In many countries, the share of women studying Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) is generally much lower than that of their male counterparts. In Cambodia, a recent IP and TechPreneur Junior Award program enrolled 100 girls aged 16-18 from 27 schools to participate in a learning model integrating IP, digital entrepreneurship, and problem-solving. Kim Im Ly and Chhun Mey Chhuo were part of one of the winning teams of participating students.
Kim Im is 16 years old and in grade 11 at Belty International School. She is highly interested in science and innovation. Chhun Mey is 18, in grade 12, and attends Sovannaphumi school with a passion for physics. They were part of the 100 students from 27 schools across 7 cities and provinces who were shortlisted for the program, and two of the 40 high-potential candidates selected by an observer committee to integrate the program.
Inspiring and training future women technopreneurs
According to Sereyvathana Aing, who works for Tech for Kids Academy, the program’s leading co-organizer, “the main objective of the project was to inspire and empower women and girls ages 15 to 18 to learn about technology, and we focused on mobile apps.”
The IP & TechPreneur Junior Award was a 7-week training program that began in July 2025 and aimed to bridge the gender gap in the tech industry, promote the active participation of girls in technology and entrepreneurship, and introduce intellectual property and its role in protecting, valuing, and commercializing innovations. Business and technical mentors were hired to work with the students.
The curriculum combined theoretical learning, hands-on activities, and mentorship, helping students to develop their own startup ideas, integrate IP considerations, and present solutions to mentors and trainers, according to Tech for Kids Academy.
Kim Im decided to apply to the program “because I wanted to try something new, learn a skill that I don’t get to learn at school, and wanted to work on a real project,” while Chhun Mey applied because she was intrigued by the mix of technology and IP, and because of her love of physics.
Start of the IP & TechPreneur Junior Award Program
None of the girls knew each other before the start of the program, and they had no definite projects in mind. On the first day of the session, they were encouraged to explore a room with different topics and potential issues. Common interests spontaneously formed groups. Kim Im and Chhun Mey ended up in the same group, and after debating between agriculture and education, the group picked education.
The work division inside the group was loosely defined, according to Chhun Mey and Kim Im, with a strong emphasis on collaboration.
The 40 students were divided into 8 teams of five, with one team due to the personal commitment of its members.
A virtual science lab to facilitate science experiments for students
“Our project is a STEM learning app that provides a virtual science lab” that gives students the opportunity to perform experiments digitally,” Kim Im said. “We thought something had to change in our education,” Chhun Mey explained. “Studying physics is like staring at a textbook and trying to visualize what the teacher is talking about,” she said.
“In Cambodia, it is very difficult for students to have hands-on training in laboratories due to the lack of materials and trainers, whether it is physics or chemistry. So, most of the learning is theoretical,” explained Sereyvathana.
Chhun Mey said she loves physics, but many students find physics and science boring. As a physics enthusiast, she said she spends a lot of time researching online and watching YouTube videos to find experiments. “Having the app could save so much time and make studying science much more fun, and with the experiment, students can see how things work,” she added, echoing Kim Im.
According to Chhun Mey, besides providing a virtual lab with physics, biology, and chemistry experiments, which would be fed by them and other students, the app also offers fun features such as a challenging room where students can challenge each other to solve a scientific question.
Lessons learned by winners of the IP & TechPreneur Junior Award
The Fearless won second place in the pitching competition taking place on 23rd August. The five students worked ceaselessly on their 5-minute presentation, “practicing over and over until everything was smooth without interruption, and we all sounded confident.” The other two team members of The Fearless are Chanboramey Ly, and Mean Lang Sok.
The first prize went to “Diabesties,” a diabetes management app, and the third went to “Tech VTAN,” a health management app.
“The mentoring helped me understand that entrepreneurship is not just about business, but also about solving problems creatively,” Kim Im said, adding that she learned about the importance of customers’ needs, feedback, and also teamwork.” “It made me more confident and open-minded about trying new ideas.”
Chhun Mey said the training session showed her “that entrepreneurship is not as easy as you might think.” “You cannot just have an idea and turn it into instant success.” She also learned about market research and customer discovery.
Both consider that innovation’s core importance lies in its usefulness, meaningfulness, and impact on people and society.
Chhun Mey and Kim Im were unaware of intellectual property before the program. “I learned about how IP could help protect our ideas from being stolen and about trademarks,” Kim Im said. For Chhun Mey, “it was an eye-opener into the world of IP. Patents, designs, trademarks, and the differences between them.”
“IP is really new to Cambodian students, and the groups were very engaged during the program and really wanted to learn and understand more about it as it is very important, particularly for those who want to run a business or launch a startup,” Sereyvathana explained.
Challenges when building the virtual science lab app
For Kim Im and Chhun Mey, the biggest challenge was the technical aspect of the project. Their application had to be functional for the demonstration. With no prior coding experience, the students relied on UX/UI design training using Figma, a design tool for creating and collaborating on user interfaces and prototypes for websites and apps. Kim Im thought this lack of coding skills hindered the quality of their app, while Chhun Mey struggled with Figma. “I used all my free time walking around my house, staring at my phone, and wondering how to use Figma,” she explained.
With an already busy school curriculum, Kim Im and Chhun Mey also had to find time to accommodate the 7-week training sessions. “It was hard […], but at the time I did not feel tired because I had fun doing it and really wanted to finish the project,” Chhun Mey said.
Unlocking the potential of female STEM students
Kim Im, who wants to study a STEM-related subject, like engineering and technology, said the program taught her valuable lessons, including “how to think like an entrepreneur, how to understand users, and how to turn ideas into something real.” She said the program inspired her and “even if I don’t start a business immediately, I want entrepreneurship to be part of my long-term career.”
“This program unlocked my potential for entrepreneurship,” Chhun Mey, who wants to study food chemistry to follow her plan to open a bakery and technology, said. “It really hyped me up! So, I think this is my future.”
The IP & TechPreneur Program was jointly organized by Tech for Kids Academy and ADITI Academy, with sponsorship and support from the World Intellectual Property Organization, the Ministry of Commerce (MoC), and the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP).
