Sarawak will showcase its next generation of technology capabilities at the ninth International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS) 2026, as the state looks to turn investments in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, deep technology and the emerging space economy into commercial opportunities and real-world applications.
Returning to the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) from 5 to 6 October 2026, IDECS26 will be held under the theme “Scaling Innovation Ecosystems for a Borderless Economy: Earth, Orbit and Beyond”.
The conference is jointly organised by the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) and Sarawak Information Systems (SAINS).
IDECS26 will bring together industry players, investors, researchers and policymakers to explore technologies expected to shape Sarawak’s next phase of economic development.
The conference will be officiated by Yang Amat Berhormat Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg, Premier of Sarawak and Patron of IDECS26, who will also deliver the opening address.
Four Priorities for Sarawak’s Technology Future
IDECS26 will focus on four key areas: Artificial Intelligence, Semiconductors, Digital Talent and the Emerging Space Economy.
These priorities reflect Sarawak’s efforts to strengthen local technological capabilities while expanding its participation in advanced industries.
The areas are also increasingly interconnected. Growth in AI and space-based technologies depends on semiconductor capabilities, while AI is becoming increasingly important in analysing and applying satellite and other forms of data.
For Sarawak, these technologies could support practical applications in areas including rural connectivity, environmental and forestry monitoring, disaster management, and public and industrial services.
Developing local talent across these fields will also be critical to ensuring more of the research, technical expertise and economic value generated by these industries can be developed within Sarawak.
Building a High-Income Digital Economy
The direction of IDECS26 aligns with Sarawak’s wider development priorities under the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, which identifies digital transformation, innovation and a skilled workforce as key enablers of the state’s transition towards a high-income economy.
Sarawak Utility and Telecommunication Minister Yang Berhormat Dato Sri Haji Julaihi Narawi said the state now has an opportunity to build on the foundations established over recent years and translate them into greater economic value.
“Sarawak has made deliberate investments over the years to build the foundations of a digital economy, from connectivity and infrastructure to talent and innovation. We are now entering the next phase, where the measure of success is not how much technology we deploy, but the economic value we create from it,” he said.
He added that Sarawak is targeting a RM282 billion economy by 2030, with digitalisation expected to play an important role in raising productivity, attracting higher-value investment and creating new sources of economic growth.
“Our ambition is to build a RM282 billion economy by 2030. Digitalisation will be critical to that growth because it gives us the ability to raise productivity across industries, compete for higher-value investment and develop new sources of economic growth,” he said.
From Digital Investment to Commercial Opportunity
According to Julaihi, Sarawak wants the investments it has made in digital infrastructure and capabilities to attract private capital, create higher-value industries within the state and strengthen the position of Sarawakian companies and talent in regional and global markets.
“That is the opportunity ahead of us. We want the investments we have made to crowd in private capital, create industries with greater value here in Sarawak, and give Sarawakian companies and talent a stronger position in regional and global markets. IDECS26 is where we bring those ambitions together with the partners who can help us take them to scale,” he said.
The state’s ambitions also form part of Malaysia’s wider efforts to move further up the technology value chain.
Malaysia is targeting the digital economy to contribute 30% of national GDP by 2030, while Sarawak is pursuing a target for its digital economy to contribute 20% of the state’s GDP by the end of the decade.
Five Tracks Across Technology and Innovation
IDECS26 will centre on five programme tracks covering The Future, Future Cities, Startup Village, SHE-TECH Asia Forum and the Centre of Excellence for Digital Economy (CoE).
The programme will feature global and regional speakers from the technology, science, business and innovation sectors.
Among the featured voices are Dr Soichi Noguchi, former Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut and two-time Guinness World Record holder; Professor Jason Pomeroy, Founding Principal of Pomeroy Studio and CISL Fellow; Dr Catherine Ball, Scientific Futurist, bestselling author and Australian Business Woman of the Year; Dr Nici Sweaney, Founder of AI Her Way and Ethical AI Strategist; and De Kai, Professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and Distinguished Research Scholar at ICSI Berkeley.
New Partnerships and Announcements Expected
IDECS26 is also expected to feature a series of new Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), launches and announcements throughout the two-day programme.
These will span the conference’s technology, research, industry and ecosystem priorities, with further details set to be unveiled during the event.
The announcements are expected to give industry players, investors and delegates a closer look at the partnerships and initiatives being developed as Sarawak moves its digital economy agenda towards implementation and commercial opportunities.
Building on IDECS25
This year’s conference builds on the previous edition, IDECS25, which attracted more than 10,000 delegates and concluded with 22 strategic agreements and collaborations.
These covered areas including artificial intelligence, connectivity and the bioeconomy.
IDECS26 is supported by partners including U Mobile, Huawei, SMD Semiconductor, MEASAT, Reach Ten, SACOFA and the Sarawak Artificial Intelligence Centre (SAIC), among others.
Registration for IDECS26 is now open, with free admission available to eligible attendees.
