safin’s achievement marks an international recognition of a Bangladeshi student innovation project and highlights an alternative financing approach to addressing challenges in skills development and employment.
His victory has been formally recognised through the Champion trophy and the official “Champion — Students Biz Innov Challenge 2026” certificate.