Team Malaysia Honoured by French Embassy for Ocean Hackathon® 2022 Victory

Team JellyGo, winners of Ocean Hackathon® 2022, were honoured by the French Embassy in Malaysia for their innovative jellyfish bloom prediction app.

JELLYGOOHKL 2022

3/22/20231 min read

In a celebration of innovation, collaboration, and ocean stewardship, the French Embassy in Malaysia hosted a special reception in March 2023 to honour the Malaysian team that brought home the Grand Prize at the 7th International Grand Finale of Ocean Hackathon® in Brest, France.

Held at the residence of the French Ambassador to Malaysia, H.E. Axel Cruau, the event recognized the outstanding achievement of Team JellyGo, the winners of Ocean Hackathon® Kuala Lumpur 2022. Their winning project—a mobile app designed to predict jellyfish blooms around Penang Island—was selected as the best innovation among 12 international city champions.

Ambassador Cruau commended the team for their ingenuity and dedication, noting how their success reflects not only the strength of Malaysia’s scientific and technological talent but also the strong spirit of cooperation between Malaysia and France in tackling ocean-related challenges.

From KL to the World Stage

Team JellyGo, led by Sim Yee Kwang from Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS), was formed during OHKL 2022—Malaysia’s first-ever participation in the global Ocean Hackathon® series. The team went on to represent the country in Brest, France, where their innovation won over the international jury.

The app, JellyGo, uses a mix of long-term marine data and community-reported sightings to forecast jellyfish blooms, which can be a major concern for public safety and tourism. The team’s smart integration of environmental science, public health, and tech made their project a standout.

Strengthening Malaysia-France Collaboration

The reception at the French Embassy served as a reminder of the impact such hackathons can have—not only in generating practical ocean solutions, but also in building bridges between countries through science, education, and innovation.

As OHKL continues to grow, we’re proud to see Malaysian talent making waves on the global stage. This recognition inspires us to push forward with even greater purpose in our mission to harness data, technology, and creativity for a more sustainable ocean future.