Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UteM) emerges national winner of #ShellSelamatSampai Varsity Challenge 2026
Kuala Lumpur – Shell’s road safety programme for tertiary education students, #ShellSelamatSampai Varsity Challenge crowned Team Thunderbolt from Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) as the grand winner for 2026, in an event today, which was officiated by YB Anthony Loke, Minister of Transport.
This challenge which is themed Innovate! Captivate! Save Lives! is open to all university and college students in Malaysia and is aimed at empowering youth to incorporate science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in proposing innovative solutions to mitigate road safety issues.
“Road safety is not just about preventing accidents. It is about protecting lives, strengthening communities and creating a culture where everyone takes responsibility for making our roads safer. Through the #ShellSelamatSampai Varsity Challenge, we are empowering young Malaysians to apply their creativity, innovation and STEM capabilities to address real-world road safety issues. The ideas we see today give us confidence that the next generation can play a meaningful role in creating safer journeys for all,” shared Siti Sulaiman, Country Chair of Shell Malaysia and Senior Vice President Upstream Malaysia.
The winning team consisting of Zakwan Faizuddin Bin Aziz, Aqil Faris Bin Fauzi, Muhammad Hadef Iman Bin Nor Yahyuddin, Rubini Nair A/P Rama Chandran, and Wan Mohammad Zaman Az Zuhri Bin Zainuddin developed HERO Smart Helmet, which is an integrated motorcycle safety solution designed to detect early risks, alert riders and improve emergency response. HERO Smart Helmet is equipped with alcohol and drowsiness detection, blind-spot monitoring, enhancing rider’s visibility and GPS tracking. The helmet provides real-time safety alerts to riders and can send location updates to family members during emergencies.
Team Thunderbolt from Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) was one of the five finalist teams which competed against students from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), and University of Technology Sarawak (UTS).
“#ShellSelamatSampai programme empowered us to think differently about road safety and develop solutions with real-world impact. We are grateful for Shell’s guidance and look forward to working with more communities to make our roads safer,” shared Zakwan Faizuddin bin Aziz, Thunderbolt team leader, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM).
The 2026 grand finale was judged by a panel of distinguished judges comprising Mr. Harnamdav Singh, High Risk Transport Advisor, Shell Malaysia; Ts. Muhamad Arif Fahmi bin Abdul Wahab, Head of Automotive Engineering Division, Perak State Road Transport Department Malaysia (JPJ Perak); Dr. Ahmad Azad Ab. Rashid, Research Officer, Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS); and Puan Wan Noor Sheila binti Mior Sharifuddin, Principal Assistant Director, Department of Higher Education (JPT).
Shell’s commitment to road safety in Malaysia dates back to 1957. Over the decades, its efforts have evolved through close collaboration with government stakeholders to foster a stronger culture of road safety across communities. In 2017, Shell introduced the #ShellSelamatSampai Varsity Challenge, a platform that empowers tertiary students to develop innovative solutions to address road safety challenges.
Since its inception, the challenge has inspired and nurtured young talent across Malaysia, encouraging students to think creatively and bring forward fresh ideas that contribute to safer roads for all.
For further information on Shell’s STEM and community development initiatives, visit Road Safety Malaysia - #ShellSelamatSampai | About Us
Enquiries
Shell Malaysia Media Relations: prema.jayabalan@shell.com
Notes to Editor
Finalist Teams.
| Team | University | Project | Description | Team members |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderbolt | Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) | Helmet for Emergency Response and Obstacle-Sensing (HERO) |
HERO Smart Helmet is an integrated motorcycle safety solution designed to detect risks early, alert riders, and improve emergency response. Combining alcohol and drowsiness detection, blind-spot monitoring, enhanced rider visibility, and GPS tracking, the helmet provides real-time safety alerts to riders and can send location updates to family members during emergencies. By bringing multiple safety features into one practical system, HERO aims to deliver smarter protection before, during, and after a potential incident. |
|
| Innovibe | University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) | VigSteer | VigSteer is a smart steering-wheel safety system designed to detect risky driver conditions and behaviours before they lead to accidents. Its retrofit platform combines grip monitoring, driver identification, pulse monitoring, alcohol-risk detection, and multimodal alerts, delivering visual, vibration, and multilingual audio warnings to encourage safer driving in real time. |
|
| Fusion Five | Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) | Non-Newtonian Speed Bump | Conventional speed bumps are widely installed to regulate vehicle speeds. However, their rigid design can cause discomfort and present safety risks, especially when crossed at elevated speeds. This project introduces a Non-Newtonian Fluid Speed Bump as a dynamic alternative to traditional static barriers. The system leverages the shear-thickening characteristics of non-Newtonian fluids, adjusting its structural resistance relative to the rate and magnitude of applied force. Under low-speed conditions, the speed bump remains compliant to allow a smoother vehicular transition, whereas high-speed impacts cause it to stiffen and act as a solid barrier. |
|
| SOPAN 360 | Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) | Safety Observation, Proximity Alert and Navigation System 360 | The Safety Observation, Proximity Alert and Navigation System 360 is an IoT-powered solution designed to reduce blind-spot accidents involving buses, lorries, vans, trucks, and trailers. The system helps drivers detect vulnerable road users hidden from direct view or mirrors, particularly motorcyclists, cyclists, pedestrians, and smaller vehicles—providing greater awareness and enabling safer, more informed driving decisions. |
|
| ICON-RG | Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) | SELAMATPULSE | SelamatPulse is a smartwatch-connected motorcycle safety app designed to address rider fatigue, health risks, and delayed emergency response. The system monitors the rider’s heart rate, SpO₂ and movement in real time, providing vibration and voice alerts when risks are detected. In the event of an unresponsive rider after a crash, it automatically sends GPS location and emergency information to designated contacts. By combining real-time rider monitoring, early intervention, and automated emergency alerts, SelamatPulse provides an added layer of protection throughout every ride. |
|
Cautionary Note
The companies in which Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this announcement “Shell”, “Shell Group” and “Group” are sometimes used for convenience to reference Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These terms are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular entity or entities. ‘‘Subsidiaries’’, “Shell subsidiaries” and “Shell companies” as used in this announcement refer to entities over which Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. The terms “joint venture”, “joint operations”, “joint arrangements”, and “associates” may also be used to refer to a commercial arrangement in which Shell has a direct or indirect ownership interest with one or more parties. The term “Shell interest” is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in an entity or unincorporated joint arrangement, after exclusion of all third-party interest.
