KUCHING: The Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) has officially opened submissions for the Digital Economy Awards 2026 (DEA2026), the state's platform recognising excellence in digital innovation and transformation, it said in a statement on Thursday.

Organised in conjunction with the International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak 2026 (IDECS26) under the theme "Scaling Innovation Ecosystems for a Borderless Economy: Earth, Orbit and Beyond," DEA2026 recognises measurable, evidence-based digital initiatives across industry, government, research, entrepreneurship, the creative economy and sustainability.

The awards are open to industries, private-sector companies, startups, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), government-linked companies (GLCs), institutions of higher learning, research organisations, non-governmental organisations, public agencies, digital creators and individuals across Sarawak.

DEA2026 features seven award categories, five of which carry newly revised names this year to better reflect current industry developments, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors and talent.

These are the Digital Technology Award, recognising digital transformation initiatives that modernise operations, services or business models; the Research & Development Award, for applied research and innovation with real-world commercialisation potential; the AI Innovations Award, for artificial intelligence-driven solutions creating measurable impact; the Digital Creative Industry Award, for innovation in digital content, media and the creative economy; the Smart Solution Award, for smart, scalable digital solutions addressing real operational or community challenges; the Digital Government Award, for digital transformation in public sector service delivery; and the Environmental Sustainability Award, for digital initiatives advancing environmental and sustainability outcomes.

The statement said previous DEA winners are also encouraged to submit new initiatives, adding that each project may only be submitted under one award category, and only innovations based in Sarawak are eligible.

Submissions for DEA2026 opened on 6 July 2026 and will close on 6 September 2026, with the full entry kit, category descriptions, eligibility requirements and evaluation criteria available at digitaleconomyawards.com.

DEA2026 finalists will be shortlisted following an evaluation and pitching process, with winners to be announced at the IDECS2026 Gala Dinner on 5 October 2026.

Since its inception in 2018, DEA has served as Sarawak's state-level platform for recognising outstanding achievements in digital innovation and transformation, and is organised by SMA as part of IDECS26, which brings together global leaders in technology, policy and investment to explore advancements in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, talent and workforce development, and the space economy.

SMA is a regulatory body established under Section 3 of the Sarawak Multimedia Authority Ordinance 2017, tasked with leading, overseeing and facilitating the development of communication, multimedia and the state's digital economy initiatives. -UKASnews

Translator : Uilson Ng