Yunus Yasin, president of the Science, Technology and Innovation Association (Asti), said independent thought is often not strongly encouraged in many Asian cultures, but is increasingly critical in today’s fast-changing world.

“Learning must still take place. Just because AI can write an article does not mean you should stop writing on your own.

“The most important outcome of learning is not what others think of us, but what we think of ourselves,” he said at the launch of the Young Innovators Challenge (YIC) 2026.

He said Asti runs four annual programmes, including YIC, one of its largest and most international initiatives.

He said YIC has grown into an international competition and its model has been adopted and modified by the University of Cambridge in the UK for the Davidson Inventors Challenge.

“This year, more than 400 schools across the UK took part.

“In Cambridge’s almost 900-year history, it is the biggest outreach programme Cambridge has ever carried out,” he said.

Yunus added that initiatives such as YIC reflect a broader shift in education, where self-directed learning is becoming the norm.

Organised by Asti and funded by MBSB Bank, YIC brings together participants aged 13 to 17 from across the region to develop solutions aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the UN in 2015 to improve life for people by 2030.