KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 2): The ASEAN Makerthon 2019 is unique in that it will for the first time run on the closed 5G network.

The three-day event, from today until Dec 4, requires participants to produce physical prototypes related to 5G, in line with the theme: 'Impact of the 5G Revolution towards Industrial Revolution 4.0'.

It serves as a platform for those involved to gain experience in coming up with innovative solutions, featuring the benefits of 5G.

It is organised by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in collaboration with ARM, Celcom Axiata Berhad, Ericsson Malaysia and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).

“This year, the big difference is that we're having 5G infrastructure and services to support the Makerthon and we hope to see more collaborations on the 5G (technology) in the future,” MCMC chief corporate officer Datuk Mohd Ali Hanafiah Mohd Yunus said after launching ASEAN Makerthon 2019 here today.

Taking place at the Innovation Centre of 5G (IC5G) UTM-Ericsson at UTM Kuala Lumpur campus, the competition is open to members of ASEAN as well as ASEAN TELSOM Dialogue Partners such as China, Japan, South Korea, India, the European Union and the United States.

Prototypes made by the participants will be evaluated by a panel of judges consisting of companies or institutions with expertise in the field of Industrial Revolution, 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT), based on four main criteria — ideas presented, prototypes, business model and presentation.

In a statement, MCMC said the winner will take home a US$5,000 cash prize, while those placed second and third will get US$3,000 and US$1,000 respectively.

ASEAN Makerthon was last held in 2017. — Bernama