top of page
Search

Beyond the Awards: What Young Innovators Learned at ICIA 2026

  • Writer: ICIA Global
    ICIA Global
  • Jun 9
  • 3 min read

Winning an award is often seen as the highlight of an innovation journey. But for many participants at the International Creativity and Innovation Award (ICIA) 2026 Cambodia & Indonesia, the experience was about much more than recognition.


Behind every project presentation, prototype, and achievement was a valuable lesson about creativity, collaboration, problem-solving, and making a meaningful impact on society.


As ICIA continues to connect young innovators from around the world, participants leave with something even more valuable than medals and trophies: perspectives that shape their future journeys.


Innovation Is About Creating Positive Impact

For Putluru Dhanvin Sai Reddy, Grand Awardee in the Inventor Wannabe category, ICIA became a platform to understand the deeper purpose of innovation.


Rather than focusing solely on creating something new, the experience taught him that innovation can become a powerful tool to improve lives and contribute to a better world.


“Through this journey, I learned that innovation is not only about creating something new, but also about sharing ideas that can help people and make the world better.”

His reflection highlights one of the core values of ICIA: encouraging young innovators to transform ideas into meaningful solutions that can inspire others and create positive change.


Impact Can Start Today

For Team AI Eco Ally, represented by Tanwa Namwong and Samart Limlenglert, ICIA 2026 proved that meaningful contributions do not require waiting for the perfect moment, unlimited resources, or years of experience.


Their journey demonstrated that determination and action can turn ideas into practical solutions that address real-world challenges.


“This experience showed us that we do not need to wait to make an impact. Even at our level, with limited resources, we were able to design, build, and deploy a working solution that addresses a real issue.”

Their experience serves as an inspiring reminder that innovation begins when people choose to act on problems they care about and work toward creating solutions.


Learning From a Global Community of Innovators

For the team behind TRACE — Liu Huan Xuan, Keith Lee Yee Hern, and Liu Huan Yuan — one of the most valuable aspects of ICIA was the opportunity to learn from fellow innovators from different countries and backgrounds.


By exploring projects, exchanging ideas, and observing how others approached challenges, they gained new perspectives that expanded their own thinking.


“One of the biggest takeaways from ICIA was just from walking around and seeing what other teams had built. Everyone approached their problems differently, and that exposure to different ways of thinking was genuinely eye-opening for us.”

Their reflection demonstrates how innovation thrives in environments where curiosity, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing come together.


More Than a Competition

These reflections reveal a common theme across ICIA 2026 participants: innovation is not just about winning awards.


It is about learning how to create impact, discovering the confidence to solve real problems, and connecting with a global community of changemakers. Every project presented at ICIA carries a unique story, a challenge worth solving, and a lesson that can inspire others.


Whether participants were recognized as Grand Awardees or were presenting their ideas for the first time, each innovation contributed to a larger mission of building a better future through creativity and problem-solving.


Watch the Project Presentations from ICIA 2026

Want to see the innovative ideas that inspired these reflections?


Explore the ICIA 2026 Project Presentation Playlist on the Krya Global YouTube Channel and discover how young innovators from around the world transformed ideas into impactful solutions.


From sustainability initiatives and AI-powered technologies to community-driven innovations and creative inventions, the presentations showcase the passion, dedication, and ingenuity that define the ICIA experience.


Watch the playlist below and be inspired by the next generation of innovators.


ICIA Reflection:


Startup Innovation Weekend:



Innovation Challenge:


Teach ME Award:


 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page