Smart sustainability meets innovation in Brunei as students’ invention earns Silver Medal and Third Place award

A moment of triumph unfolded at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Brunei when Team Pulse Technologies from the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) was awarded Third Place in the prestigious ASEAN – New Invention & Innovation Category at the Crown Prince CIPTA Award 2025. 

Selected from among 16 national teams across Southeast Asia, the team’s exceptional achievement was celebrated in grand fashion during a distinguished ceremony held on 2 July at the Plenary Hall, ICC Brunei, where they received the award from none other than His Royal Highness Prince Dr Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, Crown Prince of Brunei Darussalam.

The three APU students—Thanigai Kumaran Muthukumaran, Kiew Zheng Wei, and Kevin M Das—are Year-3 students pursuing their Bachelor of Mechatronic Engineering with Honours. 

Their invention, GreenPulse, won accolades for its revolutionary approach to carbon sequestration, ultimately earning them an Overall Silver Medal across 97 entries and a cash prize of BND$3,000, along with a trophy and certificates. 

GreenPulse: A Vision of Circular Sustainability

The team’s standout project, titled “GreenPulse: Design and Development of an Optimised Algal Photobioreactor for Enhanced CO₂ Sequestration for ASEAN Implementation”, is a smart, modular system engineered to tackle industrial carbon emissions by converting CO₂ into useful biomass through Chlorella microalgae.

“Our solution, GreenPulse, addresses the urgent challenge of rising carbon emissions in ASEAN through a smart, modular, AI-driven algal photobioreactor (PBR) system designed for industrial applications. It leverages microalgae to capture atmospheric or industrial CO₂ and convert it into biomass,” explained Thanigai Kumaran, Team Lead.

What elevated their innovation from concept to competition-winning calibre was the strategic integration of smart technology. The bioreactor is embedded with AI-powered predictive models, real-time IoT sensor feedback, and a centralised dashboard, converting a conventional algae system into a fully automated, intelligent, and remotely operable solution.

“It enables clean energy through biomass conversion into biohydrogen and biodiesel, and encourages responsible consumption by utilising industrial emissions and converting waste into valuable products, fully embracing the circular economy—especially in high industry (Oil and Gas) prone countries like Brunei,” Thanigai elaborated further.

Recognising Ingenuity: CIPTA's Role in Innovation

The Crown Prince CIPTA Award, inaugurated in 2005, is a biennial competition hosted by Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) and supported by Brunei LNG Sdn Bhd, aiming to inspire scientific, technological and engineering innovations across the region. 

CIPTA—which stands for Creative, Innovative Product and Technological Advancement—aligns closely with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Brunei’s national sustainability agenda.

This year’s theme, “Green Innovations”, encouraged contestants to contribute practical, forward-thinking solutions to pressing environmental challenges. APU’s GreenPulse project stood out for its alignment with multiple SDGs, including: SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. 

A Team Effort Fuelled by Vision and Mentorship

Guided by Professor Ir EUR ING Dr Vinesh Thiruchelvam, APU’s Chief Innovation & Enterprise Officer, and Ts Suresh Gobee, Senior Lecturer and Head of the Asia Pacific Centre of Robotics Research (APCoRE), Team Pulse Technologies was able to blend academic excellence with entrepreneurial acumen.

“Our students have taken a design thinking approach to pursuing a sustainable solution engineered in an agile manner. This methodology is based on the nurturing and training they receive, specifically while engaging at our research centres,” commented Prof Vinesh, beaming with pride.

The students credited their success to four core pillars:

• A diverse and passionate team combining hardware, software and systems expertise;
• Expert mentorship from APU faculty and industry professionals;
• Relentless persistence during the prototyping and debugging phases;
• And a unified mission to deliver real-world, sustainable innovation.
   

What’s Next for GreenPulse?

The team now sets its sights on the future. “Our next step is to transform GreenPulse from a functional prototype into an industry-grade automation product,” they shared.

“We aim to upgrade the hardware for durability, scalability, and compliance with industrial standards. To achieve this, we plan to secure research grants, government funding, and industry partnerships that will support further development, testing, and deployment across real-world industrial environments.”

Their ambition reflects a long-term vision—one where GreenPulse becomes a practical tool in the global climate solution toolkit.

A Message to Future Innovators

To aspiring inventors, sustainability champions, and dreamers, Thanigai offered heartfelt advice: “The world doesn’t need perfect ideas—it needs brave ones.

If you have a vision that blends technology with positive impact, don’t wait for ideal conditions. Start small, learn fast, and iterate boldly.

The journey from concept to reality will stretch your thinking and test your limits, but the reward of creating something meaningful is worth it.

Surround yourself with people who challenge and inspire you, and let your passion lead the way.”

In essence, Team Pulse Technologies’ win serves as a beacon for purposeful innovation and a testament to APU’s commitment to shaping the future through technology, sustainability, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.