Forward-Looking statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions, including (without limitation) those concerning Shell’s strategy and operating plans, macroeconomic conditions, future energy demand, supply and product mix, commodity prices, demand for Shell’s products, production results and reserve estimates, development, execution and management of projects, energy transition and climate change, management of safety and environmental risks, costs, cash capital expenditures, technology advancements, legislative, judicial, fiscal and regulatory developments, regional conflicts and trading conditions, and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Shell to market risks and statements expressing management’s expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “aim”; “ambition”; ‘‘anticipate’’; “aspire”, “aspiration”, ‘‘believe’’; “commit”; “commitment”; ‘‘could’’; “desire”; ‘‘estimate’’; ‘‘expect’’; ‘‘goals’’; ‘‘intend’’; ‘‘may’’; “milestones”; ‘‘objectives’’; ‘‘outlook’’; ‘‘plan’’; ‘‘probably’’; ‘‘project’’; ‘‘risks’’; “schedule”; ‘‘seek’’; ‘‘should’’; ‘‘target’’; “vision”; ‘‘will’’; “would” and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this announcement, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell’s products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks, including climate change; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, judicial, fiscal and regulatory developments including tariffs and regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; (m) risks associated with the impact of pandemics, regional conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the conflict in the Middle East, and a significant cyber security, data privacy or IT incident; (n) the pace of the energy transition; and (o) changes in trading conditions. No assurance is provided that future dividend payments will match or exceed previous dividend payments. All forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Shell plc’s Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2025 (available at www.shell.com/investors/news-and-filings/sec-filings.html and www.sec.gov). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward-looking statements contained in this announcement and should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this announcement, October 19, 2026. Neither Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement.
Shell’s net carbon intensity and net-zero emissions target
In this announcement we may refer to Shell’s “net carbon intensity” (NCI), which includes Shell’s carbon emissions from the production of our energy products, our suppliers’ carbon emissions in supplying energy for that production and our customers’ carbon emissions associated with their use of the energy products we sell. Shell’s NCI also includes the emissions associated with the production and use of energy products produced by others which Shell purchases for resale. Shell only controls its own emissions. The use of the terms Shell’s “net carbon intensity” or NCI is for convenience only and not intended to suggest these emissions are those of Shell plc or its subsidiaries.
Shell’s operating plan and outlook are forecasted for a three-year period and ten-year period, respectively, and are updated every year. They reflect the current economic environment and what we can reasonably expect to see over the next three and ten years. Accordingly, the outlook reflects our combined Scope 1 and 2 target, NCI target and our oil products ambition over the next ten years. However, Shell’s operating plan and outlook cannot reflect our 2050 net-zero emissions target, as this target is outside our planning period. Such future operating plans and outlooks could include changes to our portfolio, efficiency improvements and the use of carbon capture and storage and carbon credits. In the future, as society moves towards net-zero emissions, we expect Shell’s operating plans and outlooks to reflect this movement. However, if society is not net zero in 2050, as of today, there would be significant risk that Shell may not meet this target.
The information provided above regarding Shell’s NCI and net zero emissions target are not intended, nor should they be construed as introducing, suggesting or making any claim, target or representation thereof other than what is included in the announcement.
Forward-Looking non-GAAP measures
This announcement may contain certain forward-looking non-GAAP measures such as free cash flow and underlying operating expenses. We are unable to provide a reconciliation of these forward-looking non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures because certain information needed to reconcile those non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures is dependent on future events some of which are outside the control of Shell, such as oil and gas prices, interest rates and exchange rates. Moreover, estimating such GAAP measures with the required precision necessary to provide a meaningful reconciliation is extremely difficult and could not be accomplished without unreasonable effort. Non-GAAP measures in respect of future periods which cannot be reconciled to the most comparable GAAP financial measure are calculated in a manner which is consistent with the accounting policies applied in Shell plc’s consolidated financial statements. These forward-looking non-GAAP measures are provided to assist readers in understanding management’s use and expectations of such measures and may not be appropriate for other purposes.
The contents of websites referred to in this announcement do not form part of this announcement.
We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this announcement that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov.