Festival of Ideas (FOI) Pulau Pinang 2025: Making Penang a Hub for Innovation and Collaboration

The Festival of Ideas (FOI) Pulau Pinang 2025 took place on 24–25 October 2025 at the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC), bringing together an inspiring mix of thinkers, policymakers, industry leaders, and members of the public from across the Northern region. The festival served as a dynamic platform to make Penang a hub for fresh ideas, strategic thinking, and global innovation, addressing challenges and shaping solutions for the future of Penang, Malaysia, and the world.

Under the theme of synergy and collaboration, FOI 2025 embodied the spirit of working together across sectors and borders to drive continuous progress, development, and prosperity for all. The event saw strong participation from ministries, government agencies, and industries under a “whole-of-government” approach, emphasizing the power of shared vision and cooperative effort.

The Centre for Chemical Biology (CCB), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) proudly took part in the festival by setting up an open booth at Hall 5, led by Dr. Lau Nyok Sean and Puan Noorizan Miswan. The booth showcased CCB’s research excellence, innovation projects, and community engagement initiatives, drawing significant interest from visitors eager to learn about the latest advancements in biosciences and sustainable technologies.

The participation was further strengthened by the presence of CCB’s Director, Associate Professor Dr. Rashidah Abdul Rahim who also attended the event and visited the exhibition area. The Director’s involvement reflected CCB’s strong commitment to fostering collaboration, promoting research visibility, and contributing to national and global innovation ecosystems.

In addition, CCB lecturers, staff, and students attended the FOI Forum “Smart Health for All: Driving SDG3 through Inclusive Innovation” held at Hall 4. The forum highlighted the importance of inclusive health solutions and how innovation can play a crucial role in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3): Good Health and Well-Being.

The Festival of Ideas Pulau Pinang 2025 successfully underscored the importance of collaboration between academia, industry, and government in driving meaningful change. With its focus on open dialogue, creativity, and shared purpose, FOI continues to strengthen Penang’s position as a beacon of innovation, sustainability, and forward-thinking development.