UPM Grabs Second Title in National Space Imaging Payload Design Competition

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, November 21, 2025 – Universiti Putra Malaysia has clinched its second title at the National Space Imaging Payload Competition, as Team Maverick04 was named Champion at the Grand Finale, held on October 29 at the Malaysian Space Agency Technology Complex, Banting. Organized by Cybernet Systems Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (CYBERNET) in collaboration with Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), the competition is a space-themed optical engineering simulation event designed to nurture the next generation of engineers.

Team PETROBOTS from Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS finished as Runner-up, while HelioSat USM from Universiti Sains Malaysia claimed third place in a tightly contested final round. Teams representing International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Gombak and University of Malaya were also among the finalists.

Back row, from left to right: Mohamad Nadzri Tahir (Senior VP, UZMA Space and Defense), Ron Chiong (Founder and Managing Partner, Perpetual Space Ventures), Azri Azizi (Account Representative, ANSYS, Inc), Arnie Cheng (CEO, CYBERNET MALAYSIA), Dr Naimah Mat Isa (UiTM), Dr. Lila Iznita Bt Izhar (1st Runner-up, PETROBOTS – Mentor, Senior Lecturer, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS), Dr. Fatimah Zaharah Ali (Senior Lecturer, UiTM), Dr. Hidayatullah Mohammad Ali (Champions, Maverick04 – Mentor, Senior Lecturer, Universiti Putra Malaysia), Logesh Kumar Selvakumar (2nd Runner-up, HelioSat USM, Universiti Sains Malaysia), Mohamad Haizul Hakime bin Kaniman (Representative, Universiti Sains Malaysia), Dr. Idahwati Sarudin (2nd Runner-up, HelioSat USM – Mentor, Senior Lecturer, Universiti Sains Malaysia), Lee Chon Kiat (NTU Satellite Research Centre (SaRC), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Fais Mansor (IEEE), Dr. Terence Jerome Daim (MYSA)

Front row, from left to right: Loganetraa Kulothunkan and Lim Wei Yin (1st Runner-up, PETROBOTS, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS), Muhammad Adil Danial Bin Arafat, Muhammad Luqman Adam Bin Samsuri, and Nur Khalilah Firzana Binti Khairuddin (Champions, Maverick04, Universiti Putra Malaysia), Muhammad Haikal Bin Anuar (1st Runner-up, PETROBOTS, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS), Ng Jim Pong (Chief Organizer – Sales Manager, CYBERNET MALAYSIA)

“As a leading CAE solutions provider in Asia, CYBERNET hopes that through this kind of exchange, engineers across Asia will have more opportunities to interact and learn from one another. We are also willing to share experiences such as CYBERNET Japan’s expertise in the space industry with MYSA and other Malaysian engineers,”

said Arnie Cheng, CEO of CYBERNET MALAYSIA, who welcomed participants and invited guests at the Grand Finale opening.

Prof Ir Dr Ahmad Farid Abidin @ Bharun, Dean at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, also delivered a welcome note, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between academia and industry in advancing space-related engineering education.

“Today’s competition is not merely a technical challenge, it is a celebration of innovation, collaboration, and talent development. It offers participants a rare chance to gain hands-on experience with advanced optical design tools, under the mentorship of leading professionals and experts,”

said Prof Ir Dr Ahmad Farid.

“To the participants, I would like to say: Congratulations. You are not just finalists; you are trailblazers in your own right. Regardless of the final result today, your commitment and courage to step into this challenging domain marks you as future leaders in engineering and innovation,”

he further added.

First row, from left to right – Arnie Cheng (CEO, CYBERNET MALAYSIA), Prof Ir Dr. Ahmad Farid Abidin @ Bharun (Dean, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA​), YBhg. Dato’ Gs. Haji Azlikamil Napiah​ (Director General, Malaysian Space Agency)​
Second row, from left to right – Syuhaimi Kassim ​ (Application Engineer, ANSYS, Inc), Mohamad Nadzri Tahir (Senior VP, UZMA Space and Defense), Lee Chon Kiat (NTU Satellite Research Centre (SaRC)

The Grand Finale was officiated by YBhg. Dato’ Gs. Haji Azlikamil Napiah, Director General of Malaysian Space Agency.

“This initiative highlights the strong collaboration between industry, academia, and government agencies in nurturing the interest and talent of young Malaysians in space science and technology. Such participation is essential for strengthening the nation’s future talent ecosystem, particularly in mission planning, optical engineering, and satellite technology.

This is in line with National Space Policy 2030 (DAN2030). By 2030, Malaysia aims for the space sector to contribute at least 1% or RM10 billion to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP); create up to 5,000 new job opportunities; generate RM40 million in data market revenue; and position the country among the top three in Southeast Asia for space technology research and development.

Events such as the National Space Imaging Payload Competition therefore play a strategic role in supporting these aspirations and in driving the nation’s advancement in the space domain,”

said Director General who also emphasized the importance of such initiatives in inspiring innovation and building national capabilities in space technology.

Launched in July and concluded in October in conjunction with World Space Week – Malaysia Chapter, the competition was open to all academic institutes in Malaysia. Eight engineering student teams from five top-ranking universities registered, and five teams advanced to the finals.

In the preliminary stages, all teams were required to submit a full technical report on one of four predefined, space telescope–based design themes to qualify for the Grand Finale presentations. Themes included: Compact Space Telescope for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) suitable for CubeSat deployment, Wide-Field Space Survey Telescope, and Near-Infrared Space Telescope design.

All registered teams were provided with Ansys Zemax OpticStudio software licenses and full access to the Ansys Learning Hub. They also received comprehensive technical training on OpticStudio from CYBERNET and Satellite Optic Theory by UiTM, followed by group consultation sessions with an optical application engineer.

At the Grand Finale, a panel of judges comprising leaders from academic, research, and commercial organizations, as well as entrepreneurs and engineering simulation specialists, evaluated the projects using exhaustive rubric. Finalists were assessed on their problem-solving & systems-level thinking, engineering innovation, optical modeling & optical system simulation software skills, engineering feasibility of the final product, and scientific rigor & research value. The finalists also received marks for their communication & presentation skills.

Champions – Team Maverick04, Universiti Putra Malaysia

“The competition was a remarkable journey for our team. Designing a lens for a compact satellite for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) gave us hands-on exposure to real aerospace applications. We’re deeply grateful for the guidance from our mentors and the teamwork that made this success possible. It’s a milestone that fuels our excitement for future innovations.”

–  Khalilah Firzana, Team Maverick04.

Finalist teams also had the rare opportunity to join a guided tour of the Malaysian Space Agency Technology Complex, gaining first-hand exposure to real-world applications of the technologies they studied and simulated.

The National Space Imaging Payload Competition was co-organized by CYBERNET MALAYSIA, Universiti Teknologi MARA, and UNISEC Global, with support from the Malaysian Space Agency. ANSYS, Inc. served as the Platinum Sponsor, while IEEE Malaysia ComSoc & VTS Joint Chapter was the official Technical Support Partner.

About CYBERNET MALAYSIA

Empowering the Next Generation of Engineers – CYBERNET SYSTEMS MALAYSIA SDN.BHD. provides innovative digital engineering solutions to clients across the ASEAN region. Their solutions include engineering simulation software, technical consulting, engineering services, and training in areas such as CAE, Digital Transformation, Vehicle Dynamics, and Casting Simulation. By integrating CAE with IoT, Digital Twin, Big Data, and AI, they help clients build smart, connected, and data-driven engineering ecosystems.

As a wholly owned subsidiary of CYBERNET SYSTEMS CO., LTD., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan (est. 1985), CYBERNET MALAYSIA upholds Japanese precision, reliability, and technological excellence while leveraging the global expertise of group companies to support their clients throughout the ASEAN region. More details on: www.cybernet.asia

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