Brunei Darussalam must move beyond merely adopting technological advancements and strengthen its capacity to create and develop home-grown innovations that address national needs and compete internationally, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office said.
Delivering a Sabda at the Brunei ICT Awards (BICTA) 2026 Awards Ceremony at the International Convention Centre (ICC) on Thursday, His Royal Highness said the country should be capable of leading the development of local innovation as rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and intelligent automation continue to transform the way people live, learn, work and conduct business.
His Royal Highness, who is also Royal Patron of BICTA, stressed that technology must remain an enabler of national development and the well-being of the people, in line with the aspirations of Brunei Vision 2035.
The Crown Prince highlighted a recent Titah by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, that AI must be harnessed to expand opportunities rather than deepen divides, and to empower human creativity rather than diminish it.
His Royal Highness said the Titah serves as an important reminder and valuable guide as the country explores new technologies.
Reflecting on recent official working visits abroad, the Crown Prince said observations of Centres of Excellence and applications of modern technology at institutions of higher learning underscored the importance of systematic and sustainable investment in research and development (R&D), highly skilled human capital and strategic partnerships with industry.
His Royal Highness said Brunei must not only benefit from technological progress but also develop the ability to understand and adapt technology to domestic requirements.
This is particularly important in strategic areas such as food security and people-friendly public services, which can contribute to national resilience while creating opportunities for Bruneian solutions to enter regional and international markets.
His Royal Highness said BICTA has an important role in achieving this ambition and should continue serving as a platform for ideas and talents that can progress beyond winning awards.
The Crown Prince said innovations emerging from the platform should have the potential to become practical solutions, generate intellectual property and develop into local enterprises capable of delivering meaningful impact.
His Royal Highness also called for stronger foundations in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) across sectors, supported by international cooperation.
The development of the “National Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy Framework”, the Crown Prince said, represents a strategic step in providing a structured direction for the country’s STI ecosystem, improving research outcomes and connecting them more closely with industry requirements.
The initiative complements Digital Brunei 2030 and its aspiration of “Together Towards Digital Brunei”, under which data and AI are positioned as drivers of transformation across sectors.
His Royal Highness said several priorities will be crucial to the strategy’s success, including developing a highly skilled workforce in data science, cybersecurity and emerging technologies, establishing responsive policies and regulatory frameworks, making high-impact use of data, and strengthening collaboration between the government, industry and educational institutions.
The Crown Prince also highlighted the importance of providing controlled, real-world environments in which emerging technologies can be tested.
His Royal Highness cited the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam’s (AITI) initiative to develop 5G Campus Networks at Universiti Brunei Darussalam and Universiti Teknologi Brunei.
The networks are intended to serve as testbeds for future applications including intelligent transport systems, autonomous vehicles and advanced technology-based public safety solutions.
His Royal Highness expressed hope that the infrastructure will be fully utilised to strengthen the national innovation ecosystem and help research move smoothly from proof of concept towards intellectual property creation and competitive market-ready products.
The Crown Prince also noted Brunei Darussalam’s encouraging achievements at the regional level, including through the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance Awards (APICTA), where local talents have demonstrated their ability to compete internationally with appropriate guidance and support.
Congratulating the participants, finalists and award recipients of BICTA 2026, His Royal Highness called on them to “innovate to create value, address shared challenges, and build a prosperous and resilient future for Brunei Darussalam”.
His Royal Highness also expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications, AITI, InfoCom Federation Brunei, ministries, educational institutions and industry representatives for their continued commitment towards supporting the initiative. – Lyna Mohamad
SOURCE/AUTHOR : BORNEO BULLETIN/LYNA MOHAMAD
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