Fostering Global Collaboration, Polibatam Showcases Innovations from 186 Teams at PBL Expo 2026
BATAM — Politeknik Negeri Batam (Polibatam) successfully held The 6th International PBL Expo 2026 from August 31 to September 2, 2026, at the TRAIN Building, Polibatam Campus. As one of the main programs of Pagelaran Teknovasi Polibatam 2026, this international event carried the theme “Your Idea Matters”, providing a platform for vocational students to showcase their work, exchange ideas, and build cross-border collaboration networks.
This year’s event recorded the participation of 186 teams comprising 372 participants from three countries, presenting various innovations across 12 Project-Based Learning (PBL) categories. These categories covered Technology & Automation, including Internet of Things, Robotics & AI, Automation Systems, Networking & Cybersecurity, and Web & Mobile Applications; Manufacturing & Design, including Appropriate Technology, Manufacturing Fabrication Process, Manufactured Fabrication Products, and Design Concepts; as well as Creative & Business, which included Animation & Videography, Business/Entrepreneurship/Startup & E-Commerce, and Scientific Papers.
The international atmosphere was further strengthened by the participation of eight higher education institutions from Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia, namely Polibatam, Universitas Ibnu Sina, Politeknik Elektronika Negeri Surabaya (PENS), Universitas Riau, Politeknik Negeri Manado, Politeknik Negeri Jakarta, Singapore Polytechnic, and Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP). The event was also attended by judges and delegates from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP), further expanding opportunities for interaction and collaboration among higher education institutions in the region.
Director of Politeknik Negeri Batam, Bambang Hendrawan, stated that the International PBL Expo serves as a platform connecting academia and industry while advancing vocational education through a project-based learning approach. Meanwhile, Project Leader of International PBL Expo 2026, Fuad Arif Rahman, emphasized the importance of collaboration in creating meaningful and sustainable impact. The projects showcased during the event demonstrated students’ ability to transform academic knowledge into practical solutions relevant to the needs of society and industry.
As a form of appreciation for the participants’ creativity and innovation, Polibatam provided total prizes of up to USD 3,000 across the 12 main categories. In addition to awards in each category, several special recognitions were also presented, including Best Innovation to Industry, Best Partnership for Downstreaming, Best Readiness for Market, and Best Commercial Impact. These awards recognized not only the quality of innovation but also the potential for implementation, downstream development, commercialization, and market readiness.
Entering its sixth edition since first being held in 2021, the International PBL Expo continues to grow as a meeting point for student innovation, higher education institutions, and partners from across countries. Through the spirit of “Your Idea Matters,” Polibatam continues to foster a collaborative, applicable, and solution-oriented PBL ecosystem while strengthening vocational education networks at both regional and international levels.
Greetings from Polibatam
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