The Brunei ICT Awards (BICTA) 2026, featuring the Royal Patron Award, was officially launched today at the Musyawarrah Hall, International Convention Centre (ICC), Berakas.
Present as the Guest of Honour to officiate the launching ceremony was Yang Berhormat Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha, Minister of Transport and Infocommunications.
Also present at the event were Yang Mulia Ir. Awang Haji Mohammad Nazri bin Haji Mohammad Yusof, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC), as Co-Chairman I of the BICTA 2026 Steering Committee; Yang Mulia Pengiran Sarimah binti Pengiran Haji Abdul Latiff, Chairperson of InfoCom Brunei (IFB), as Co-Chairman II of the BICTA 2026 Steering Committee; and Yang Mulia Awang Haji Jailani bin Haji Buntar, Chief Executive of the Authority for Infocommunications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI).
Also in attendance were Permanent Secretaries, Deputy Permanent Secretaries, senior government officials, as well as representatives from educational institutions and local ICT companies.
The ceremony commenced with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and Doa Selamat, led by Yang Mulia Imam Abdul Razak bin Samat, Imam Level I, Masjid Sufri Bolkiah Perpindahan Berakas. This was followed by welcoming remarks delivered by the Co-Chairman I of the BICTA 2026 Steering Committee.
Following the official launch, a BICTA 2026 launch video was presented, followed by a sharing session on the outcomes of the Digital Brunei Transformation Workshop by Mohammad Chowdhury, Chief Executive Officer of Long Street Advisors. The event concluded with the Guest of Honour touring the BICTA Products Showcase, which featured innovations by past BICTA participants.
This year’s edition of BICTA includes the Royal Patron Award, the highest and most prestigious honour, which will be presented to the outstanding "best of the best" project across all categories.
Carrying the theme "Innovate for a Digital Brunei", this year’s BICTA reflects the nation’s continued digital transformation journey, while fostering innovation that delivers meaningful impact to society and the economy.
BICTA, first introduced in 2004, is an annual ICT competition jointly organised by the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC), the Authority for Infocommunications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI), and InfoCom Brunei (IFB). The initiative is also supported by the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MORA), the Ministry of Education (MOE), and the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB).
Similar to last year, this year’s competition comprises ten (10) categories open to individuals, students, businesses, government agencies, and other interested organisations. The categories and prizes are as follows:
The “best of the best” project will have the honour of receiving the Royal Patron Award Trophy, along with a cash prize of BND $10,000.00.
Subject to eligibility, entries submitted under the main categories, with the exception of the Student Category, may also be submitted to one of the Cross Categories.
BICTA 2026 activities also include the BICTA Plus Bootcamp, a specialised training and mentoring programme designed to enhance participants’ skills and capabilities across various areas prior to the competition. Topics covered in this programme include ideation and validation, business and financial planning, marketing strategy, pitching and presentation skills, as well as design thinking.
BICTA is part of the Asia-Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) Awards, with its categories and standards aligned to those of APICTA. Since participating in APICTA in 2008, Brunei Darussalam has secured a total of seven (7) winner awards and thirty-seven (37) merit awards to date. The winners of BICTA 2026 will represent Brunei Darussalam at the APICTA 2026 Awards, which will be held at the end of this year in Jakarta, Indonesia. Participants representing Brunei Darussalam at APICTA will have their travel expenses, allowances, insurance and accommodation covered throughout the competition.
BICTA 2026 presents a valuable platform for innovators across the nation to showcase their ideas, drive digital innovation, and contribute meaningfully towards shaping Brunei Darussalam’s digital future.
All primary, secondary and tertiary schools, as well as local individuals, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), government agencies and organisations with ICT products and services, are encouraged to participate. Further details and application forms are available on the BICTA website at www.bicta.gov.bn. The closing date for submissions is 30 June 2026.
For further information, interested participants may contact the BICTA Secretariat at bicta@aiti.gov.bn or call 2323232.
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Prepared by:
BICTA 2026 Secretariat
Issued by:
Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications
Negara Brunei Darussalam
29 Ramadhan 1447H / 19 March 2026
