Balikpapan - More than a competition to determine winners, the Kideco Innovation Challenge (KIC) 2026 serves as a meeting point between students’ ideas and the real needs of industry. Through this event, young talents from universities across Kalimantan are challenged to develop innovative solutions for the transformation of the mining sector and sustainable energy development.

KIC 2026 was initiated through a collaboration between PT Kideco Jaya Agung and Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK). The partnership aims to strengthen connections between industry and higher education, while also identifying innovative ideas, discovering promising talent, and encouraging the development of technologies that respond to industrial needs.

A total of 83 teams registered and participated in the preliminary selection stage. Following an online evaluation of their submissions, 15 finalist teams were selected to compete in three categories: Hackathon, Prototype, and Essay.

Chairperson of the KIC 2026 Organizing Committee, Rosa Eliviani, S.Kom., M.T., stated that KIC is expected to serve as a collaborative platform for universities and industry in developing young talent, particularly in Kalimantan.

“KIC 2026 is expected to encourage the emergence of AI- and IoT-based innovations while producing solutions that are relevant to the challenges faced by the mining and sustainable energy industries,” she said.

In the Hackathon category, participants develop digital solutions, systems, applications, and technologies based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) that can be applied in the mining and energy sectors.

The Prototype category is intended for participants who have designed products, devices, systems, or innovation models that can be visualized and further developed into practical solutions. Meanwhile, the Essay category provides students with an opportunity to present analyses and strategic ideas related to sustainable mining, energy, AI, IoT, and technological innovation through popular scientific or conceptual writing.

The final stage of KIC 2026 began with the finalist presentations at ITK on August 5, 2026. During this stage, participants presented their ideas, technologies, and proposed solutions before a panel of judges.

The finalists will then take part in the KIDECO Mining Industry Visit on August 6–7, 2026. This activity provides students with an opportunity to observe the mining industry environment firsthand, understand its operational processes, and identify challenges that may become opportunities for further innovation.

The winners of each category will be announced on August 8, 2026. However, the main value of KIC goes beyond the awards. It also lies in the learning process, knowledge exchange, and networks established among students, academics, and industry practitioners.

According to Rosa, the enthusiasm of the participants and the quality of the submitted works demonstrate the strong potential of Kalimantan’s university students to develop innovative technological solutions.

“KIC 2026 has been a highly valuable experience because it brings together students, academics, and industry practitioners within a positive collaborative ecosystem. We hope KIC will continue as a sustainable program that not only produces competition winners, but also generates innovations that can be further developed and create tangible benefits for industry and society,” she added.

Through the collaboration between PT Kideco Jaya Agung and ITK, KIC 2026 is expected to become a bridge connecting student creativity with industrial challenges. From Kalimantan, these emerging ideas carry new hope for a mining industry that is smarter, more adaptive, and more sustainable.

ITK Creates Impact, from Bumi Etam for Indonesia.