NMB’s Climate Resilient Smart Agriculture and Green Hydrogen Innovations Received Recognition at ITEX 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (NNN) -- NMB (NanoMalaysia Berhad), a company limited by guarantee under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), and its industry partners showcased two locally developed innovations at the 37th International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition (ITEX) 2026, under the Invention and Design competition category. The projects highlight NMB’s continued efforts to advance market-driven, climate-friendly nanotechnology solutions for the smart agriculture and clean energy sectors towards sustainable economic development. These two technological solutions were recognised at ITEX 2026, with SmartLeaf receiving a Gold Award and the Tandem Indoor Solar Cell with Photoelectrochemical Cell for Hydrogen Production receiving a Silver Award.

The SmartLeaf: Leaf-Mimicking Crops Sensors for Smart and Precision Agriculture is a next-generation graphene-based leaf-wetness sensor developed by NMB in collaboration with Regaltech (M) Sdn Bhd and Xiamen University Malaysia. Designed for climate-resilient precision and smart agriculture, SmartLeaf addresses key farming challenges including water inefficiency, fertiliser overuse and crop disease risks. Using Laser-Induced Graphene (LIG) on a PDMS-coated biomimetic surface, the sensor detects moisture via capacitance changes and transmits real-time Internet of Things (IoT) data to support smarter irrigation and crop management.