UNIMAS hosted the SensARTS Game Jam Laut 2024 (GJL) at its Gamification Centre from 27–29 September 2024, an innovative 48-hour event fully funded by the French Embassy in Malaysia that brought together over 20 young participants from Borneo with diverse backgrounds in computing, design, and marine science to create video games promoting ocean conservation. Participants stayed overnight and attended masterclasses led by experts such as Raphael Granier de Cassagnac (École Polytechnique), Keshavar Ganesparan (Hidden Chest Studio), and Carolyn Scheurle (CNRS), while mentors from academia, industry, and NGOs provided guidance throughout the creative process. The prototypes were evaluated by a jury comprising members from UNDP, UNIMAS, and environmental organisations based on their environmental message and creative execution. The winning team from Sarawak will compete against other Malaysian winners for the chance to present their game at the final competition in France, with all expenses covered by the French Embassy, showcasing UNIMAS’s commitment to combining education, creativity, and environmental advocacy.

UNIMAS has developed a hybrid smoked‑fish system to support sustainable cottage fisheries by reducing dependence on mangrove wood, which is currently overharvested for traditional smoking — a practice that threatens mangrove habitats protected under Sarawak law. The new system, funded by the Sarawak Digital Economic Corporation (SDEC) with RM 128,900, uses a hybrid power food dryer/smoker technology to make smoking more fuel-efficient, hygienic, and capable of producing products that meet international food standards. By improving processing methods, the innovation aims to uplift local cottage industry income while safeguarding vital mangrove ecosystems, therefore balancing economic livelihood with environmental conservation.