USM Hydrolink Among World’s Top 12 Teams at AAKRUTI Innovation Competition 2025

The USM Hydrolink team from the School of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), has brought international recognition to the nation by ranking among the Top 12 teams worldwide at the AAKRUTI Innovation Competition 2025. The global finals were held during 3DEXPERIENCE World in Houston, Texas, United States, from 1 to 4 February 2026.

AAKRUTI, a prestigious student-led international innovation competition powered by SOLIDWORKS on the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform, has grown from an India-based initiative in 2011 to a global innovation movement, engaging a total of 1,812 student teams from 504 higher education institutions worldwide. At the Houston finals, only 12 teams were invited to present their innovations to an international audience of industry leaders, highlighting the exceptional technical skill, creativity, and problem-solving ability of the USM Hydrolink team.

The competition also provided the USM students with a rare opportunity to meet Mr. Manish Kumar, CEO of SOLIDWORKS, allowing for meaningful exchanges and insights into emerging trends and the future of engineering design on a global scale.

The USM Hydrolink team consists of four undergraduate students—Kang Zhen Lin, Alif Danial Zulkipli, Siew Wei Hong, and Darren Tong Kai Xuan—under the guidance of Associate Professor Dr. Mohd Salman Abu Mansor.

This achievement reflects the robust educational approach at the School of Mechanical Engineering, USM, where students are introduced to SOLIDWORKS from their first year and use it extensively in engineering design, analysis, and project-based learning. Such comprehensive exposure ensures that graduates are industry-ready, globally competitive, and equipped to tackle contemporary engineering challenges.